This year’s Turner Cup marked the beginning of the era of women’s doubles squash. The tournament, which is the largest stop on the WDSA tour, had both a record number of participants at the professional level as well as the largest purse of any professional women’s doubles event in history ($50,000). But perhaps the biggest achievement of the 2010 Turner Cup was in its initiatives to grow women’s squash. This initiative took shape in two ways: getting younger players excited about women’s doubles, and giving back to the women’s community outside of squash.
The tournament hosted the usual Pro-ams, but for the first time ever it included an under-30 pro-am draw. Young women from the New York metropolitan area were paired with professionals from the main draw of the Turner Cup, and played 2-3 matches over the course of the weekend. They were also invited to attend the tournament party held on Friday night at the University Club of New York. With young women leaving squash at alarming rates after college, events like this are becoming a necessity. The women were not only able to experience high level doubles on court with professionals, but they participated in the tournament’s social events. It is this social component, the ability to have a meal, a drink, and go dancing with your competitors, that may become key in retaining players after college. Many female players feel burnt-out after graduating from college, ready for a break from the stress of competition. While all of the pros these young women were paired with are incredibly competitive on court, it can be a new experience to see them socializing off court. The success of the U30 pro-am at the Turner Cup has provided a platform for the first ever Women’s Intercollegiate Doubles Championship in New York at the beginning of March, and the U30 Doubles Championships, also in New York at the end of May.
In addition to growing the game, this year’s Turner Cup reached beyond the walls of US Squash and linked with Breast Cancer. This initiative was incredibly important to the WDSA tour director, Narelle Krizek, and her sister and fellow athlete, Natarsha Mcelhinny, who lost their mother to breast cancer when they were just teenagers. Both women learned how to play squash from their mother, so it is fitting to remember the woman who helped these gifted athletes become the amazing players, coaches, and mothers that they are today. As Narelle stated at the conclusion of the tournament, “as women, we need to look out for one another.” The Turner Cup certainly is encouraging for women, as it grows the women’s squash community through new partnerships and events.
