World Squash Open 2010: England get their first champion

Nick Matthew, who thought he might never play again after a shoulder injury three years ago, made history by becoming the first Englishman ever to become World Open champion on Friday.

Upping the tempo: Nick Matthew (left) became first Englishman to win world title

Matthew, who looked like he could tackle the Saudi desert such was his physical dominance, shrugged off an early deficit to grind his long-time rival James Willstrop firmly into the ground in Al-Khobar after 74 minutes of brutal squash. The 30 year-old won 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3.

Coming into the final - the first all-English encounter in World Open history - Willstrop had played an extra 80 minutes on court and it finally told on the 6' 4'' Yorkshireman, who was looking to add the title to his world junior crown.

Despite looking the stronger of the two in the opening exchanges, which led to Willstrop taking the opener in 21 minutes, Matthew's patient game began to take effect in the second and the world No 2, who will surely now return to the top of January's world rankings, never looked in danger as he dropped only 11 further points until the denouement.

Matthew's stampede left him with several fingers already on the trophy. "At that stage you are playing against yourself instead of your opponent," he admitted. "You are sort of fighting the demons in your head.

"You see the finish line and as it comes closer in terms of score it gets further away because you are drifting in your thoughts. With every single thought I tried to tell myself 'next rally, next rally'."

The England No 1 was due to meet Ramy Ashour in the final until the Egyptian's untimely injury in the second round. Willstrop took over the mantle of chief rival - the pair patched up their differences following a tempestuous British Open final last year - as the rounds progressed and it soon became evident that the tournament would have its first all-English final since 1939. Back then the British Open was regarded as the de facto world championships until the championships were formed in 1976.

Matthew may have been No 1 seed but Willstrop was never going to let his opponent settle. Not with a losing streak stretching back to 2007 at any rate. Willstrop dominated from the start and produced a flurry of delightful winners with deft touch to the front. Matthew, though, kept in the opener with his unerring ability to dominate the centre court and finish points with tight volley kills. Great accuracy from both.

The start of the second proved decisive. With Willstrop 2-1 down the pair produced a 100-shot rally ending with a Matthew winner. Willstrop was left visibly tired at such a crucial juncture and despite clawing his way back to 5-3 it was as close as he got to the Sheffield right-hander for the remainder of the match.

There were moments when Willstrop looked to have found an extra gear but they were only fleeting. Throughout the last two games his fan base back in Pontefract would have been grimacing at the brute force of Matthew's finishing. Willstrop never gave up but he was continually being asked to drive his heavy frame to all four corners. It was a relief when the final act came.

The victory provided a remarkable turnaround for Matthew after returning to the world stage following a career-threatening shoulder injury. A year ago he was left mentally exhausted chasing Ashour for the coveted world No 1 spot. He lost an epic on the same Saudi court to his young Egyptian rival and wondered whether the pinnacle would ever arrive.

Some overdue soul-searching ensued and his belief returned. He went on a 35-match, six-month unbeaten run which culminated in Matthew finally becoming the world's best player in June.

He then struck double gold at the Commonwealth Games in October. World No 1, Commonwealth champion, world champion. Now for that sports personality of the year mention.