22/09/2021

De Graaf not a fan of Lakeside: "It's the name, you have a lot of pressure"

Aileen de Graaf won two WDF tournaments in Catalonia at the beginning of the month.

The 30-year-old Dutchwoman couldn't play in Selsey though at the England Open and National Singles due to travel rules.

"I wanted to go so badly but if I go England, I first have to do a test in the Netherlands and then I have to do my second day test and then when I go back I have to do a test. When I'm in the Netherlands, I also have to do a test and have to stay 10 days at home. So I can't afford it, also with the children, I can't stay at home for 10 days," said De Graaf to the Inside the WDF podcast.

"Normally I always go to Selsey but I couldn't do it."

Qualification criteria set for 2022 WDF Lakeside World Championship

Lakeside

She has been qualified for a while for Lakeside at the start of 2022 but wants to continue the momentum due to seedings. But on the venue itself, she also discussed her dislike for it.

"It takes a little bit of pressure off but you want to stay high in the rankings because you have seeding. So you have to play the tournaments because I don't want to get Fallon (Sherrock) in the first round or Deta (Hedman)."

"I don't like Lakeside. It's the name, you have a lot of pressure on the Lakeside. You see Deta won every tournament you can think about and the Lakeside she hasn't won. I don't like the Lakeside, the pressure, you want to win that tournament."

Women's Series

These travel rules have also made it difficult for De Graaf to embark on the PDC Women's Series but she is seemingly trying to make a special effort to get over to the UK.

"I had booked in Germany but it was cancelled. So I didn't put myself on the list for playing that weekend but I first have to sort all the stuff out because of all the tests. We have three tournaments on that day and I have to do a test really early on that day so I don't know if I can do the test and still be on time for my games.

"So I have to first sort that out really quick and I have to work something out with the Covid rules in the Netherlands. I hope I can go. 90% I will go but 10% I'm not sure."