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Squash: A Grand old affair in New York - Willstrop
STATION DATE: In New York.
I am writing from New York where the first Professional Squash Association world series event of the year is well underway – we’re in to the last 16 stage.
It is the 15th anniversary of the Tournament of Champions, an almost regal sounding title for an event that is fitting for the iconic venue in which it has historically been played out – Grand Central Terminus.
For squash enthusiasts of yesteryear to have even considered that the shining portable glass court could be placed – and an event played out – in a thoroughfare to the world’s most magical railway station, would have been implausible.
Even today for some squash still evokes thoughts of cold, barren and colourless courts in old-fashioned clubs with no heating, but here and now it could claim to be as enchanting and futuristic a sporting arena as any.
As I walked into the station this year, playing the event for the 10th time, it remains a flabbergasting concept, and shows how far the sport has come within the matter of a decade or two.
It is worth noting that watching some of the squash today, the sport seems to be going through a phase of general modernisation, as it so clearly needed to.
Busiest
With the spectacular arena here now comes big screens adjacent to the court, showing replays for ‘television reviews’ which, over the last year, have become a successful addition to major tournaments.
When I first started out on the professional tour the television cameras might appear at the semi-finals and finals of the events, if that! Now the television aspect is so much better and more consistent that it is used for important refereeing decisions in every match of the event, as in many other professional sports.
The TOC is undoubtedly the key tournament in world squash because Grand Central is the busiest railway terminus in the world, so many people see the sport.
Some pass through not giving it so much as a second glance as they rush for their trains; some pass the time watching the world’s best in the ‘freeview’ area before their trains depart while some intend to watch for five minutes and end up staying all day.
Added to this, there is a buzz, a noise which just adds a unique atmosphere! It is indescribable; so different to some of the quieter crowds we play in front of in more conventional venues, and all the better for that.
If you are a night owl, you can watch the tournament live on psasquashtv.com, until Thursday.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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