Serme just wants to enjoy her squash again
Last year’s top seed wants to end frustrating season on a high
France’s World No. 5 Camille Serme is looking to end a frustrating season on a high at this week’s PSA World Series Finals at Emirates Golf Club from Tuesday to Saturday (June 5-9).
The 29-year-old made just three semi-finals and two quarters in seven PSA World Series events this season, finishing joint fifth among the top eight to have qualified for Dubai.
It’s a far cry from the season before when she came into Dubai as the top seed with two wins in the series, picking up the PSA Player of the Year award before crashing out in the semis of last year’s season-finale. Now, she’s looking to go one better for a greater share of the US$160,000 (Dh587,705) prize purse. “I’m really excited to be back and happy to be in the top eight,” she said. “Last year I was the number one seed which was really special, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, I just want to enjoy my squash again.
“It’s a new venue so that’s really exciting for the players. It feels special. I think everyone sees it as a bonus tournament after a long season. You are more relaxed on court and can enjoy it and everyone comes with a guest or someone from their family so it’s really cool.”
Serme has been drawn in Group B with defending champion Laura Massaro, reigning world champion Raneem Al Welily and England’s SarahJane Perry.
This event features a unique best-of-three format in the group stages before reverting to the standard best-of-five from the knockouts. The top two in each group of four progresses to the semi.
“I just keep on training normally and the only thing that changes is the best-of-three,” added Serme of the finals. “You have to be ready from the first point, you don’t have time to not be ready. Except for that, I don’t prepare differently to any other tournaments.
“Last year the matches were really exciting and really close, even with eight or seven seeded players, I just think it’s really fun.”
Group matches from June 5-7 will take place from 3pm, 3.45pm, 4.30pm and 5.15pm in Group B and 8pm, 8.45pm, 9.30pm and 10.15pm in Group A. The semis on June 8 will start from 8pm, which is the same time the finals will start on June 9.
Last year I was the number one seed which was really special, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, I just want to enjoy my squash again.” Camille Serme » France’s World No. 5