Jason Hicks on Squash: Where are they now?

Nick Matthew and Stefan Edberg.
top photo © 2006 Debra Tessier

For many years Squash has always lived in the shadow of Tennis, its financially richer, higher-profile cousin.

In the ‘golden era’ of Tennis, stars such as John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Chris Evert became household names performing before huge arena and television audiences. Not only were we familiar with them as Tennis players, they became celebrities known the world over and some even became cultural icons.

We knew their interests and private lives and they played a central role in making Tennis the huge media sport it is today.

Although Squash has yet to make that quantum leap into the mainstream and into the awareness of the general public it is not short on personalities to compare to the Tennis legends of the past.

Here are the current top 10 players on this month’s PSA Men’s World rankings and their Tennis equivalents:

10. Nick Matthew(ENG) – Stephan Edberg
Englishman Nick Matthew uncannily exhibits Stephan Edberg’s quiet gentlemanly demeanor. Along with similar elegant ‘textbook’ technique, Nick has hovered beneath top five and has proven he is capable of reaching the very top with several PSA final appearances to add to his recent British Nationals win.

He is also young enough that he has the time and potential to become as much a legend as the great Swede.

9. John White(SCO) – Andre Agassi

John White and Andre Agassis.
top photo © 2006 Debra Tessier

Both John White and Andre Agassi are flamboyant characters.

White’s game features devastating rally-ending kill-shots. He executes them with similar ease with which Agassi would powerfully return 130mph serves.

Both John and Andre possess a gene that all mere mortals lack and that is a natural ability to coordinate and time their stroke perfectly.

We all know that Andre’s game underwent a superb renaissance during the latter part of his career.

Does this mean we may see John White back at the #1 spot once again?!

8. Lee Beachill(ENG)- Jim Courier
Fair complexions, blue-eyed and unshaven, both players characterize great models of consistency in both match results and playing style, adopting for a more tough attritional approach.

When not exhibiting skills with the Squash racket, away from the court both Lee and Jim are fanatical guitar players!

7. Peter Nicol(ENG) – Bjorn Borg
Peter Nicol will retire at the end of this season as the most successful Squash player of the modern era.

Bjorn Borg up to his retirement had achieved the exact same status. Both players conducted themselves with exemplary behavior, they never questioned an official’s call and when competing exuded an ice calm persona.

Both Peter and Bjorn’s reputations were so great that many opponents were beaten men even before a ball was hit.

Peter recently even introduced a carbon-copy image of Borg, growing his hair shoulder length long and sporting that famous toweling headband!

6. Anthony Rickets(AUS)- Jimmy Connors

Anthony Ricketts and Jimmy Connors.
top photo © 2006 Debra Tessier

Anthony Ricketts of Australia is fast developing a reputation as being one of the toughest and fiercest competitors on the tour.

Slowly maturing, he has managed to temper some early petulance and naivity with little more charm and wit.

With HIS hyperactive energy and a never-say-die attitude, Anthony looks set to emulate Connors as one of the games most charismatic of characters.

5. James Willstrop(ENG)- Boris Becker
Boris Becker burst onto the tennis scene as a teenager and won Wimbledon at his first attempt.

England’s James Willstrop has impacted squash in just the same manner with a fresh, creative style of play progressing deep into major tournaments when still as a junior.
Both amazingly agile for big guys, James will become a more and more imposing figure as he matures and look set to become as much an icon as the German.

4. Thierry Lincou(FRA) - Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras quietly climbed his way to the top, his progress overshadowed by other more outgoing tennis personalities on the scene. Thierry Lincou has become a similar figure holding the #1 spot for the best part of last year, quietly getting on with each event and reaching finals with the minimum amount of fuss.

Thierry is a serious but nice guy, and, whose achievements when all said and done will be more significant than most observers would give him credit for.

3. Amr Shabana(EGY)- Ilie Nastase
Don't worry, Amr ... we're not talking about Nastase's temper tantrums ... it's simply that Nastase always seemed to be out there just for the love of the game. A sporting journalist once said he loved Ilie Nastase the most out all the top Tennis players because “he just doesn’t give a damn”.

This quote too, aptly describes Egypt’s Amr Shabana.

Like Nastase, Shabana is a great entertainer with the most dangerous arsenal of attacking shots of all the pros,some of which are executed from the craziest of situations in the court.

There has always been unpredictability as to how well Amr would perform, reflected in tournament wins one week then first round exits the next, though his predicability has grown immensely in the past year.

Whenever Amr is “on”, no-one can stop him. And he may well be the next #1 ...

2. David Palmer(AUS) – Ivan Lendl

Meticulous, that’s one word that describes tough Australian David Palmer.
Like Lendl in his day, Palmer’s training program leaves nothing uncovered from stamina and speed, to flexibility and diet and, probably most important of all, psychology.

A thorough student of the game David is without doubt the best prepared Squash player of them all.

Also, behind a somewhat stern exterior there lies a much more likeable person than most people are aware.

1. Jonathan Power (Can) - John McEnroe
Undoubtedly the most obvious pairing, both sportsmen share almost every character trait, so much so, they might have been father and son!

Love him or loathe him, one just has to watch a Jonathan Power match as something almost always happens. Walking a fine line between madness and genius he would make opponents look like fools on one day, but could incredibly self-destruct the next with ‘McEnroe-esque’ like tantrums.

Both anti-establishment figures, JP and JM play two sports that are essentially upper middle class sports.

Possessing natural racket skills and ‘radar-like’ tactical awareness, their playing success and charisma have immeasurably raised the profile of their sports in their respective countries.

Although brash and outspoken, it’s another interesting co-incidence that both players have become involved in the media world serving as insightful match commentators.
Arguably Squash and Tennis will may never see such colorful characters such as Power and McEnroe ever again.

At the time of writing this article, Jonathon Power announced his retirement from professional Squash.