In the heart of Eastlands - a stone’s throw away from the Etihad Stadium - all eyes are on a cube-shaped structure where dramatic scenes are unfolding this week. No, I’m not talking about the Co-op Live, I’m referring to the purpose-built glass court at the National Squash Centre.
READ MORE: Flower festivals, spell-binding shows... things to do in Manchester over the bank holiday weekend Within minutes, Gina had me sprinting around the court and lunging for the ball. I did my best to try and make her run for the ball too, but she moved around the court with ease while I panted and had to ask for a breather.
The five day event sees 48 players battle it out for the title, with the finals held on Sunday May 26. Among the players are two local wildcards: Manchester-born Finnlay Withington and Trafford-born Saran Nghiem, both of which I watched on Wednesday. Players come into such close proximity to each other in a way you don’t see in other racket sports, adding to the thrill of the game. Things can become heated, in more ways than one; it does get rather sweaty with cleaners deployed between games to mop the floor .