Home   Sport   Article

Brilliant to have Scottish Squash Open in Inverness, say hometown favourites Alasdair Prott and Martin Ross


By Andrew Henderson

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

This week the Scottish Squash Open has come to Inverness, featuring some of the top talent from around the world.

It is the first time an event of this magnitude has come to the Highlands, and the opening round featured two homegrown talents in Alasdair Prott and Martin Ross.

For both men it was special to be able to play at their home club under such a spotlight, and they each hope it will be the start of more big competitions making their way up north.

“Inverness is a great home for an event like this,” Prott insisted.

“Obviously growing up here, it’s a great facility and we’ve been really looking forward to the event being hosted here.

“It’s great for both parts, Scottish Squash hosting an event up here and Inverness hosting some of the best players in the world.

Alasdair Prott in action against Connor Sheen in the opening round. Picture: James Mackenzie
Alasdair Prott in action against Connor Sheen in the opening round. Picture: James Mackenzie

“In the juniors a lot of people would say it was a long journey up and they didn’t fancy it. Once you get up here, it’s a lovely city and the club is really good, we’re all really friendly, so once they experience how well an event here is set up I think it definitely should lead to more stuff coming up here.

“I know personally a few kids from Gordonstoun are coming through, so it might be something new for them.

“They might already play it, but to be inspired by the high-quality squash I’m sure is great for them.”

Ross echoed those sentiments, adding: “It’s amazing – the way Scottish Squash have been running and promoting it is brilliant to see.

“The school kids were here watching, and the club is great anyway, it always has a great atmosphere. To have an event of this size in Inverness, it’s brilliant.

“Normally it would be in England or in the central belt, so the club has done really well to host it here. It’s amazing to have all the players up here and have an event, it’s great.”

Prott in particular has been something of a poster boy for the tournament, but he does not feel that added any pressure to perform.

“Coming in as a wildcard, it’s a good feeling,” he said.

“There’s not so much pressure in a sense, but I’m going in trying to show the improvements that I’ve been making over the last year and-a-half through Covid.

“I’ll be trying to give a good account of myself on the court and off the court as well, so I think if I play to the best of my ability we will be in for a good time.

“I want to show my own personal progress, but I’ve also made the leap from junior to senior squash over the last couple of years and if I can play my best, results will follow.

“I’ll just concentrate on doing that, and hopefully it all falls into place.”


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More