Welcome back to episode 70! Bernat jumps back on the pod to catch us up on his recent performances and his move to Egypt. We dive into the squash culture over there and what it’s like having Zakaria as his go-to hitting partner. He also shares his honest thoughts on the glass floors and the dangers they pose compared to traditional wood courts. Bernat opens up about not being drafted by the NSL last year and what it means to now represent the Lake Erie Beacons in Season 2. Enjoy!
Thanks in advance for all the comments, critiques and conversations!
Rally Report is sponsored by Maspeth Squash. Maspeth Squash disrupts the traditional squash world - accessible, outdoors, steel and embraces difference. So big thank you to Robert and excited to be able to partner up. You can find all information regarding Maspeth here: https://maspethsquash.com/
Rally Report is partnered with World Squash Forecast. World Squash Forecast brings cutting-edge analytics to the pro game, offering ranking projections, player trends, and in-depth insights into the PSA Tour. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring more data-driven squash coverage to our audience. Big thanks to the team for pushing the sport forward. Explore their work at psa-world-rankings-forecast.fr.
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Timestamps:
0:00 - Rundown
2:41 - Introduction (Moving from Spain to Egypt)
3:48 - Being part of the Egyptian environment / Playing at the same club as Zakaria
8:31 - Season review. Playing at his highest ranking
10:19 - Australian Open Deep Dive - Youssef Soliman Match
12:38 - Australian Open Deep Dive - Auguste Dussourd Match
14:46 - How dangerous the glass floors are
21:32 - Discussing the hype around Jonah Bryant
24:28 - Playing against younger generation players
26:59 - What Bernat is trying to add in his game now
28:50 - Bernat not being picked by NSL last year
30:58 - Knowing he is capable of beating the best
34:44 - His thoughts on the Lake Erie team and who the best team is
39:20 - Has funding increased since Olympics announcement
40:52 - Blind Rankings
43:14 - Ali v. Mohamed El Shorbagy -- who’s had a more accomplished career
