Former Canadian professional squash player Melina Turk is eagerly anticipating her debut appearance in the Gnosis National Squash Championships.

Turk, 32, is the No 1 seed in the tournament, which starts today at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association and is clearly the biggest threat to Eilidh Franklin’s quest to defend her title.

“I'm very excited to play in the nationals,’’ Turk said. “Being the No 1 seed makes me a little bit nervous. It’s always a lit bit nerve-racking when you've to defend your top seed, but I'm also excited.

“It means I’ve a good chance of taking the title and that’s where I'm kind of supposed to be in the tournament.

Now back in Bermuda working for the BSA as a squash professional and administrator, Turk lived on the island from 2018 to 2022 when she worked for the Court House Squash & Wellness Club.

“I've never played in the nationals,’’ she said. “The first year I was not eligible because I had just moved to the island a couple of months before. The following two years were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Turk has a bye in the first round with her opponent in the quarter-finals the winner of the clash between the up-and-coming duo of Olivia Sherratt and Gabrielle Turchiaro.

Should Turk make it to the semi-finals, she will most likely meet the fourth-seed Joann Bielby if the latter prevails over Suzanne Rose in the last eight.

“The defending champion Eilidh Franklin is probably my biggest threat,’’ Turk told The Royal Gazette.

“She’s potentially someone I could play in the final. Susie Howells is also a great player so I'm excited to see them face off against each other.

“Eilidh and I have never played in a tournament but we do train together. We play practice matches as I do with Susie as well, and other women in the draw because we all play together at the club, but because I haven’t played official matches against most of the women in the draw, it will be a first for me against them.”

Since her return to Bermuda in June last year, Turk is enjoying her time on the island.

“The timing is a little bit better,’’ she said. “There seems to be a big buzz around the squash right now. The club is getting busier, we’re doing a lot of good improvements at the club and the energy feels good.”

Micah Franklin, the men’s defending champion, is not expecting a smooth ride over the next five days.

“I know it won’t be easy,’’ he said. “The national championships always bring out the best squash in some of us because national rankings are up for grabs.

“No matter how many tournaments I’ve played around the world, this one always seems to give me the most pressure and nerves. That just shows how important it is.

“I don’t think I've been on court as much as I would love to but I'm still going to bring out reserves, whatever I have left in the thank.”

Anaya Smith, the men’s third seed, wants to go further than the semi-finals he reached last year. With Taylor Carrick and Noah Browne in his path to the final, the 22-year-old has his work cut out for him.

“It’s all about taking it one game at a time,’’ Smith said. “I have a tough draw and I'm on the same side with Taylor Carrick and Noah Browne, so I have a tough line to get to the final.

“No matter what, it’s going to be a tough tournament for me. It’s just about executing on the overall plan and sticking to my game.

“For me it’s all about being consistent when I go short or attack in front of the court. As long as I can avoid making too many errors then I give myself a chance.

“I can’t make too many errors because that’s usually my downfall when I'm playing and I'm under a lot of pressure.”