It's not uncommon to see a group of Mancunians run to catch the early morning train to Liverpool Lime Street, as many commute between the two Northern cities on a daily basis.
25.05.2024 - 07:09 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
In the heart of Eastlands - a stone’s throw away from the Etihad Stadium - all eyes are on a cube-shaped structure where dramatic scenes are unfolding this week. No, I’m not talking about the Co-op Live, I’m referring to the purpose-built glass court at the National Squash Centre.
It’s where the world’s top players - and some homegrown wildcard entries - are competing for the Manchester Open title. Across five days there are incredible displays of athleticism, edge-of-your seat rallies, dizzying highs of winning and the crushing lows of losing.
It’s also where I found myself on court, racket in hand, during the first day of the Manchester Open with professional player Georgina Kennedy. Gina is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, ranked number six in the world and number one in England.
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I do play squash, albeit recreationally, but I can safely say I have no rankings or titles. I did have a blue tick once on Twitter , back when you didn't pay for it, so I imagine it’s a similar feeling.
Purely on court in my professional capacity as journalist, rather than the wildest of wildcard entries, Gina put me through my paces so I could get a flavour of what it’s like for the professionals. It’s a daunting experience compared to the usual courts you’d find at your local leisure centre as you’re visible from all four sides, although - to my relief - you can’t really see what’s happening around you due to the specially-coated glass with a one-way mirror type effect.
Within minutes, Gina had me sprinting around the court and lunging for the ball. I did my best to try and make her run for the ball too, but she moved
It's not uncommon to see a group of Mancunians run to catch the early morning train to Liverpool Lime Street, as many commute between the two Northern cities on a daily basis.
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