Triple Squash Interview: Part 3 - World Number 5 Laura Massaro

In the final of a 3 part interview, Toby Gray catches up with world number 5 Laura Massaro her year, the Olympics, and the increasingly struggle for squash to reach our airwaves, despite considerable and consistent success over the past few years.

You recently climbed to 5th in the world, your highest ranking yet, so how has the past 12 months been for your career?
The past 12 months has been mainly great but this time last year was a bit turbulent. I was recovering and trying to get fit from a bad ankle injury and didn't make a great start to the season. I reached my seeding in 3 of the 1st bunch of events but I was way off where I wanted to be and way off beating anyone above me. Since about Oct (when I won silver in the Commonwealth games) thing's started to pick up.
I made the final of Carol Weymuller in NY and then won Sharm El Sheikh. I had a great training period over xmas and then pushed hard beating the world number 1 and winning my first WISPA gold event in Cleveland.This was followed with winning National championships. Unfortunately after that I picked up an injury which meant I didn't play great In KL in March and had to withdraw from 2 events after that. After another good training and rehab phase I was fit again though and have just returned from Malaysia and Singapore where I managed to beat the world number 1 and 6. This took my ranking to a career high of 5 and I’m hoping the rest of the season will continue in the same vain.

How did you get into squash?
My Mum and Dad both played and I spent a lot of time at the squash club
when I was young.

What was it about the sport that made it so appealing?
 It seemed like fun when I was young. I love that squash has so many aspects to it. Speed, agility, endurance, tactical, technical and mental.

The world’s top 20 for both men and women is filled with British players, so in terms of popularity and scope, what do you make of the state of squash in the UK?
 It seems quite popular but it's all tied into publicity, funding and tournament. At the top end the men and women's tours are strong throughout the world but not very strong in the UK. We have very few events and England Squash struggle to get sponsors for big events like the British Open. Because of this we struggle to get any sort of publicity and even in the Commonwealth Games when we do very well we are over shadowed by other bigger sports. It's an uphill battle but everyone is dedicated to getting squash in the public eye and trying to get more people involved in the game.

With this influx of British talent, do you think there is enough coverage of the sport across the country?
I don't think squash or the players gets the recognition it deserves. We all train and work really hard and it's a shame people don't get to see the work we put in. I realise squash is a minority sport but it's just unfortunate that with England being so strong as a nation that the public aren't more aware of these successes regardless of the sport.

All of this Olympic talk is hotting up, what do you make of the decision not include squash in the Olympic Programme?
Obviously it's very disappointing. The closer the Olympics get the more disappointing it is that squash won't be part of it. I genuinely feel the athletes involved in squash deserve the chance to win an Olympic gold medal. Hopefully we will get there in the end.

You’ve already achieved massive things in squash, but where do you see yourself, and squash in 5 years time?
Well, hopefully still playing and injury free. To have challenged and won some big titles and to improve my squash level and world ranking.

Triple Squash Interview: Part 2 - World Number 12 Daryl Selby

Published in Nerve Magazine September 2011


In the second interview with Britain's best squash players, Toby Gray asks world number 12 Daryl Selby why he chose squash, 2012, and the big strides needed to place the sport in a much needed media spotlight. 

How’s your year been?

The last 12 months have been my most successful to date, I was obviously delighted to become British Champion in February and also reaching the top 10 in the world rankings. Both were major goals of mine and to reach them gave me a great boost.

What made you choose squash?

My Dad got me started playing squash when I was 5 years old and I immediately loved playing. I find the sport fast and ever changing, finding myself in different situations every time I play which makes it a very addictive sport.

How is the state of squash in the UK?

The state of squash in the England is strong in the senior ranks (I’m not sure how the other countries in the UK are doing) with ourselves and Egypt dominating many of the top spots in both the men’s and women’s rankings. England squash have got many good initiatives going to try and increase participation and our new national coach Chris Robertson has brought some impetus into the elite side of the coaching. We just need a few more juniors to come through as Egypt seem to be completely dominating all junior events currently.

What needs to be done to boost coverage squash?

I think the media is very important in raising the profile of the sport. People need to know how good England is at squash! It’s easier said than done but I think there are a lot of people putting a lot of time and effort into getting squash recognised and the profile hopefully increased.

