Welcome back to episode 78. A lot has changed since Marina last joined the podcast, as she is now in her second year as a full time pro. We get into her honest thoughts on the transition to the pro tour, the current state of US Squash, the movement issue in the women’s game, and what Olympic qualification could end up looking like. 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
3:55 – Introduction
4:32 – Reflecting on first year on the tour
6:32 – Biggest upgrade since transitioning from college athlete to professional
8:30 – Why train at Specter Center rather than having your own personal team?
13:14 – Ad Break
14:54 – Assessment of her season thus far
18:19 – Marina’s experience with Platinum level tournaments so far
21:35 – Are we ignoring how bad the movement is in the women’s game?
26:21 – The strength of upcoming generation of players and thoughts on Amina Orfi’s game
28:04 – Being able to separate friends from competitors
30:48 – How much weight she’s putting on the Olympics
33:25 – How will Olympics qualifications go for USA selection
35:02 – Breaking down the financials
39:51 – US Squash Strength Coach Bridget and player alignment
42:44 – Ambitions ahead of the season
44:67 - Blind Rankings
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