Catching up with Nouran Gohar, the world number one and world champion squash player, during her time teaching a summer camp for young people at Open Squash. 

An unwavering passion for squash means he's "never worked a day in my life."

We're thrilled to feature Gina Kennedy, current World #9 in the women's game, who has been wearing Open Squash’s logo on her shirts at PSA events for a few seasons now, and teaches at our thriving summer squash camps.

French squash sensation and Open Squash Ambassador, Victor Crouin, recently joined "Boast About It" for another edition, midway through his series of summer camps at our community in 2025. 

Harvard's Head Squash Coach, Mike Way, discusses the evolution of his coaching philosophy, and his emphasis on character over raw talent in recruitment.

More than 30 women came out to play and socialize at our first outdoor squash event in collaboration with Maspeth Squash.

In an interview featured on Open Squash's "Boast About It," Ned Marks shares his unconventional squash journey. Starting as an "average" high school player in Greenwich, Connecticut, Marks shifted focus from football to squash in his senior year. This dedication led him to Denison University's club team, where he honed his skills and developed crucial discipline. Post-graduation, Marks pursued professional squash, briefly joining the PSA tour before finding success in the Pro Squash Tour (PST).

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

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.