Don't look past Jamaica at the 2019 Pan Am Games; Christopher Binnie leads the Jamaican squad which also includes PSA tour vet Lewis Walters and Bruce Burrowes. They're certainly one of the dark horses to hit the podium at the end of the day. Chris has had an impressive squash career to date, including 4 stand out years at Trinity College and 4 PSA titles along with a career high 65 world ranking. Things were progressing very nicely until a serious health scare derailed things a bit near the end...
Jul 09, 2019•45 min
The US ladies team are the reigning Pan Am Games women's team gold medalists, and Olivia Blatchford Clyne and her teammates Amanda and Sabrina Sobhy are favored to bring home the gold again. Olivia and I have a great chat about this year's team, the threat that the Canadian women pose, recent changes to her strength and conditioning under the guidance of Scottish guru Neil Gibson, and of course her husband Alan Clyne who has had a pretty decent season of his own, although he could use some help ...
Jul 06, 2019•46 min
Accepted to law school, about to complete a masters degree, and a swan song appearance for Team Canada at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima Peru, Andrew Schnell joins me on episode 92 to chop it up. 2 time Canadian National Champion, 2015 Pan Am Games gold and silver medalist, reached the top 60 in the world in 2016, and winner of several PSA titles including the prestigious Bankers Hall event in his hometown of Calgary, Andrew has had a stellar squash career and we'll be sad to see him go. Not befo...
Jul 03, 2019•46 min
Since 2002, Adil Maqbool has maintained the UAE's #1 ranking, and after some time away from the pro game he's back playing again. One of the game's most talented with the racket, he's had his hands full over the past few years juggling parenthood duties (father of three), a new business (IT related), and his pro squash aspirations. His squash backstory, teaming up with his father, is unconventional if not intriguing and unique. We talk about this and then get into a wide-ranging discussion on th...
Jun 28, 2019•1 hr
Andrew Douglas is no stranger to representing the US on the big stage. He was part of the US junior men's team that finished 3rd at the World Championships a few years back, and led the University of Pennsylvania to its highest ever finish in 2018/19. Andrew is pumped for the Pan Am Games in Lima, and relishes this opportunity to represent the US in what many feel is squash's Olympics along with the Commonwealth Games. Alongside tour veterans Todd Harrity and Chris Hanson, the US look forward to...
Jun 24, 2019•39 min
Framboise Gommendy has covered the professional game at its highest levels for several generations now. Squashsite (run by Fram and Steve Cubbins)is the go to online squash news source for the global squash community, and it's Fram's intimate, passionate, and blow by blow journalistic approach that gives squashsite that special appeal. Fram and I cover a lot of ground, from her early years as an aspiring actress to what she thought of the 2018/19 season; in fact she interviews me to kick things ...
Jun 18, 2019•1 hr 14 min
Following in the footsteps of French greats like Thierry Lincou and Gregory Gaultier, Gregoire Marche has stepped things up in 2018/19 with the best squash of his career. A win at last weeks Montpellier Open over James Willstrop along with the Pittsburgh Open (his biggest win to date) earlier in the year, Gregoire finds himself on the cusp of breaking into the world's top 10. We have a great chat about how he's arrived at this point in his career, and a few anecdotes about his golf and Twitter g...
Jun 07, 2019•39 min
University of Rochester stand out Ryosei Kobayashi is a talent that you don't want to miss. Winner of the prestigious US varsity squash Skillman Award, Ryosei decided to forego pro squash for a crack at the private sector; seemingly it was just a brief bit of respite as he's hit the ground running in his first year on tour. Winning a few satellite PSA events along with several wins over players ranked 100 spots above him, Ryosei has his sights firmly set on success as a pro squash player. You wa...
May 30, 2019•46 min
Founder and GM of Infinitum Squash, Chessin Gertler has parlayed his successful junior and collegiate squash playing days into a squash business and development model that is most certainly making inroads. Chessin, who teamed up with Infinitum Director of Squash Nick Taylor in 2017, is one of squash's young outliers; His approach to developing the game across the board is showing promising results. We discuss this approach and how Infinitum Squash came to be following his playing days. Then ther...
