Jamie Abbott of Cross Court Analytics first appeared on Episode 167 shortly after their launch, and since then they've been crunching the squash digits big time! The chat today with Jamie bears that out along with plenty of food for thought. On this ep we discuss several areas that they're analyzing: officiating decisions by numbers, the lack of stats utilized in pro game commentary, the numbers behind Karim Abdel Gawad's incredible comeback this season, some of the pro players that they are wor...
Jun 11, 2023•58 min
There are some prolific, big name coaches on the PSA tour right now, but you would be hard pressed to find one who has had more success than Omar Abdel Aziz. The list of players that he's worked with and their accomplishments over the last several years is impressive and they include, amongst others, the likes of Hania El Hammamy, Tarek Momen, Karim Abdel Gawad, Nouran Gohar and Youssef Ibrahim. Omar talks about his early days on the PSA tour, the influence of Karim Darwish, Amr Shabana and Ahma...
May 31, 2023•55 min
Youssef Ibrahim was in the ascendancy a year ago; playing scintillating squash which saw him reach world #11 before having to step away from the game due to serious knee issue. He's back, and if his form at the recent World Championships is any indication, he's not far off that world #11 form. Youssef talks about the injury, his rehab and comeback, the great match v. Mohamed El Shorbagy in Chicago along with where the backhand topspin winner that went viral came from, and much more. Check out ou...
May 24, 2023•49 min
Class is in session once again with Rob Dinerman. Rob provides a tremendous tribute to Paul Assaiante, a breakdown of the most recent US College Squash season, a recap of the US Pro Doubles season, his take on the PSA from the American perspective and of course his latest book A History of the Briggs Cup. For those of you interested in any of Rob's books check out www.robdinerman.com or contact https://www.mpcprinting.com/
May 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini are your 2023 World Open Champions, and RJ Mitchell and I break down their victories and how everything played out in Chicago. Check out our sponsor, Open Squash, www.opensquash.org
May 14, 2023•55 min
Double champs at the European Team Championships last week, England National Team Head Coach David Campion joins the pod to break it all down; from the ladies impressive win, to the men's inspirational win, Mohammed El Shorbagy's unbelievable comeback against Victor Crouin in the final and MES' impact on the team as a whole, and the culture the David is attempting to cultivate within the team. Really great chat!
May 05, 2023•49 min
Reigning World Open and British Open champ Ali Farag proved that he is back, playing sublime squash on his way to winning his first ever British Open last month. Now, he's a few days away from embarking on a World Open Championship three-peat. Ali talks about over coming injury, working his way back to his best form, his British Open win, the upcoming World Open, Open Squash and much more. Check out our sponsor www.opensquash.org
May 02, 2023•47 min
Who better to break down the upcoming World Open than SquashTv's First though, Johnny talks about England's big win at the European Teams in Helsinki along with Switzerland's historic 3rd place finish with their win over Wales. Johnny then deep dives on both the men's and women's events at the World's, and caps it off by predicting the winners. Many thanks to our sponsors #Weareopensquash www.opensquash.org
Apr 30, 2023•59 min
Squash Canada Hall of Fame 2023 inductee Jamie Crombie makes a glorious return to the pod to look back at his illustrious squash story. Jamie takes us back to his junior days, the countless caps he's had representing Canada at the World Team champs from 1985 through to 1995 and the Pan Am Games, his relationship with fellow Calgarian and Squash Canada Hall of Famer Dale Styner, as well as a tribute to his late great coach at Western University, Jack Fairs.
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Leading Trinity to 17 national titles which included 13 on the trot during "the streak", Paul Assaiante is without question one of the greatest coaches in US Collegiate sports history. Shortly following the end of this season which saw his Trinity Bantams surprise many by reaching the Potter Cup final, Paul announced that he would be stepping down as head coach after 30 glorious years at the helm. This chat covers it all, and it truly captures what makes Coach Assaiante an absolute national trea...
