LAURA Massaro is determined to get a flying start to the year after a stuttering end to 2014.

Despite winning the delayed 2013 World Open in March and two Commonwealth Games medals, Massaro failed to reach a WSA final in the second part of the year and slipped to three in the world rankings.

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Now Massaro is on a mission to regain her number two spot and start reaching those finals once again - starting with the Tournament of Champions at the iconic Grand Central Station in New York this week.

The 31-year-old begins her campaign tomorrow hoping to reach her second successive final at the famous American landmark.

“I love playing at the Tournament of Champions, it is a real favourite with all the players,” said Massaro who was runner-up to world number one Nicol David last year. “Playing at Grand Central Station is incredible.

“We get to play in quite a few unusual places because you can set up a squash court anywhere but to play there is right up there as it is such an iconic venue.”

Massaro admitted she was disappointed to lose her number two position to Raneem El Welily but is determined to get it back.

“I was bit annoyed to be honest but I will work hard to get it back,” she said. “But Raneem deserves to be number two in the world because she had a fantastic year.

“I am not too worried because if you win your matches the rankings look after themselves. I deserved to lose my ranking because I was not good enough in the second half of the year.”

Massaro arrived in America in peak fitness having just returned from a gruelling training camp in Jersey with former British number one Nick Taylor.

“Nick was regarded as one of the fittest players on the tour when he played and he used to coach me as well,” added Massaro, who lives in Hoghton. “It was great to get out there and work with him again. I worked on my fitness and certain aspects of my game. It was pretty brutal stuff.”

It will be busy opening to the year for Massaro as she competes in the Cleveland Classic immediately afterwards - but not before fitting in an exhibition match in Brooklyn with members of the England team that won the World team title.