May 25, 2019•1 hr 3 min
2018/2019 has been a campaign of new heights for Saurav Ghosal. Saurav became the first-ever Indian male to win the Asian Championships a few short weeks ago, and in April he reached the world's top 10 for the first time. Saurav explains that it took a certain wherewithal and perseverance to get there though, and his explanation of this journey is awesome. His relationship with Malcom Willstrop is obviously a huge reason behind this success, as are the recent tweaks under the guidance of David P...
May 10, 2019•54 min
Since 1976, Andrew Shelley has been laying the groundwork for developing the game of squash, and he took this skill set to the highest level in 2010 when he became WSF CEO. His list of accomplishments in terms of what he's done to grow our great game are too long to mention here. He leaves his WSF post in June, and it was great to speak with Andrew about his squash experience to date, what he accomplished in his SRA, WISPA and WSF roles, and he even shared a few great anecdotes in doing so.
May 02, 2019•45 min
Two time US National Champion, proud New Yorker, and current world #68 Chris Hanson graced the podcast with his presence on Episode 83. He lit up the TOC this year with a great first round win followed by a near upset of world #16 Omar Mosad. Currently with Rodney Martin in his corner, and Rodney Eyles and John Power Sr previously, there's good reason to believe that results like this are bound to come more consistently. First things first though, the US are looking to bring the Pan Am Games squ...
Apr 26, 2019•1 hr 9 min
For squash players who grew up playing the game in the 80s, we grew up idolizing Jahangir Khan, and synonymous with Jahangir was his iconic coach Rahmat Khan. Rahmat helped guide Jahangir to a record 10 British Open titles, and the backstory behind their success is one we can all learn from. Rahmat describes the challenges Jahangir had early on following the death of his brother Torsem, and how this ultimately laid the groundwork for the unwavering discipline, focus and professionalism that char...
Apr 20, 2019•1 hr 14 min
Squash renaissance man Richard Millman is fighting the good fight, and always has been. Richard emerged in the US several years back and has embarked on an incredible squash journey that currently has him as the teaching pro at a squash club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, not exactly a squash hotbed which is why Richard is there. Richard is an outlier, always pushing the envelope, and through all of the initiatives, insights, and an incredible backstory you will definitely see why.
Apr 10, 2019•1 hr 11 min
Tribute to Andy Bunting by Neil Harvey
Apr 08, 2019•29 min
2019 Bermuda Open champion and friend of the podcast Nick Sachvie joined me for his "3rd" visit, and there was lots to talk about. Nick is fresh off a few good wins after some up and down results earlier in the season, and we look at how this all played out. Over the next few months Nick has plenty to play for, including a shot at his 2nd Canadian National title and the potential of a Pan Am Games border skirmish with the US this summer. We also take the opportunity to talk about our mutual love...
Mar 31, 2019•1 hr 8 min
2 time British National Champion and current world number 10, Tesni Evans is one of the reasons why the women's game has become must-watch squash these days. Tesni describes her season to date, how it felt regaining the British National Championship and becoming the first Welsh player (male or female) to win the Brit Nationals. We also talk about the Empower Squash Foundation and the first season in the PSL for the Welsh Wizards.
Mar 29, 2019•34 min
Grasshopper Cup 2019 is upon us and event organizer Steve Buchli has put together another fantastic event.
Mar 27, 2019•16 min
Miguel Rodriquez's incredible 2018 British Open run was unquestionably the story of the 2018 squash year. Behind that win there was blood, sweat, tears and plenty between the ears. Between the ears is where Maxim P. Weithers came into the picture, close to 10 years ago in fact. Maxim tells us how this all evolved and provides some great insight into mental techniques that helped to pave the way to Miguel's stunning British Open victory. Maxim also has his own squash story which we get into, incl...
Mar 21, 2019•1 hr 19 min
Fresh off his first PSA title win at the Guifoyle PSA Squash Classic in Toronto, David Baillargeon is putting in the work to take his squash to the next level. Recently relocated to Bristol with Hadrian Stiff's Elite Squash Team, David talks about his squash roots in the Canadian hotbed of Quebec, Montreal in particular. It was there that he began working with his long time coach, Canadian coaching guru Yvon Provencal. We talk plenty about this, his move to the UK, and near the end I cheekily so...