Apr 22, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Squash Mad's RJ Mitchell returns to the Pod on the eve of the British Open to break it all down, and to talk about his Squash Mad interview with the great Jahangir Khan. Check out our sponsor www.opensquash.org
Apr 08, 2023•52 min
Uncertain as to whether he'd ever play PSA squash again, Karem Abdel Gawad let it be known via his Optasia Championship victory that he's well on his way back to the form that saw him win the World Championship and reach world #1 in 2017. Karem talks about his Optasia success, and the brutal heel injury and the complicated journey back to playing squash again. Great chat with the baby-faced assassin. Check out our sponsor, www.opensquash.org and you can reach me at ggibson@hct.ac.ae if you'd lik...
Apr 07, 2023•45 min
Tomato Ho's 2022/23 campaign has been eye opening to say the least. Currently ranked #32, she's had big wins over the likes SJ Perry, Tesni Evans, Jasmine Hutton and in doing so has reached the semis in Cleveland and Calgary, and the last 16 at the TOC. On top of that, Tomato (Tze Lok) recently changed her name for PSA purposes, and she tells the incredible story behind the change. We also take a deep dive into her breakout season, Hong Kong squash, and we also talk about her squash idol, James ...
Apr 04, 2023•59 min
We're at the business end of the 2022/23 PSA with the British Open and World Championships just around the corner. PSA CEO Alex Gough joins the pod to talk about what he describes as perhaps the busiest season in PSA history. We also talk officiating in terms of what Lee Drew and the team have been facing and the move to have paid full-time officials on tour. Also, we get into the Olympic bid, the PSA Foundation, the Challenger Series, qualifying for the World Champs, and of course that elephant...
Mar 31, 2023•1 hr 18 min
When Jonathon Power made his mark on the pro tour by winning the 1996 Tournament of Champions, the years that followed were unlike anything professional squash had witnessed prior. JP emerged as a real breath of fresh air; a braggadocios brand of squash, appealing both in terms of the squash itself and the theater that JP brought with it. Jethro Binns and the fellas at Squash Skills capture all of this in their 3 Part Jonathon Power documentary, a documentary which was long overdue. Jethro and I...
Mar 26, 2023•1 hr 21 min
Danny Lee talks about the event that he has put so much time and effort into over the years, the Optasia Squash Championship, previously named the Chanel VAS Championships. Danny talks about this year's event, his son Charlie's first round win, world #1 implications and of course some more great anecdotes about "The Shark". Please check out what's going on at Open Squash at www.opensquash.org
Mar 23, 2023•42 min
On September 16th, 2022, Alex Preston and Michael Pearce played squash for 40 hours, 1 minute and 59 seconds, breaking the world record by 2 minutes. Alex Preston talks about the record, where the idea was borne from, the prep, the team involved, the marathon itself, and the aftermath. Alex and I flesh out this accomplishment, and everything in and around it is mind-blowing; a tremendous chat about a tremendous accomplishment. I also give my recap of Canary Wharf at the conclusion of my chat wit...
Mar 18, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Charlie Lee is making his move; winner of two Challenger Series events within the past month, including the Guilfoyle Classic in Toronto, Charlie's got is sights set on riding this wave on up the PSA rankings. Charlie and I have chill out Canadian style as he's been acclimatizing to life in the Great White North for the past few weeks. We talk about his Guilfoyle win and his win in Philly previously, his battles with fatigue and adjustments he had to make, the impact his dad Danny Lee has had on...
Mar 13, 2023•1 hr 7 min
The in form player on women's tour right now has to be Olivia Clyne; a tremendous February has arguably been the best squash of her career. We have a great chat about her growth as player over the past year, both physically and mentally. We also talk about her string of great results, Team USA's amazing second place finish at the World Teams and US Women's squash in general, and a discussion about on the recent on court behavior issues at junior events. Check out our sponsor www.opensquash.org
Mar 04, 2023•1 hr 5 min
The sights were set on gold from well before the games, and to make it happen is a testament to the player/coach relationship Ben Ford and Gina Kennedy have established for several years now. Ben talks about his growth as a professional coach, the early days with Gina, her injury struggles before and after the games, and his thoughts on the women's game. Great chat and many thanks to www.opensquash.org
Feb 24, 2023•55 min
This discussion brought together 5 extremely passionate members of our squash community, all of whom have dedicated much of their recent time to identifying ways forward towards growing the game. This panel discussion was meant to discuss various initiatives, issues, shortcomings and potential solutions to helping squash regain footing and head back towards a period of growth. The panel includes: 1. Zena Wooldridge - President of the World Squash Federation - https://www.worldsquash.org/ 2. Pete...
