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Welcome back to Episode 79. It hasn't been the easiest couple of years for Sam after such a strong junior career. He's been quietly going about his business and now, up to world No. 42, he's looking to take the next step in his game. A great chat covering his honest takeaways from time away from the tour, the state of the game, who his current coach is, and England Squash. Enjoy. Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 4:38 – Full Breakdown of why Sam was absent from the game 13:58 – Pressures of being top junior player and losing motivation 18:31 – Ad Break 20:14 – Still on the comeback journey or is this the next phase 26:38 – Has the men’s game changed over the past 2 years 28:58 – Sam’s thoughts on Mostafa Asal and relationship with Pontefract 36:13 – How concerning is the juniors behaviors 39:25 – What is Sam’s current honest relationship with James Willstrop 44:28 – Is Sam changing nationalities to the US for upcoming Olympics 46:08 – How was the support from England during the injury crisis 47:44 – Hopeful times for England squash? Or no? 50:35 – Sam’s bold statement and ambitions for 2026 ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Welcome back to episode 78. A lot has changed since Marina last joined the podcast, as she is now in her second year as a full time pro. We get into her honest thoughts on the transition to the pro tour, the current state of US Squash, the movement issue in the women’s game, and what Olympic qualification could end up looking like. Enjoy! Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 3:55 – Introduction 4:32 – Reflecting on first year on the tour 6:32 – Biggest upgrade since transitioning from college athlete to professional 8:30 – Why train at Specter Center rather than having your own personal team? 13:14 – Ad Break 14:54 – Assessment of her season thus far 18:19 – Marina’s experience with Platinum level tournaments so far 21:35 – Are we ignoring how bad the movement is in the women’s game? 26:21 – The strength of upcoming generation of players and thoughts on Amina Orfi’s game 28:04 – Being able to separate friends from competitors 30:48 – How much weight she’s putting on the Olympics 33:25 – How will Olympics qualifications go for USA selection 35:02 – Breaking down the financials 39:51 – US Squash Strength Coach Bridget and player alignment 42:44 – Ambitions ahead of the season 44:67 - Blind Rankings ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Welcome back to episode 77. Curtis Malik jumps on the pod fresh off the best stretch of his career, highlighted by two huge wins on his US Tour over Youssef Soliman and Mohamed El Shorbagy. We get into how he’s carrying that momentum as he pushes toward the top 15 and beyond. We also break down his recent US Open run, talk through some match and player takeaways, and hear his two cents on the whole glass floor versus wooden floor debate. Enjoy. Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 3:17 – Introduction (Season Catch Up) 5:25 – Curtis speaking on the depth of the men’s tour this season 6:26 – Curtis career month of October (US Tour) 8:06 – What’s changed about his game that’s helped him push up the rankings 10:16 – Thoughts on the changes of the tour this season 11:58 – Sunrise Courts Ad Segment 13:01 – Match analysis on the US Open (El Shorbagy and Steinmann) 22:15 – Curtis Malik breaking down what makes Asal so deadly 24:52 – Curtis tells the truth on what players think about the Glass v Wood Floor debate 26:56 – Breaking down the family dynamic between all the Malik squash players 33:03 – What started the Malik YouTube Channel 35:50 – Curtis sharing his advice from Mohamed El Shorbagy from World Champs 38:24 – How he feels about the buzz and pressure for him and Jonah 40:28 – Blind Rankings 43:17 – Quick Fire ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Welcome back to episode 76! The long awaited Season Preview Show with Johnny Williams! We kick things off with takeaways from the first Gold Event of the season, the London Classic, before diving into the full preview: who will lock in their place in the top 10, players with potential to make big jumps, the battle at the top 4, and even a bit of Junior stars chat. Agree with Johnny’s takes? Enjoy Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 2:42 – New Season / London Classic 7:02 – London Classic Recap (Women’s Side) 20:06 – London Classic Recap (Men’s Side) 41:32 – Men’s Season Preview (Player’s to Watch Out For) 47:07 – Men’s Season Preview (Who’s going to solidify into the top 10) 56:01 – Men’s Season Preview (Who’ll end up on top) 58:07 – Women’s Season Preview (Player’s who will make a move) 1:01:19 – Women’s Season Preview (Amina or Weaver) 1:02:21 – Women’s Season Preview (Amanda and Joelle still have it?) 1:05:14 – Women’s Season Preview (Young Player’s) 1:09:22 – BONUS: Marwan Asal Potential!? ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Welcome back to episode 75! Veer joins the podcast as a full-time pro, making the leap from College Squash to the PSA tour. He’s been on an absolute rampage to start 2025 and is looking to carry that momentum into the new season. With his rapid rise and fearless play, Veer is definitely a name to watch — enjoy the conversation! Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 2:22 – Introduction 4:19 – Work with David Palmer and preparations for this season 6:47 – Veer’s experience on the challenger tour and working to get to platinums 9:28 – Indian Nationals Recap 11:04 – Lack of depth in India Squash right now and support from the federation 14:17 – Transition from College Squash to the Pro Tour 18:33 – Full breakdown of thriller against Mohamad Zakaria 27:19 – Full breakdown of match against Ali Farag 32:40 – Experience training with Mostafa Asal 35:26 – Financial component as a young pro 41:33 – Blind Rankings ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Welcome back to episode 74! Gina Kennedy joins back on the pod since 2022. At the prime of her career, Gina reflects on ways to bounce back from this past season and her ambitions to push beyond her highest world ranking. We also dive deep on some big current issues behind the PSA, from the glass floors to the intricacies of subtle movements and seeding issues. Don’t miss out as she also mentions who’s really to blame for the World Tour Finals event! Enjoy. Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 6:09 – Introduction 7:29 – Gina’s thoughts on World Tour Finals Event. Is the structure bad? 11:48 – Gina potentially working with Rodney Martin? Summer Trial? 14:51 – Has Gina thought to explore different coaches before 17:45 – Dealing with Ulcerative Colitis as an athlete 23:54 – Gina’s disappointment last season and rejuvenated to climb back 29:14 – Conversation around England Squash (Funding, Olympics) 33:59 – How Gina separates friends from competitors 37:45 – Gina’s thoughts on referee and movement fiasco (QuashBadSquash) 40:24 – Gina on the realities of how subtle the movement issue really is 44:44 – Gina’s input on the glass floor v. Wooden floor 46:08 – Gina’s qualm with current seeding issues 50:05 – Blind Rankings ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Welcome back to episode 73! Marwan El Shorbagy joins the pod this week. Given Marwan's unique background, we dive into his honest take on the differences between England and Egypt squash, the current level of the tour, how recent retirements have affected him, and his thoughts on QuashBadSquash. Lots of gems in this one. Enjoy! Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 2:53 – Introduction 4:17 – Coaching relation with Ahmed Effat 6:40 – Marwan changing up coaches throughout his career 8:53 – Switching Allegiance to England 12:59 – What’s troubled England Squash to not be at the top 18:39 – Marwan’s experience moving to England 20:47 – Marwan’s thoughts on the level of the tour right now 24:33 – How Ali Farag’s retirement affected Marwan 28:25 – Dissecting why Marwan had success over the Farag match up 31:34 – Is Marwan playing his squash right now? 37:32 – Marwan on the glass floors 43:18 – Transitioning from being the best junior player to senior circuit 47:23 – Marwan’s thoughts on QuashBadSquash 51:48 – Blind Rankings 54:32 – Quick Fire ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Breaking news episode! Excited to share a new squash initiative bringing together 3 squash podcasts as a centralized medium for the audience to come and enjoy all the squash content out there! Lots of hard hitting questions between Bill, Jackson and I. Enjoy!

