Squash legend David Palmer believes Australia is in danger of losing its long-held status as a major force internationally, with the next generation failing to produce.
With the Australian Open beginning in Canberra on Tuesday – the first major international squash competition held Down Under in over a decade – he’s thrown the spotlight on the country’s future in the sport.
Palmer, the country’s top-ranked male player at world No.10, said Australia’s reputation for producing topline international squash stars is under threat.
“Our results are slipping, that’s for sure, (particularly) in juniors,” said former world No.1 Palmer.
“I’m 34, and I’m the only one (man) in the top 10.
“We’ve always had a rich tradition of really top players, both men and women, (but) our junior results are just getting worse and worse.”
Palmer just celebrated a record 10 years in squash’s world top 10, having first broken onto the list in September 2000.
Now in what’s likely to be his last professional season, he is worried Australian squash is reaching the end of an era.
Australia’s highest ranked player overall, Rachael Grinham, is world No.4 on the women’s list, but at 33 years of age, is also a veteran of the tour.
Palmer will head the Commonwealth Games team in India in October, where Australia hopes to extend its record of winning gold at every Games since the sport’s introduction at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games.
Palmer, who is currently based in Florida, says Australia could learn from the United States’ promotion of the sport, where it is a common part of the college culture.
“In America, it’s really taking off, whereas squash is not really booming in Australia,” said the NSW-born Palmer.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure why.
“(But) it will be a disaster for Squash Australia if I can make the next (Commonwealth Games) in four years.
“If the young guys are not ahead of me then, then there’s something going wrong.”
One positive, he says, is the Australian Open, which has taken on elite status as one of 10 Super Series events on the world tour.
It’s the first major men’s tournament to be held in Australia since 1991, while the last big international women’s competition was held in 1997.
Palmer will be soaking up the opportunity to play before a home crowd, although he’s contemplative about his chances.
Seventeen of the world’s top 18 men will be in the nation’s capital for the tournament, where an encouraging 2000 tickets have already been sold.
Six of the world’s top players are among those contesting the Open women’s tournament.
“It’s been a long time and for a long time I didn’t think I’d get a chance to play in a major tournament in my home country,” Palmer said.
“It would have maybe been nice five years ago, but I’m not complaining – I’ve got at least one shot at it.”
Current world No.1 and Brit Nick Matthew will be the favourite to take out the title, which will be played out in a spectator-friendly, all-glass squash court at the National Convention Centre.
The finals will be held on Sunday.
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