LIZ CANN –
PLAYING CATCH-UP
Richard Eaton reports
Liz Cann has been coping with injuries from a car crash, a
lengthy absence, and the need to play catch-up with younger
competitors. And yet despite this, she is a stronger than ever
favourite to lift the women's singles title for a fourth time.
Cann remembers vividly that just when she was on the brink of
achieving that last year, five match points against Jill Pittard
slipped away – though recollection of that could work in her
favour.
She will also cling to her belief that at the age of 30 she
retains the capacity to make improvements which some of her
better-advantaged rivals achieved years before her.
“I never had a professional coach till I was 20 – before then my
mum coached me,” Cann said. “If I look at players now, younger
players, they are more developed shot-wise. I have had injuries,
especially to my back, and I can deal with having had that, and
I can still see areas of my game which can be developed.
But those areas will have to remain secrets, she said with a
laugh, instead pointing out that Tracey Hallam, once her main
rival for the national title, was at her best at 30-plus. And
some Asian players on tour are already competing full-time at
17, and doing things that Cann has yet to perfect. “So I have
not reached my peak,” she insisted.
A more immediate concern was to recover from her road accident
last March. Cann burnt a hand and hurt her back, and was unable
do much court training for the best part of six months.
It was a test of character and morale. It also required a
supportive dialogue to help her survive something which would
have made many players quit.
“My fitness coach Dalton Grant talks to me,” Cann said. “He
keeps me positive and helps me stick to my plan. What happens,
happens. So I can't dwell on it too much. It's all about moving
forward.”
And she did. She reached the semi-finals in Ireland and won four
matches to reach the final in Sweden last month. That was a big
lift for her. “Things started to come back together again -
after a rocky road,” she said.
What made her especially confident was that her movement had
become good again, something which is often a barometer of how
she is going to play.
This development has been nicely timed ahead of the English
national championships, a tournament which she always enjoys
more than most. Cann values it not only as a professional
player, but as someone who still appreciates being part of a
badminton community and the feeling of togetherness which the
tournament creates.
“That's slipped away a little bit over the years,” she said. “I
notice quite a difference from when I was growing up. It's not
quite the same as it was, and those things are important, or the
sport ends up dying.
“All the players I train with through the week are friends, and
the Jersey players come over. My mum and dad come over and I get
to see them.”
But the professional implications still concern her most. “If
you win the nationals it may not mean you get more funding, but
coaches take into account the results for future events.
“And to say you are national champion puts you in your place
really,” Cann says. To regain this title she must view with
respect several improving opponents whom she ought to beat, but
any of whom might create an ambush.
“I have never seen Alex (Langley) play,” she admitted. “You have
Helen (Davies), Kate (Robertshaw) and Rachel (Howard), all of a
similar standard. They are all reasonable players, and I never
take any game lightly when I go on court. I will not think any
differently against them.”
But Cann remains confident, and can explain why. “You kind of
know when you are going to play well,” she asserted. “It depends
on your health and being injury-free, on how you are in
training, and getting the balance right – not too much, not too
little.
“The balance is where it should be now. I have had a few
tournaments behind me, and a few matches. It's been good
generally and in on-court training. I've been quite consistent
for a while.”
And she will have special reassurance. Just for this week, her
mum Carmen will be back in situ again. It will be on-court
coaching as it used to be. |
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