SQUASH: Having spent much of the year so far on her travels, playing in tournaments in Asia, North America and Australia, Madeline Perry returns to Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club today to open the defence of her Canon Kirk Homes Irish squash Open title, reports Mary Hannigan.

The Banbridge player, who rose to number nine in the world rankings earlier this month, reached the quarter-finals in the Commonwealth Games, losing to the eventual gold medal winner, Australian Natalie Grinham. Before that she made the last eight of the Kuala Lumpur Open and the semi-finals of the Tournament of Champions in New York.

In the men's event Liam Kenny, seeded sixth, is the highest ranked Irish player, and, like Perry, faces a qualifier in the opening round. Admission is free - the finals take place on Sunday.