A National senior championship is the only title missing from the trophy cabinet of Wellington squash player Evan Williams and this weekend he gets another chance to claim that elusive crown.
Evan Williams Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 31-year-old is the top seed at the National Squash Championships in Takapuna and 2020 could be the best oppotunity for Williams to win.
World number five Paul Coll has won the last five national men's titles but won't be competing this weekend as he decided to not return from overseas.
That has opened up the way for Williams who has twice got through to the tournament finale.
"I was a beaten finalist in 2010 and 2018. I beat Martin Knight when he was 30 odd in the world and then lost to Campbell Grayson in the final in Whakatane in 2010. The second time was a couple of years ago and losing to Paul Coll in Henderson."
Williams became the first New Zealander to win every junior age group title, but the senior title has so far eluded him.
He first competed in the senior championships as a 15 year old and has only missed two tournaments since then through injury.
"Absolutely I want to win, its been a childhood dream to win the senior nationals ever since I've been playing... it's top of the bucket list for things I've got left to complete in my career."
His first national title was in the under-11's and he then sent on to win the under-15's, under-17's and under-19's.
Williams won't have things his own way in the quest for the win. There is a large group of players who are in the mix including second seed Lwamba Chilesche who is the secsond seed and who Williams lost to two weeks agao at the Panmure satellite tournament.
"I'm the number one seed, I've been tracking pretty well to make sure I peak for this weekend and despite losing to Lwamba recently I still think I'd been the favourite>'
"However it would be the most open nationals for many years with six players that could think they'd win, however I'm still backing myself to win."
He admits with time possibly running out there is some pressure on him to win this weekend.
"I've got my internal pressure which is there all the time, when you play an individual sport you're your own biggest critic, but in the end it's not going to define me if I win or not, I think I've done enough to protect my reputation and I think I've done enough in my career to be very proud of."
"In terms of having to win I don't think there's a huge amount of pressure, so I think if I play the way that I know I can I think I'll be too good for my opponents.
Win or lose, these nationals won't be the last for Williams, however he is is contemplating his future on the international tour."
Because of Covid-19 he didn't compete overseas in 2020 and instead took up a full time coaching role to compliment the limited local competition he's had.
Williams is ranked 87 in the world, having reached a high of 79 in 2013.
He says the currently situation does have him thinking about retirement as a professional player.
"Our lives revolve around travelling and in a normal year I travel 40 weeks of the year, so not being able to do that puts a dampner on things and not having a target to train for."
"So unless things open up soon I guess I'll suspend playing on the tour."
Williams was a member of the 2018 Commonwealth games team and does have a few events he'd like to compete in in the next few years.
"We have the world men's teams championship in Tauranga at the end of the 2021 so that's a big target for me to play at and then the Commonwealth Games in 2022.:"
With women's world number eight Joelle King also staying overseas and not defending her title, the top seeds in the women's draw are Emma Millar from the Waikato who is ranked 112 in the world with Abbie Palmer (Auckland) just once place behind her.