January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

'I'm not going to take this too easy'

Former world #1 out to win

By James [email protected] | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Former world number one John White aims to entertain when he comes out of retirement to play an exhibition match at the Bermuda Squash Club tonight.

The hard-hitting Scotsman will play Colombian Bernardo Samper to celebrate the reopening of the refurbished squash club.

"It's more of a relaxed feeling in an exhibition match. There's nothing on the line so you can muck around a bit more and try a few trick shots. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

"I don't want to take it too easy, though, and make it boring for the spectators. They still want to see that competitive edge."

The 36-year-old, renowned as one of the hardest hitters in the game, has visited Bermuda many times for the PSA Masters and was last on the island for the World Championships in 2007.

Now a college squash coach in Philadelphia, White has maintained a good relationship with the Bermuda club and coached 16-year-old prodigy Micah Franklin in the run-up to his Caribbean youth championship victory earlier this year.

Franklin will play Mel Caines on the undercard of tonight's exhibition match and White hopes to get a chance to hit with the youngster at some stage in the proceedings.

"Micah has got a lovely technique and if he maintains his attitude to training he could have a great career.

"Hopefully he can have a hit with me tomorrow night. I'd like for some of the top young players and even the top seniors to come and hit with me and for the members to see how they shape up against a world class player."

White will be expected to win his match against Samper, ranked 57 in the world.

"I haven't played too much in the past eight months since I retired so it will be tough," he admitted.

Perhaps White's greatest claim to fame is his rep as the hardest hitter in the world.

His hardest shot has been clocked at 172mph, a world record for the sport, and 22mph faster than Andy Roddick's record in tennis.

The Bermuda Squash Club has undergone extensive refurbishment over the summer and director of squash Patrick Foster said the event would be a great way to re-open the venue.

"The club is looking fantastic and we are all really excited to have two of the world's top players here for a fabulous nights squash and to reveal the new-look facility to our members," he added.[[In-content Ad]]

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