In squash - The Podcast

The String Doctor Jon Sharpe leaves no stone unturned in this must- listen episode for all squash players on all things stringing. Jon earned the moniker for a reason: he knows his stuff and he's put in his time. If you're like me and you think you need more stringing knowledge, or even if you geek out on strings, you'll definitely find what you're looking for here. John takes us through the funda...

PSA CEO Alex Gough and his team have had their hands full trying to piece together everything that Covid-19 has thrown their way. Well, there may be light at the end of the tunnel, but that doesn't mean things will be back to normal anytime soon. In a very informative and candid conversation, Alex lays out all of the key variables required to get pro squash back up and running, including a potenti...

World Open finalist and semi-finalist in two of the past three World Opens just goes to show that Marwan El Shorbagy is on the cusp of taking his game to the highest level of all. He's reached #3 in the world, and now he's back to near his best form after going through a very difficult period in his career. Marwan looks back at his 2011/12 years where he parlayed a World Junior Championship into i...

The Show Court (theshowcourt.com), provides fresh squash every other Friday, and the stories it's produced till now provide us with the type of squash writing that the squash world hasn't seen. The brainchild behind this, Alix Williams. Alix has only been playing squash for a few years, but she's all in now and her love and commitment to the game shine threw via the superb stories she's pieced tog...

James Willstrop has provided the squash world with some of the most sublime performances, breathtaking exchanges and mind-blowing displays of shot making since he turned pro almost 20 years ago. His accomplishments speak for themselves: former world number 1, 3X and reigning British National Champion, winner of dozens of major PSA events. James is a role model for all of us in terms of the way he...

2019/2020 PSA Female Challenger Series Player of the Year and winner of 3 or her last 4 challenger series events, last season generated some very positive momentum for Danielle. We talk about her Challenger series success and the value of the PSA challenger series events. We also discuss what she needs to do to make deeper runs in the PSA's major events. During this down time, Danielle's been enjo...

Raneem El Weleily shocked the squash world on June 25th by announcing her retirement from the game while sitting atop the PSA world rankings. Jenny Duncalf speaks about Raneem's incredible career looking back to her world jr. champion days, her early years on tour, Jenny's personal head to head with Raneem, the rivalry with Nicol David, and what makes Raneem such a majestic player and person who a...

SquashSkills "A Bronx Tale" gave the squash world a fantastic look into what can happen when you truly give back to the game. Bryan Patterson has been doing that for many years and then some. In case you didn't know, dare I say, there's a backstory to all of this though -- his playing career, which is equally as heartwarming and impressive. The anecdotes abound in this incredible chat with Bryan w...

The most dominant player of his generation, current world #1 Mohamed El Shorbagy has done it all, and he's got his sites firmly set on solidifying his hold on the #1 ranking when pro squash resumes. Mohamed describes his early struggles with motivation to train during the Covid-lockdown, losing the #1 spot and then regaining it at the end of the 2020 campaign, his battles with Rami Ashour, playing...

"The man behind the scenes" is his moniker. Director of Events for the PSA Tim Garner had a very good pro career and then went the entrepreneurship route which saw him co-found Eventis (behind the Canary Wharf Classic and the English Open) , the British Squash Professional Association and several other ventures. Now, I dare say he's now working behind the scenes on what could be his most challengi...

Host of the Around the Court Podcast, the Peter Nicol Squash Academy Director of Squash, Reigning and 8 x Irish National Champion Arthur Gaskin is producing squash at the highest level across the spectrum. Arthur and I look back at his early days, his first Irish National Championship, Irish legends of the game, the podcast game, coaching during this pandemic and much more.

Always enjoy having friend of the podcast Rob Dinerman on to talk squash. Prolific squash historian, particularly with respect to stateside varsity, pro doubles and hardball squash history, Rob discusses the latest on Brown University's varsity squash situation in the aftermath of being 1 of 11 programs cut by the university. Rob's knowledge of the varsity and hardball games are unparalleled, and...

