Squash: Joyce draws up strategy for keeping No 1 spot

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Leilani Joyce has overcome her fear of climbing ladders.

Just as well, because she is drawing up a plan to stay on the top rung of the world squash rankings next year.

While Joyce has been braving the heights, single-handedly renovating her 1910 villa in Hamilton, she has been figuring out a different way to tackle the world circuit in 2001.

The world No 1 and two-time British Open champion has decided she will play only the big grand prix events next season.

"I'll be playing the $US65,000 events instead of the $US10,000 ones," she said.

"It's not all about the money - it's about playing the tournaments with the most ranking points, and they offer the best competition.

"I can't afford to play the smaller events now, because they just don't carry the ranking points I need to stay at No 1."

A new international tour next year, plotting major squash opens around the globe, has attracted a major financial backer and television coverage.

This country could figure on the circuit, with the New Zealand Open touted as the final event in November.

"There will be one big event each month, so I will be travelling somewhere different in the world every few weeks," said Joyce. "It's going to be hard, but I'd rather be on the circuit than not."

Joyce will restructure her training to fit the new travel regime. She plans to return home between events, and so she has to learn how to relax in between tournaments.

"I still want to play as many tournaments on the New Zealand circuit as I can next year," she said. "It's a really important thing to do.

"A lot of top players came here last year and it prepared me for a very good year overseas.

"I'll still play in the men's divisions here. I only ever train with the lads these days."

Joyce reignited her training yesterday, after taking a break following her runner-up placing at the World Open in November.

But she will not get serious again before the New Year. Her first major international tournament is not until March.

She has three goals for 2001 - to stay No 1, to win the British Open for a third straight time in June, and to exorcise the ghost of the world championships, where she held match-point and lost to Auckland-based Australian Carol Owens.