LAURA Massaro believes competing in the National Squash Championships is up there with the major tournaments on the women’s squash circuit.

The 31-year-old has more than 15 tour titles to her name, has won the World Open, the British Open and Commonwealth Games medals in a glittering career spanning 12 years.

MORE TOP STORIES:

But tradition states that the Nationals are equally as important - and Massaro is aiming to add a third title to her collection.

“Some national competitions don’t seem to be as big or as important as others but, for me, ours is as big as any tournament on the circuit,” said Massaro, winner in 2011 and 2012.

“Traditionally, squash in this country is very strong and there are some very famous names on the trophy. So it is one we all want to win.”

The fact that England, captained by Massaro and including reigning National champion Alison Waters, are the current Women’s World Team champions, underlines the strength of the game in his country.

Massaro is top seed at the National Squash Centre in Manchester and she gets her campaign under way tomorrow against a first round qualifier.

She is happy with her form going in to the tournament after reaching the semi finals of both the Tournament of Champions in New York and the Cleveland Classic - losing to Raneem El Welily on both occasions.

“I am happy with the way I am playing at the moment,” said Massaro who had three match balls to beat El Welily in Cleveland. “Raneem is playing superbly and I could have beaten her. As long as I am sticking with players like her than I am happy.”

Massaro now swaps one personal duel for another as she goes head-to-head with Waters - the two dominate forces in the women’s game in Britain in the last five years.

Between them the have won the last five titles and have met twice in the final during that spell - with a win apiece - while Waters got the better of Lengthorn-Massaro as she was then back in 2008.

But as usual, Massaro is not looking too far ahead - although she would love to add another national title to her collection.

“Alison is playing well and she stopped me from winning three in a row in 2013 which would have been special,” said Massaro who lives in Hoghton. “Naturally, I would love to win a third title but I am not looking that far ahead just yet.

“My approach has always been to take one game at a time as if you look too far ahead you can become unstuck.”