Feb 18, 2023•1 hr 52 min
Victor Crouin has picked up exactly where he left off at the end of 2021/22, on an upward trajectory and playing some inspired and impressive squash. This episode drops as Victor has reached another final, the Canadian Open where he meets number 2 seed Joel Makin in what should be a great match. Victor talks about the Canadian Open, his season to date, the officiating dialogue in the aftermath of Aly Abu's tweet suggestions, and he also sets the record straight on the Squash Mad article which ci...
Feb 17, 2023•52 min
The Oxford Properties Canadian Open brings world class squash back to the Great White North. Bow Valley Athletic Club is hosting the event, and club CEO Dean Brown returns to the pod to break it all down!! Check out BVAC https://www.bowvalleyathleticclub.com and the pod sponsor Open Squash at www.opensquash.org
Feb 13, 2023•25 min
Squash Mad's RJ Mitchell comes on to recap the start of the 2023 season, and then we take a deep dive into the Mostafa Asal situation, and RJ is an authority given his two recent interviews with Mostafa combined with his Victor Crouin, Marwan El Shorbagy and Jansher Khan stories, all of whom had a bit to say about the current world #1. We also talk about the rising star of Diego Elias, the future rivalry b/t Elias and Asal, and Gina Kennedy's return to health and form to begin 2023. Great chat. ...
Feb 07, 2023•55 min
Jackson Bragman from the Bragman Breakdown helps me to breakdown the Tournament of Champions which concluded a few days back in New York City. We talk about the stellar performances throughout the event from the two eventual winners, Diego Elias and Nour El Sherbini. Finals day was a bit anti climactic, but overall the event had plenty of great moments, including the play of the Colombian Cannonball Miguel Rodriguez, and we talk about what's made him such a special player over the years. We also...
Jan 29, 2023•51 min
Hard to believe it was 4 years back, shortly after retirement, that the Wolf, Nick Matthew, first appeared on this podcast. Former World #1, 3 x British and World Open Champ and 3x Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Nick shows up like the legend he truly is. Nick gives great insight into everything we touched on: the recent British Junior Open including British success at U19, the first ever US male winner in any age group, coaching and officiating issues, and of course the Egyptian dominance ove...
Jan 21, 2023•1 hr 25 min
2022 has been a breakout year for another one of the game's rising young talents. Reigning US National champion Timmy Brownell is on the cusp of regular gold and platinum event status. Currently at his highest ever world ranking of 52, Timmy's just outside the number that would guarantee him spots in those big event draws, but he knows it's just a matter of time. Timmy talks about his great season to date including his SL Green US Nationals victory along with Challenger Series wins in Vancouver ...
Jan 09, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Aly Abu Elenein is without question one of the bright young talents on the tour, with impressive results over some of the best in the game in his first half-year on tour. Aly finds himself poised to take a legitimate run at reaching the top 10 in the near future. Aly and I talk about his season to date, and how it's inspired him going forward. Aly also discusses his squash backstory which for an Egyptian standout junior was somewhat unconventional. We also talk about his 4 exceptional years at P...
Jan 03, 2023•52 min
Earlier this month, Squash Mad's founder and Editor in Chief Alan Thatcher decided to relinquish the reins at the publication for health reasons. Yet, the publication is in very good spot going forward with the team he has assembled. Alan and I talk about his decision to step aside for the time being, the growth of Squash Mad and its team of writers. We also take a World Squash Day deep dive by looking back at the beginnings, its growth since then, and the struggles he's had in getting some nati...
Dec 27, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Ending the first half of the 2022/23 PSA with a victory at the Hong Kong Football Club Open, Marwan El Shorbagy finds himself back to playing his best squash. Not only that, he finds himself back in the mix again at #6 in the world, with all to play for with some big events fast approaching in 2023. This is a great chat about the season to date, joining forces with the all time great Rodney Martin, and his takes on officiating and the need to have the very best officials at all the major events....
Dec 21, 2022•47 min