Mar 16, 2019•51 min
Lead writer for Squash Player Magazine Rod Gilmour is all over the recent Olympic bid setback; he sheds light on Nick Matthew's suggestion that legal action against the IOC should be taken. Rod has also co-authored one of the best squash stories out there, Shot and a Ghost along with James Willstrop; we talk about James and how he sees the next few years playing out for him. Some great content here with Rod on Ep. 74.
Mar 08, 2019•46 min
Christopher Gordon's longevity at the top of US men's professional squash has been nothing less than impressive, and he has his sites set on more wins and more titles going forward. Chris and I talk about his backstory in US squash, a big win over Simon Rosner in the German Jr. Open, the renaissance in US squash which ultimately led to the huge developments we see there today, his love of hockey, and how pumped he is for this next stage of his pro career. Great chat with Chris.
Mar 01, 2019•52 min
Alan Thatcher has been an integral part of the world squash scene for as long as I can remember. The founder of squashmad.com talks with me about squash's most recent Olympic bid setback, his baby Canary Wharf which is set to kick off in less than two weeks, and World Squash Day which he founded in 2012 in the aftermath of the World Trade Center 9/11 tragedy.
Feb 27, 2019•1 hr 3 min
Senior Reporter Nick Hope lays out the recent Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee's choice of breakdancing as its new sport for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Feb 23, 2019•20 min
For the past 10 years, Joey Barrington has truly been a god-sent for squash through his one of a kind, entertaining and insightful commentary on Squash TV. More than that though, Joey's squash story is like no other. The son of living legend Jonah Barrington, Joey's pathway to the pro game wasn't quite what you think. He opens up about what drove him away from the game in his youth, and what it was that inspired return to squash at the age 20. Joey reminisces at length about his legendary father...
Feb 19, 2019•1 hr 38 min
Lucas Serme has shown of late that he has the game to make inroads into the world top 10. Lucas lays out the backstory that has gotten him to where he is today. And, did you know he is among the growing collection of PSA tour married couples? Anna Serme just happens to be his better half and she's fresh off two wins on the trot on home soil in the Czech Rep. Lucas describes the nerves he feels when he's in her corner, and his plans for valentine's day :)
Feb 16, 2019•47 min
Only a few have successfully parlayed supremely successfully professional careers into equally successful careers as coaches; Liz Irving is among those in this rarefied air. She's reached world #2 as a player, helped Vanessa Atkinson make the leap to world #1, and famously coached Nicol David during her illustrious reign as queen of squash; that's an impressive resume. Liz looks back at her promising junior career, the changes she made that took her to world #2, coaching the aforementioned two w...
Feb 12, 2019•58 min
Impressively into its 18th installment, the Linear Logistics Bankers Hall Pro-Am is the longest running PSA event that Canada has to offer. Bob Ballinger, head pro at Bankers Hall since 2001, is the man who's led the charge through these years, and what a spectacular job he's done keeping the event on firm footing, and one that's produced a prolific run of champions since the event's inaugural. Bob and I chat about this year's event, how it's evolved since 2001, insight into the fitness required...
Feb 07, 2019•36 min
The PSA has made serious inroads over the past 10 years or so including raising the game's profile through the Squash TV initiative and joining forces with the WSF (Women's International Squash Federation). What we have today is a very marketable professional squash product, and behind this is PSA CEO Alex Gough. A world class player himself, Alex takes us back to his playing days against all the #1s from Jansher Khan through to Mohammed El Shorbagy; I encourage you to watch his match v. Jansher...
Feb 05, 2019•58 min
Reigning German National Champion Raphael Kandra has emerged a force to be reckoned with among the top tier of squash. Currently 15 in the world and 16 in the race to Dubai standings, Kandra is more than excited about the 2019 campaign. A brilliant performance at last year's British Open which saw the German come through qualies to reach the semi-final, beating Nick Matthew and Marwan ElShorbagy along the way, was an incredible story. He's not resting on his laurels though; it's onwards and upwa...
Jan 29, 2019•49 min
