Joe Kneipp:
January Player of the Month

Joe Kneipp electrified the crowd each time he took the court in Boston at the US Open. He played confident attacking squash that made it seem that he naturally belonged in the company of the top ten players.

But who is Joe Kneipp and how has he burst onto the scene like this? Martin Bronstein's talked to Joe after the US Open.

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Video interview
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By Martin Bronstein

Joe Kneipp used the US Open to show the squash world yet again that he is not only a world class player but one who deserves a position in the top ten. He would certainly be there if it were not for a lively intellect that keeps telling him there is more to life than hitting a black ball. He plays his best when he has a challenge - like beating a player ranked well above him, which he has done on numerous occasions.

These triumphs are usually followed by huge comedowns - being beaten 3/0 by a player ranked well below him. In a fairly frank interview, Kneipp reveals some of the important events in his life. He was born in Brisbane 28 years ago, father and seven uncles all avid cricketers and although his father was a good tennis player, Kneipp's first love was soccer. He was collecting trophies even then; he particularly remembers a large one for most goals scored in a season.

Joe Kneipp has experienced a wide range of ups and downs.

WHEN DID SQUASH COME INTO YOUR LIFE?
When I was about seven my father said 'I enjoy squash and so shall you.' By the time I was nine I won State titles. It was a case of walking on court and being a natural. I took lessons from the start and it was my second coach, Terry Arnold, he taught me to go for shots when they were on. I also saw Aub Amos and I spent some time at the Australian Institute of Sport. I was at the AIS for a year when I was 15, reapplied, got accepted and then decided not to go back.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE NOT TO GO BACK?
I wasn't the ideal teacher's pet, so to speak,and a couple of times during my junior years I rubbed the hierarchy the wrong way.

SO YOU HAVE A BIT OF AN ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN STREAK?

Joe had a breakthrough win against John White (world #3) in Boston

Yes. Definitely. I never wanted to kiss butt. Sometimes that is not appreciated. And then I stopped playing squash for a year because I decided that the amount of work involved and what was at the end of it were not comparable. I worked at basic labouring jobs and playing a lot of golf- got my handicap down to 10 - and then out of the blue someone told me that the Australian junior team was going to be picked in three months time. So I trained unbelievably hard for a month, my focus was great and I made number one on the team. The other members were Gavin Cadwell, Byron Davis and Dan Jenson. Then I did something that I have done many times since; once I'd got on the team, I ersocially lost the plot. When we got to Hong Kong I was useless. I killed myself, absolutely killed myself. In the lead up tournament I got to the final and the night before stayed up all night playing poker. I went two games up and then it felt as though somebody had come on court and hit me with a sledge-hammer. I was finished.

IS THIS THE STORY OF YOU LIFE?

Joe is an exciting player to watch when he's concentrating

Yeah. The fact is I've always enjoyed socialising a little too much. But one thing that has always stayed with me is the spectre of finishing a squash career without knowing just how good I could be, how far I could go. I didn't want to reach the age of 35 or 40 and say 'well, what did I do?.' This is why my brother Daniel is here to crack the whip and give me the discipline I need.

I HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS AN OLDER BROTHER WHO LISTENS TO HIS YOUNGER BROTHER.
This is the third time he has asked to do this and he has a great interest in my squash. He'd asked twice before and I put him off because I thought we'd butt heads and get under each other's skin. But now with just a two months working with him and doing some proper training, I've already seen the results (at the US OPEN).

DO YOU NOW HAVE SET GOALS?
I've never said things like 'I'm going to be world number one' I don't want to be like that. But the US Open was a great indication of what could happen if I trained for six months like this. I beat John White in three and I never felt threatened. And if I could play Nicol like that after a couple of months, what could I do in the future?

WHAT HAPPENED AGAINST NICOL?
I gave him too much respect. He is the number one guy and beating him is something special; you can't keep that out of your head. I must learn not to give him too much respect. I've beaten a majority of guys in the top ten, but that is not the same as beating the number one.

I AM FORMING A THEORY THAT THE BETTER PLAYER WILL ALWAYS PULL AWAY IF THE SCORE GETS TO 10-ALL. DO YOU AGREE?

Kneipp's game features devastating attacks

Yes. It's purely mental. Against Nicol in the US Open in the third game, I started thinking about doing something different. I wasn't tired, I was just choosing the wrong options and that's mental fatigue. Whereas Peter did what he had been doing and did it well. And that's why he is as good as he is. These are areas that I can improve on and I believe I will.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE WELL-KNOWN KNEIPP SOCIALISING?
I've put a lid on that and it will have to wait for February when there are no tournaments. The routine used to be: go to a tournament, wait till you lose, go out and get hammered and that doesn't always make a good training regime.

WHAT WILL THE US OPEN DO TO YOUR RANKING?
My brother worked it out that I should go up to 17 or 18. If I do well in Pittsburgh and New York, I should get into the top ten. I don't set myself unreasonable goals. I will go to Pittsburgh looking to get to the semis. I know I can win in Pittsburgh but I don't go there saying I am going to win. Same for Tournament of Champions. It's going to take someone playing well or me playing badly to upset what I am doing now.

IS THERE A DANGER OF BEING OVER-CONFIDENT?
Definitely. I'm good at doing odd things like that. But I am working on not doing well in one tournament and then falling by the wayside in the next. I beat Power 3/0 in Antwerp two years ago and I played extremely well. I had won in Greenwich and he had won the Tournament of Champions, and everyone was saying Power would beat me 3/0 and I was enjoying that everyone had written me off.

It was fuel to my fire. That was sweet that victory, very sweet. And then one of classic things: in the next tournament I lost first round to Graham Ryding, 3/0. I won't say that will never happen again, but I will be playing more consistently. I want to know how far I can go. I could have been two up against Peter Nicol in Boston. It was a very fine line and that is encouraging.

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Joe Kneipp: January Player of the Month

Joe Kneipp:
January Player of the Month