Welcome back to episode 72! An absolute shock of a week it's been in the squash world. Four-time World Champion Ali Farag announced his retirement last week, completely shaking up the squash world ahead of the prestigious British Open. What does having someone of Ali Farag's pedigree out of the game change about the dynamic of the men's tour to end this season and into next? Johnny Williams joins back on the hot seat to answer it all. Jam-packed episode with a recap of the World Champs and a preview of the ongoing British Open as well. Enjoy! Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 - Rundown 2:36 - Ali Farag retirement 5:18 - What does Ali Farag’s retirement mean for the men’s tour? 10:50 - Where does this leave Mohamed El Shorbagy 18:42 - The men’s top 10 being too old 23:42 - World Championships Recap 33:30 - British Open Men Preview 45:33 - British Open Women Preview ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Welcome back to Episode 71! It's the big one, folks — the pinnacle tournament of the calendar year: the PSA World Championships. There are headlines galore heading into this year's event — from the battle for the top spot between Asal and Farag, to the Big Three under threat with the rise of Amina Orfi, and a potential changing of the guard in a blockbuster Round 2 clash between Zakaria and El Shorbagy. Johnny Williams joins the show, gets put on the hot seat, and breaks down the draw, the key matchups to watch, and who he thinks will ultimately take the title on both sides. It's a must watch! Enjoy. Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 1:28 – Women’s Draw Breakdown 8:36 – R1/R2 Match Up Talk 12:01 – R3 Talk 18:36 – QF Talk 26:56 – SF Talk 28:40 – FINAL MATCH UP 29:57 – Men’s Draw Breakdown 30:49 – R1 Match Up Talk 36:15 – R2 Match Up Talk 42:42 – R3 Match Up Talk 49:43 – QF Talk 58:01 – SF Talk 59:15 – FINAL MATCH UP ------------------------- Relevant Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therallyreport/ Spotify, Apple, Anchor: https://linktr.ee/therallyreport

