SquashForGood: Say hi to Rachael Grinham

1. What years did you compete professionally and what was your highest ranking?

I joined the professional tour in 1994 while finishing my final high school year, then began full-time from 1995.

Highest ranking World No.1 for 16 months in 2004-05.

My full-time career was probably helped to an end when Covid hit in 2020, and then I also injured an ACL in 2022. But I have remained an active member and still compete in local PSA events if I’m able to.

2. Top highlight of your career?

Probably finally winning the World Open in 2007 in Madrid, especially as at that point it seemed as though my best chances to win a World Open were behind me. Also made extra special by playing against my sister in the final.

3. Favorite tournament(s) you played in and why?

There are so many tournaments that you could say are your favourite for all different reasons. The ones I really looked forward to were warm, beachy destinations. Places like Cayman Islands, Red Sea resorts in Egypt, etc.
I like the relaxing holiday feel of staying at a beach resort, and you can’t help but realise how lucky you are to be doing what you love while getting paid for it and being able to go places in the world that you otherwise probably would never have had the opportunity to visit.

4. Favorite memory(ies) from the tour?

I think the best times on tour were playing team events like the World Teams and Commonwealth Games. With squash being an individual sport it’s not often that those opportunities come up to represent your country as a team, and it’s a really special experience. Win or lose it’s always a week high on all kinds of emotions, and you end up forming bonds and making memories that will last forever.

5. Who was the toughest opponent of your career and why?

Nicol David. It was almost impossible to hit a ball that she couldn’t retrieve. I used to think she was quicker than most men on tour. And she would go on forever without making any errors.

It’s tough to deal with mentally when in the back of your mind you know that most likely all of your best shots are going to keep coming back. You pretty much had to hit what would normally be a winning shot at least 5 times within one rally to win it. Hand-in/hand-out scoring and the 19-inch tin at the time certainly didn’t make that any easier for us!

6. Where are you from originally?

I was born and grew up in Toowoomba, Australia.

7. Age when you first started playing and what/who got you into it?

My parents played squash; it was very popular in Australia back in the 1970s and 80s. We were always around the squash courts with our parents as toddlers. Back in those days, the kids would be left to play around on the courts after the parents had finished and gone to the bar. I was basically playing as soon as I could walk and hit a ball. I usually say I began playing at about 3yrs old. I have no memory of ever not playing squash.

8. Where do you live now and what are you doing?

I live in Brisbane with my partner (Jenny Duncalf) and our 2yr old son. I’m driving rideshare which gives me flexibility to work around Jen’s work commitments as Squash Australia National Pathways Coach while also mumming to a toddler.

9. Do you still play?

I’m still trying to play local tournaments when I get the chance, but trying to coordinate that with working and family life is not as easy as it used to be! But squash has always been a part of my life, right from the beginning when I used to spend hours at the courts as a kid only to be brought home and just beg to go back.

I can’t imagine ever not playing unless I’m physically forced to. Other pros will hang up the racket and start playing golf or something for fun, but for me that is squash. Even to this day I still enjoy spending time just knocking the ball around the angles by myself on a court with some music in my ears. It’s kind of therapeutic for me.

10. A former or current player you admire that might surprise people?

I’m presuming by this it’s meant not to be an obvious player such as a World No.1… Unfortunately, I don’t get to watch anywhere near as much pro squash as I’d like to these days, so I’m gonna go for a former player and say, Annie Au.

The lob has always been one of my favourite shots, which I think is quite often too underrated, and the way the pro game has evolved to become far more fast-paced and hard-hitting I think we’re seeing it less and less. Annie Au had killer lob serves and drops/volley drops, and could win games against top 10 players in a couple of minutes. It’s impressive to watch when the fittest of athletes can’t even grind their way into a rally.

11. A coach of any era you admire and why?

I’ve not really had much to do with many coaches throughout my career, probably because I’ve always just enjoyed doing my own thing. I think I’d managed to progress through most of my junior years just playing on instinct, but never really paid attention to what was actually happening in rallies.

Then in my early years on tour I remember having some sessions with Terry White while I was based in Holland in the late 1990s, who made me think about consciously predicting the play and using my speed to attack. That’s my first memory of a coach having an impact on my game.

My good friend Maha Zein then worked with me following her retirement through the period that lead me to World No. 1 while based in Egypt.

12. Advice to an up-and-coming Pro?

Set realistic goals and be prepared to work hard. At the end of the day there are worse jobs to have than keeping yourself fit and healthy while traveling the world. Make the most of those years while you have the chance – most people aren’t as lucky – and worst case you’ll still come out of it with a great life experience.

13. Thoughts on the future of squash and its inclusion in the Olympics?

I’ve been through so many hopeful Olympic bids that have ended in heartbreak throughout the years, and I think the general feeling was that we needed to be more popular and visible to get into the Olympics, but that we needed to get into the Olympics for the chance for that to happen.

But it’s been great to see how far the professional tour has come in recent years since the merge of the men’s and women’s associations, and that PSA have come up with a growing, successful and attractive product without relying on Olympic inclusion.

It’s fantastic that squash has finally been given a chance to hit the Olympic stage, and exciting to see how it will be received, but in any case the future of squash appears to be headed in a great direction.

14. Best general squash advice to anyone?

Hit the ball up 🙂