Reigning World Open Champion Tarek Momen wasn't going to let anything stop him from hoisting the 2019 World Open Championship; not poor form, plantar fasciitis, or a 1-2 2-6 in the fourth deficit in the third round. He summoned what it took and then some, recovering from that deficit to go on to win his first World title while only dropping 1 game from the quarters on. Tarek opens up about the cha...

He's a two time British National finalists, European individual winner, and the world 45plus masters twice over, and did I mention a coaching sensation? Nick Taylor provides food for thought for days on topics ranging from squash under our challenging pandemic circumstances, coaching juniors, the state of the game in North America and much more. The Nick Taylor Squash Academy opened its doors rece...

Chris has carved out a very well-rounded coaching resume to date, and last week after being name Head Squash Coach for the University of Western Ontario Mustangs, he may have landed the coaching position he's always wanted. Former member of the Mustangs several years back, Chris has since developed into one of the game's most innovative and exciting young squash instructors. He's honed his skills...

In February, 1998 Peter Nicol reached world #1 supplanting legend Jansher Khan, and thereafter along with Jonathan Power, gave us one of the most memorable eras in the game's history. He went on to hold the number 1 ranking several times throughout his illustrious career,at one point for 24 successive months b/t January 2002 and December 2003, placing him firmly among the greatest to ever play the...

From Butt to Binnie, Rene Denis has been coach to world class squash players since the early 80s. Protege of Canada's founding father of squash coaching Tony Swift, Rene has been coaching Canadian National Teams and Jamaican National Teams for the past 30 plus years. Needless to say, Rene has been there, done that, and has so many stories to tell about his experiences, squash and life, through all...

139 episodes in and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone as passionate about his craft than Jesse Englebrecht. With each episode, this being his third, he's always equipped with new and innovative coaching techniques and unique outside-the- box observations about the game And, what's more, he's seemingly on a constant search for ways to enhance player development. This episode speaks to all of the...

This Super Squash Saturdays Bonus Episode with Graham Ryding is epic. We took a deep dive into Graham's squash career, his junior days, playing alongside JP for so many years, the Winterpeg squash hotbed, and of course Super Squash Saturdays with a prediction for the rubber between Diego and JP.

An illustrious squash career came to an end last week when 4x Canadian National Champion Sam Cornett announced her retirement. With 14 PSA titles, 8 Pan-Am Games medals and reaching world #23, there are few if any all-Canadian girls with that type of squash pedigree. Sam and I talk about her squash career across the board, and we want to wish all the success again in her life after pro squash.

From married life to a heartfelt testimonial for the recently retired Sam Cornett, Shawn delivers like only he can. 2x Canadian National Champion and runner up last year, Shawn would very much like to collect a 3rd national championship before he calls it a day, and I wouldn't bet against it. He has his sights set on that and hitting the ground running whenever play resumes. He's in a very good pl...

The Diego Elias V. Jonathan Power Super Squash Saturdays series successfully kicked off last Saturday, and JP is set to defend his hardball crown later today. Dean Brown is no stranger to the squash court and has some impressive pedigree as a hardball player and squash broadcast color commentator as well. Dean and I catch up after 24 years and talk Super Squash Saturdays, and in doing so look a bi...

Reigning and 10X Scottish National Champion Alan Clyne is currently recovering from a rib cage stress fracture, but that didn't stop him from chopping it up on the In Squash Podcast. Alan's had an amazing career representing Scotland on the world stage, 150 caps and a recent 7th place finish at the World Team Championships. We look back at all of this and look at what lies ahead for him and Scotti...

Matt Easingwood, former NS provincial #1 and current Head Squash Professional at the White Oaks Resort at Niagara-on-the-Lake, is a veritable blast from my past. Matt has been with White Oaks for 20 years, and prior to that had himself a very good competitive stint reaching #1 in NS and playing for the very strong University of Toronto varsity team. Matt and I take a deep dive into our squash past...

Alison Waters has an impressive resume: multiple British caps, 4x British National Champion, former world number 3 and still a threat to any woman playing the game today. An ankle injury forced her to withdraw from the Windy City Open in Feb, so this unfortunate suspension of play on the PSA tour has given her a bit time to rehab and recover. Alison takes a look back at her years at #3 in world du...