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Squash and Serenity: An Unforgettable Weekend Getaway at a Connecticut Horse Farm

Open Squash members, get ready for an extraordinary weekend! Richard von Hirschberg, a lifelong squash enthusiast, is opening his stunning 96-acre horse farm in Connecticut for a two-day squash tournament on May 16th and 17th.
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Victor Crouin: From Summer Camps to Olympic Dreams, Powered by Passion and Smart Play

French squash star and Open Squash Ambassador Victor Crouin joined us via Zoom recently from his training base in France to chat squash
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Stories Women & Girls

From Brazilian Champion to NYC Squash and Fitness Coach: Thaisa Serafini's Squash Journey

In our latest Boast About It interview we dive into the inspiring story of Thaisa Serafini, a powerhouse in the squash world. With over 23 years of experience, nine Brazilian National Championship titles, and a passion for fitness and coaching, Thaisa brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as Assistant Coach and Head of Fitness at Open Squash.Thaisa shared her journey, starting from her early days in Brazil. "I started when I was 10 years old," she recalls. Interestingly, she also played a bit of padel, but woul ultimately "choose squash, of course." Her ambition was clear from a young age: "When I was a little kid, I was already like, ‘I want to be like a professional player.’"Thaisa's path wasn't typical. While many aspiring pros focus on junior tournaments, Thaisa found herself competing in adult tournaments at a very young age. "I was 11," she says. "I remember I played like one of my first tournaments I played against this lady and I could not return the serve. It was a disaster, of course. And then I was crying. But here I am, I'm survived." This experience, though challenging, shaped her resilience. "I didn't play many juniors. I started playing professional when I was 15," she explains.Despite not having extensive junior tournament experience, Thaisa went on to dominate the Brazilian squash scene, winning nine consecutive Brazilian national titles as an adult. Later in her career, Thaisa joined the PSA tour, but a bit later than some, at 24. She remembers her first PSA tournament in Canada vividly. "Oh my God, I lost! I lost in my first round." Despite the initial setback, she persevered. "I played like three or four tournaments. All like small tournaments, like 5K, 10K." To support her career, she even took a part-time job. "I said, oh, if I need to get a part-time job, I will do it, because all I want is to play in the circuit." Eventually, she won tournaments in Argentina, Ecuador, and Brazil.Transitioning from professional player to coach wasn't an easy decision. "That's a very hard decision to make," Thaisa admits. “I was resisting coaching because always my first goal was to be a professional player and to get to be as best as I can," she said. But the pandemic and an ankle injury ultimately led her to make the shift. "I had a little injury that started to bother me a lot,” she said. “I wasn't really able to keep up the training.”Now at Open Squash, Thaisa is passionate about fitness and its importance in squash. "How long do you want to be playing squash?" she asks rhetorically. "’Til I'm locked in a coffin!" She emphasizes that fitness "will help you to maintain your body, right? To prevent injuries." For those starting squash, she advises, "I think you definitely should add fitness because it will to teach you how to avoid injury. For example the warm-up, mobility, stretching, all those things matter." For regular players, Thaisa recommends at least two complementary physical training sessions a week, focusing on "a circuit" with "mobility exercises, and then they cardio, and then usually strength exercises like squats and lunges."Thaisa is also dedicated to promoting the women's game. "I think Open Squash is doing a really great job of promoting the women’s game," she says. She encourages women: "Don't get scared!"Thaisa's journey is a testament to passion, perseverance, and the love of squash. Her experience and dedication make her an invaluable asset to the squash community. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Thaisa! You can watch the video version of this interview here.
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Resilience and Passion: Adel Sammons' Squash Story

Stories Women & Girls Boast About It - YouTube

Website Blog Featured Images

Open Squash's Best Ever Medal Haul in the New York Squash League

Josh Easdon Keep Eye on Ball Salon

In Case You Missed It: Coach Josh Easdon on his Hashim Khan Documentary

Doug Garr 2

Doug Garr: From Wrestling Mats to Bumping Elbows on the Squash Court

HS Nationals with Adel Sammons

Recapping the 2025 High School Nationals

Stories Women & Girls

Kevin Klipstein USQ

Growing the Game: 20 years at US Squash with Kevin Klipstein

Boast About It - YouTube Stories

LGBTQ+ Round Robin at Open Squash

“Come Out and Play” — LGBTQ+ Round Robin at Open Squash

2025 IWD

Celebrating The Power and Passion of Women in Squash

Stories Women & Girls Events

Dublin Masters

Best of Luck At The Dublin Masters!

James Green Rehab Blog

Never Give Up: My Journey Rehabbing an Injury and Returning to Squash

Sister Showdown Featured Image

Events Women & Girls Boast About It - YouTube

The Older Sister Always Wins—Or Does She?

Sibling rivalry takes the center stage at FiDi on April 17th, as Farida Mohamed faces off against her older sister Habiba in a feisty squash match

Clair Oblamski Featured Image

Women & Girls Stories Boast About It - YouTube

More Women Than Ever Are Playing Squash

Why Open Squash Member Clair Oblamski Loves The Game

Squash Dreamers Featured Image

Stories Women & Girls Events

Tournament Supporting Refugee Girls from Syria and Sudan

Support refugee women from Syria and Sudan playing squash through our upcoming tournament in aid of Squash Dreamers.

Victor Crouin Blog Featured Image

Stories Touring Pros

Squash Philosophy with Victor Crouin

Going deep on the sport’s ups and downs with the World #11

2024 International Womens Day Featured Image

Stories Women & Girls Events

2024 International Women's Day

"She believed she could, so she did"

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Stories Women & Girls Touring Pros

Squash Professional Farida Mohamed Finds a Home and Success in NY

Overcoming Ups And Downs With Her New York Squash Family

Thaisa Serafini at Open Squash Patch

Stories Women & Girls

Squash Is The Healthiest, Fittest Sport

Brazilian Coach Thaisa Serafini Brings A Performance Mindset to Open Squash

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Stories Women & Girls

Ona's Squash Story

From New York Public School To A College Scholarship, A Career, And Beyond

Howe Cup 2023 Featured Image Patch

Women & Girls Stories Events

Howe Cup 2023

Smashing Records, Making Friends, and NYC Teams Shine!

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