With 2012 under a year away, and with squash coming so close to the Olympic programme, what do you make of the exclusion?

Obviously it’s disappointing for squash to be continually overlooked as a potential Olympic sport. I believe it has all the credentials to be included and is a ‘classic’ Olympic sport with a gold medal being the pinnacle for any squash player. I think it all comes down to money these days and the IOC have just seen the dollar sign by including golf. I hope squash can get included in the future but unfortunately I will never be able to play as I’ll be far too old!

Finally, 5 years time, where do you see yourself

I have no idea where I will be in 5 years time. If I’m not still playing then hopefully earning plenty of money somewhere!


Check out the magazine layout of this article, designed by me - http://issuu.com/tobygray/docs/squash

Triple Squash Interview: Part 1 - World Number 9 Alison Waters

Published in Nerve Magazine September 2011.

Squash is a funny sport. Britain boast a world number 1, and 9 players in the men and women’s top 20, as well as one of the best youth academies in the world, yet we hear so very little of it.

In an exclusive 3 part, interview Toby Gray caught up with a host of Britain’s top squash players to discuss the state of the sport in the UK, coverage issues, and reaction to the unfortunate blow not to include squash in the 2012 Olympic Games next summer. First up, world number 9 Alison Waters. 

How is the injury coming along? When are you looking to getting back into competitive action?

 I had an operation 9 weeks ago on a bone spur on my achilles. It is all coming along nicely and I’m doing lots of rehab work in the gym. I hope to be back playing in tournaments by October time. The recovery is quite a gradual process so I’m just taking it step by step and not trying to plan too much in the future.

Your achilles injury has caused some drawbacks this year, but how has the past 12 months been for your career?

 Yes it has been a year or so plagued with this achilles injury. I did well in four tournaments over the summer period last year reaching two finals and two semis’s, which pushed my ranking up to the highest it’s been at three in the world. Then we had the Commonwealth games where I got to the semi finals but had to pull out of the bronze play off and the doubles due to injury. Since then I have played only two tournaments but was hampered with my achilles. This year has been very up and down and definitely the most testing time of my career.

How did you get into squash? What was it about the sport that made it so appealing?

I started squash when I was five and my parents and brother all played so it was always in the

family. We would go up to my local club, and play on the courts there, which I still do now. I have always loved the game. It’s fast and furious and yet with lots of skill as well.  It’s a tough sport but I love every minute of playing and watching.

The world’s top 20 for both men and women is filled with British players, so in terms of popularity and scope, what do you make of the state of squash in the UK?

Squash is going really well in England. We have the current men’s number one in the world, Nick Matthew. Also we have 3 men and 3 women in the top 10 in the world. So things are really good. Also we have the European girls and boys champions so the future is looking good as well. We have a great setup with England squash and the EIS (English Institute of Sport) is one of the best, if not the best set up in the squash world.

With this influx of British talent, do you think there is enough coverage of the sport across the country?

No there is definitely not enough media coverage of squash. For instance Nick Matthew won 2 gold

Commonwealth medals, World Open and was world number one and there was hardly any coverage. If that had been tennis and Andy Murray it would have been national news for months! We  really needed to get into the Olympics to maybe get more coverage and it is such a shame that all the hard work everyone puts in, that the sport doesn’t get the recognition it truly deserves!

All of this Olympic talk is hotting up, what do you make of the decision not to include squash in the Olympic Programme?

Yes it is a hard time for squash players and everyone involved with the sport with all the news about the Olympics in a year’s time. We would love to be in the Olympics and it would be our biggest squash event. The Ultimate! Everyone was really disappointed not to get into 2016, but the WSF and all the other squash organisations/ and countries all round the world are trying to get a really good case together for 2020. We never give up hope that one day squash will be an Olympic sport. I look forward to that day!

You’ve already achieved massive things in squash, but where do you see yourself, and squash in 5 years time?

Well in 5 years time I will be 32 which is a scary thought! At the moment I’m just looking to get injury free and fit again. Once that has happened then my goal is to get my ranking back to the very top and to actually start winning major events. Also to see England remain as one of the world’s best squash countries, as well as hearing that squash has been included in the 2020 Olympic Games. I could hang on and keep playing for another 9 years!

Check out the magazine layout of this article, designed by me - http://issuu.com/tobygray/docs/squash