By Will Carlin
If you think about what it takes to succeed in squash, you can probably come up with a list of attributes that you might like to have to be a top player. I have one, too, and here is my list of 2010 squash highlights, each paired with one of my squash success traits.
Hard Work: Nick Matthews
Squash has a history of top players whose work ethic has stood out: Jonah Barrington, Geoff Hunt, and Jahangir Khan, to name a few. Add to that list Nick Matthews. Never among the most talented players, Nick worked on his game, worked on his movement, worked on his fitness and then worked some more. It has paid off. After winning his second British Open title in 2009, this year he won the Swedish Open, the North American Open, the Canary Wharf, the Sky Open, the Australian Open, the Commonwealth Games and the World Championship. He deserved his four month stay at number one. Nobody worked harder.
Focus: Nicol David
Four years ago, David, the best player in the world at the time (and ever since) was highly favored to win the gold at the Commonwealth Games. She lost in the semis and left without a medal. She could have been crushed, but she took that loss as a jumping off point, and she has been ranked number one ever since (53 months and counting). This year, only weeks after winning her fifth World Open, she atoned for her loss four years ago, showing a focus and determination that left her opponents happy to just be close in any particular game. She won without losing a game and fought to control her tears at the awards ceremony, when her focus finally cracked.
Imagination: Ramy Ashour
Shot makers are exciting to watch not only because of their technique, but because they hit shots when their opponents and spectators alike aren’t expecting it. Not always do these players get to the very top, because usually everything has to go right for them to win consistently. But Ramy Ashour is not only the number one player in the world, but also has the highest spectator appeal due primarily to his imaginative winners (his crosscourt backhand volley nick elicits gasps every time). Thankfully, we get to see Ramy use his imagination a lot; he was in the finals in eight out of the nine tournaments he played this year, winning five.
Technique: Natalie Grainger
No one gets to number one in the world without outstanding technique. When you watch Natalie Grainger play today, you are overwhelmed by her control of the court and her ability to put even amazing players on the defensive. This was most apparent in 2003 when she gained the number one ranking. Back in March, she was ranked number six in the world, but she was coming off a bad foot injury. Her movement was slower than normal, but her technique was so good that she dominated by winning her fourth consecutive US title – this time without losing a game.
Consistency: Trinity College, Julian Illingworth, and Greenwich Academy
It is one thing to get to the top; it is quite another to stay there. Year after year after year. Trinity won its unreal 12 intercollegiate title in a row (by far the longest streak in the history of collegiate athletics, and it is still going); Julian Illingworth has his own six-year streak going as US Number One and National Champion (also the longest in US history); and Greenwich Academy must now start to be watched after winning their third US high school girls title in a row. Multiple wins like this don’t just happen; consistency comes from something special.
Determination: Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Former World Number One, Sarah Fitz-Gerald, used her keen determination to help her win five World Championships. At 42 years old, she has been retired for over seven years, but Sarah was present this year both as a coach (she helped Nicol David tie her own World Open record this summer) and then as a re-born player. Unbelievably, Fitz-Gerald went undefeated in the World Team Championships for her native Australia, helping them upset England to take the title. Determination, indeed.
Sportsmanship: James Willstrop
James Willstrop won the World Junior title almost with ease. In the pros, he has been a consistent top five player, but he has become almost more known for his second place finishes than his amazing play. So when he put it all together in last year’s Tournament of Champions he might have been forgiven had he been speechless. Instead, he put together one of the best post-win speeches in memory. Long regarded as one of the nicest guys on the tour, his sportsmanship after winning endeared him to all who were there.
Anticipation: Amanda Sobhy
Amanda Sobhy, 17 years old, started off the year by making it all the way to the finals of the US Women’s Championship where she lost to Natalie Grainger. Afterward, Amanda said that she thought she would gain from the experience. A few months later, we all saw the result: Sobhy became the first native-born American to win any world championship – the World Junior Women’s Championship. A few months after that, she made the final of a pro event, the US Open (losing to another former world number one, Vanessa Atkinson). It was an amazing year, and we can’t wait for her future.
That’s it for 2010. Hope you had a very Happy New Year’s.
