King looking to conquer again
A month on from her golden showing at the Commonwealth Games, New Zealand squash star Joelle King is out to carry on her career-best form at this week’s prestigious British Open.
After claiming gold medals in both the singles and doubles at the Gold Coast event, as well as bronze in the mixed doubles, the Kiwi’s confidence is in a fine spot – a far cry from where she was at this time last year.
Struggling both on and off the court during the last PSA World Series season, a transformed King feels a new player, and is showing it, having last month shot back to her career-high-equal mark of world No 4.
It now has the 29-year-old from Cambridge well motivated for plenty of squash to play in her career yet, as things like a maiden title on the World Series, a best-ever ranking, and even perhaps one day to sit top of the pops, still present as tangible goals.
Though while fellow Kiwi Dame Susan Devoy dominated the sport and had a decade-long hold on the No 1 world ranking through her career in the mid-80’s and 90’s, the rise of the Egyptians means King still has a mountain to climb if she is going to reach the peak.
With legendary Nicol David (age 34), who had a mortgage on top spot through 2006-2015, now having dropped to No 9, King is the only non-Egyptian player in the top five.
All King can do is keep performing, especially when it counts, such as the British Open – the sixth and final event before the top eight in the standings contest the World Series Finals in Dubai, from June 5-9.
Seeded fourth, King is looking to go one step further than her previous best effort, of the quarterfinals.
‘‘It’s one of the most prestigious titles that’s recognised, from not just squash players, but the wider New Zealand community, obviously with our Dame Susan Devoy winning it so many times,’’ she said.
‘‘There’s a different kind of pressure coming in now.
‘‘[But] the main focus [this year] has been just to play the best squash I can play, and you can’t go too far wrong if you’re thinking that way.’’