A World Championship dominates any Rackets season and James Male's defense of his title against Jonathan Larken, his first against amateur opposition, proved to be as riveting and absorbing as any played over the last hundred and eighty years.

Male's planned preparation for defending his title included playing in the Invitation Singles, in November and the Amateur Championship, in December, both at The Queen's Club, where the second leg of his title defense would be contested. The first of these competitions was eagerly awaited as it would also feature Larken who had not been seen playing singles in this country since going to work in the United States in 1997.

In the event the anticipated clash never occurred as Larken was unceremoniously dispatched by Harry Foster in their semi-final,15/9,15/7,5/15,17/15. Male had beaten Radley Professional Mark Hubbard 15/5,15/9,15/6, in their semi and went on to beat Harry 3/15, 15/9, 15/10, 2/15,15/12 in the final.

This was Foster's second major final of the season as he and Charlie Danby, playing for the Old Harrovians had already lost the final of the Noel Bruce Cup to the Old Wellingtonian pairing of Tim Cockroft and Toby Sawrey-Cookson 15/11,16/15,15/10,15/12. Harry was unfortunate enough to feature on the losing side in the Amateur and Open Singles as well as the US Open Singles and Doubles, bringing a whole new meaning to 'always the bridesmaid'?.

James was unfortunately prevented fromtaking part in the Amateur Championship through injury,as was defending Champion Alister Robinson which meant that unless Willie Boone was to once more ignore the passage of time there was likely to be a new Amateur Champion for the second time in as many years years. So it transpired.

Guy Smith-Binhgam beat Harry Foster,15/12,15/3,15/10 in the final, a rather bloodless encounter, with Foster looking tired in the final two games.

.On the other side of the Atlantic in New York the Silver Racquet was dominated by Jonathan Larken who was undefeated in an exhibition round robin against Neil Smith, Guy Devereux and Willie Boone and who also won the doubles with Mike Stevenson defeating Willie Boone and Aidan MacEchern.

In the Under 24 and Under 21 Championships, played at Queen's just after the New Year Alex Titchener-Barrett and Alex Coldicott won the Under 24 and 21 Singles Titles respectively.

The first leg of the World Championship was played at The Racquet Club of Philadelphia on the 11th of January 2003. Jonathan Larken that fully justified his reputation by defeating The World Champion 15/10, 15/9, 15/10, 13/15, 15/6 leaving Male needing to win by four games to love in the second leg to have a realistic chance of retaining his title. Even the most hardened Male supporter doubted whether James would be able to overturn this deficit.