Welcome back to episode 70! Bernat jumps back on the pod to catch us up on his recent performances and his move to Egypt. We dive into the squash culture over there and what it’s like having Zakaria as his go-to hitting partner. He also shares his honest thoughts on the glass floors and the dangers they pose compared to traditional wood courts. Bernat opens up about not being drafted by the NSL last year and what it means to now represent the Lake Erie Beacons in Season 2. Enjoy! Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 - Rundown 2:41 - Introduction (Moving from Spain to Egypt) 3:48 - Being part of the Egyptian environment / Playing at the same club as Zakaria 8:31 - Season review. Playing at his highest ranking 10:19 - Australian Open Deep Dive - Youssef Soliman Match 12:38 - Australian Open Deep Dive - Auguste Dussourd Match 14:46 - How dangerous the glass floors are 21:32 - Discussing the hype around Jonah Bryant 24:28 - Playing against younger generation players 26:59 - What Bernat is trying to add in his game now 28:50 - Bernat not being picked by NSL last year 30:58 - Knowing he is capable of beating the best 34:44 - His thoughts on the Lake Erie team and who the best team is 39:20 - Has funding increased since Olympics announcement 40:52 - Blind Rankings 43:14 - Ali v. Mohamed El Shorbagy -- who’s had a more accomplished career

Welcome back to Episode 69! The NSL Draft took place just last week, and each team selected their roster according to the draft order. It was fascinating to see how every team approached constructing their lineup. Philadelphia Lightning's very own Andrew Douglas joins the podcast to analyze each team's picks and grade their performance. With so many high-profile names entering the league, it should be an exciting season ahead as we see who thrives in the NSL format and who struggles to adapt. Which team do you have winning it all? Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 - Rundown 0:56 - Introduction (Criteria for Grading) 4:05 - Philadelphia Freedom 11:21 - District Inferno 13:21 - SoNo Sharks 17:04 - Lake Erie Beacons 21:07 - Greenwich Panthers 25:55 - Philadelphia Lightning 31:30 - Lake Erie Beacons 33:57 - Chicago Grizzlies 35:29 - Newport Dragons 38:11 - Louisville Colts 39:25 - Atlanta Tornados 41:06 - Nashville Crushers 43:49 - New York Knights

Welcome back to episode 68! Emily Whitlock isn’t one to hold back when it comes to speaking her mind about how the PSA is run. It’s refreshing to hear the behind-the-scenes details of how players learn about seed releases, along with her candid thoughts on how the women’s game has evolved over the years. A great, unfiltered discussion—enjoy! Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr. ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 3:45 – Introduction (Emily Whitlock) 7:14 – Platinum Draw Changes Frustration 13:34 – How seeding used to work v. how tournament seeding works now 18:00 – Process of Emily Whitlock joining in on the Commentating for PSA 28:15 – How the Women’s game evolved over generations 33:44 – Emily breaking down the Big Three’s Game 35:54 – Player’s ostracizing Emily (Saudi Arabia Controversy) 47:10 – Quick Fire

Welcome back to Episode 67! Dimitri Steinmann joins us for an in-depth discussion on the ongoing clashes between players and the PSA referee directive. He also shares his thoughts on where he believes his current level stands among the best and what has propelled him to climb the rankings the way he has. It’s rare to see players consistently rise year after year, but Dimitri seems to have done just that. Don't miss out as he ranks where his coach, Simon Rösner, stands among the European greats! Enjoy. Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 - Rundown 2:43 - Introduction 4:56 - Dimitri breaking down Pittsburg Open aftermath 7:59 - Larger conversation around issues with the Referee in the game 11:57 - Dimitri’s thoughts on his current form and season 15:28 - How Dimitri moves up the rankings when players usually stay stagnant 20:42 - How far off does Dimitri think he is from top 10 level 23:58 - Most impressive player of the season 28:12 - Dimitri’s relationship with Coach Rosner and moving from on from different coaches 32:43 - Having Two Olympic Athlete parents and why he picked squash 34:34 - Golden Age for Squash in Switzerland 38:29 - Blind Rankings (Players + Brands in Squash) 41:05 - Quick Fire

Welcome back to episode 66! Eain Yow Ng joins the pod once again to discuss the challenges of the current Platinum draw system, his incredible form, and changes in his coaching team. It’s always great to hear top players analyze their competitors on tour, and Yow does just that—breaking down player performances and the different levels across the tour. Don’t miss out! Enjoy. Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations! Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/ ------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Rundown 5:11 – Introduction (Eain Yow Ng) 6:00 – Big Issue with Platinum Draws this Season 11:01 – Yow on the most impressive player this season 14:48 – Yow commenting on his current season form and off season changes 18:46 – What does recovery look like during in tournament matches 20:16 – Victor Crouin 5 Game Marathon Match Breakdown 22:29 – Proudest Match of the Season 23:15 – Where Yow feels his game is at and rankings 25:09 – The difference in level between top 4 men and the rest of the pack 26:29 – Relationship with current coach Shaun Moxham 32:16 – State of Squash in Malaysia ahead of Olympics 37:42 – Blind Rankings