Started playing squash at age: 8
Turned Pro: 18
Squash Season Training Base City: Sheffield, England
Squash Season Squash Club: Hallamshire in Sheffield, England
Residence City: Sheffield, England
Marital Status: Single
Pets: None
Education: Went professional after finishing A-levels in 1998
Languages spoken: English (badly), Yorkshire & Spanish (very badly)
Family squash background: Mum and dad both social players. Dad is still a very active player
Racket: Dunlop Aerogel Evolution 120
Shoes: Hi-Tec
Clothing: Stellar
Other Sponsors: Maxim (nutrition/energy products), Benz Bavarian of Duffield (car), Trion-Z
Coach: David Pearson
Training partners: Alister Walker, Adrian Grant, Eddie Charlton & Lewis Walters
League Teams: Hallamshire & Duffield in England and Worms in Germany
Website: www.nick-matthew.com
Favorites:
Athlete: Mohammed Ali, Lance Armstrong, Chris Hoy, Peter Nicol & Jessica Ennis
Music: Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Black Eyed Peas & John Mayer
Movies: The Usual Suspects, Anchorman, Shawshank Redemption, Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels
Book: Andre Agassi Autobiography & any Dan Brown books
Food: Pasta at tournaments, Steak when not at tournaments
Offseason Activities: Holiday hard then train hard. Golf if I get the time.
Sports – You Play: Squash! & golf
Sports – You Watch: Soccer, cricket & rugby union
Quote, Mantra: If you do what you always do, you get what you always got
Dream car: VW Touraeg!
Dream vacation destination: Hawaii or Caribbean
Number of Emails per day: 5 or 6 important ones. It depends if Paul Walters has been online that day!
Number of voice mails per day: 3 or 4
Number of text messages per day: Way too many
Number of plane flights so far this year (2010): 20+
Last book read: Andre Agassi
Favourite gadgets/technologies: My apple computer and my ipod especially when in my car or warming up for matches.
Interests, hobbies, outside of squash: I’m a sports nut so basically any sport that’s on TV or readable in the newspapers. I follow my soccer team Sheffield Wednesday religiously when abroad on Tour. When at home I love to hang out with friends, have home cooking for once and go to the cinema
PC or Mac? MAC definitely.
Next one is on me, what do I bring you from bar? If it’s the first round a cold bottle of beer will do……..if it’s later in the night, surprise me!
Location of last vacation: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
What would be on your menu for your last meal on Earth? A massive Fillet steak, home cut fries and veg. 50 different flavours of ice cream/sorbet for dessert.
Are you on:
Facebook: Yes
Twitter: Yes
LinkedIn: What is that?
Describe your playing style: Aggressive volleyer, never say die
Best win? Probably coming back from 2-0 down to beat Jonathon Power in the quarterfinals of the 2006 TOC. It proved to be his last professional match on the World Tour.
Worst loss? Losing to Lee Beachill in the Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal play-off in 2001. 4th is the worst position, ever.
Fondest squash memory, accomplishment to date? My 2 British Open wins, and becoming World No.1 in June 2010. The Commonwealth Games i 2006 was also an amazing experience, as was my ‘winner-takes-all’ match with Ramy Ashour in Saudi in 2009.
Who has shaped or influenced your squash? on court? off court? My parents, especially my dad who took me everywhere as a kid and is still a massive influence on my game. He has probably seen more live squash matches than anyone else on the planet. My coach in my junior days, Mark Hornsby, and current coach David Pearson, who I’ve been with since I was 19. In my opinion, DP is the best one-on-one coach in the world. Paul Walters, who signed me for Dunlop in 1998 and has since become my manager and one of my best friends. And in the last few years, Mark Campbell, who looks after my training and has played a massive part in my improvement over recent years. I also have to mention my Granddad who all the junior kids used to affectionately call Granddad as he was so legendary at events. He will be following all this from up above as my biggest fan!
What motivated you start and continue your Tweeting? No idea and no idea.
What is different having attained World No.1 status?
Bit more demand on my time, but otherwise nothing.
You are Emperor of the PSA for a year, what would you do differently?
That’s a hard question and it’s a tough job which the guys are working their nuts off on.
Quick word association, when I say _____, you think:
Jonathon Power: Deception
Peter Nicol: Determination
Olympics: Frustration
No Let Rule: Would have to see it first, possibly genius, more probably madness
Doubles (hardball on full size court): American
Dingles (doubles, softball on singles court): Dingles??
Before you die, any big goals, ‘to do’s” in squash/life?
Play at the highest level for all long as possible. You are a long time retired/dead!
Childhood ambition:
When I grow up I always wanted to be … Professional sportsman
How did you get started playing squash?
Parents
Advice or perspectives you would give a 16 year old aspiring to be a PSA professional?
If you are going to do it, do it properly. There are no magic formulas or quick fixes, just sustained hard work and attention to detail over time. You have to make sacrifices if you want to be the best, but its more than worth it. And it’s great fun.
If it wasn`t for _______ and ________ I would never have attained my current level of squash success?
Many things … Discipline and determination, or my mum and dad, or David Pearson and Mark Campbell.
Biggest sacrifice being a full-time squash professional?
Social life, or lack of.
How would you describe your playing style?
Aggressive Volleyer
3 Best squash players of all-time?
Jahangir, Jansher, Peter Nicol. Jonah is up there too.
Who are some of the people you admire and respect the most in the pro game?
All my English teammates and unbelievable players like Shabana, Ramy, Darwish and Gaultier. I massively respect the careers and prolonged success of the likes of Palmer and Lincou have had too. And the fearlessness of some of the young Egyptians.
Which PSA Event is the most enjoyable for you and why?
TOC, just the atmosphere and the station.
Who is the funniest person on tour?
Used to be John White, probably now Wael El Hindi, mainly for how he dresses!! Sorry Wael.
Fastest?
I’ve heard Tarek Momen, but I’ve never played him so can’t confirm. Otherwise, Aamir Atlas or Saurav Ghosal.
Most gifted?
Ramy Ashour
Hardest working?
Me? J I know Peter Barker works hard but can’t comment on too many others as I don’t see them day to day.
Underated?
Borja Golan maybe.
Best dressed?
Could give you a long list of worst dressed …
Aspects of being a Touring Pro that you could do without?
Economy flights
What contribution or impact would you like to make on squash now and after your playing career is over?
I’d like to be remembered in years to come in as high esteem as the likes of Nicol and Power.
If you could play another sport professionally, what would it be?
Golf or soccer.
Career-wise, if I wasn`t a Touring Professional I would be a …
Sportsman in another sport
Passions, talents or interests people would be surprised to learn you have?
I’m sure Americans will be surprised with my love for their country and most defiantly their women!!
Who If you could spend one day with anybody or group, alive or dead who would it be? why?
I’d love to get to the bottom of all the world’s great conspiracies, like who shot JFK and alien landings. I’d also love to know what it was like being part of the rat pack in the 50’s and 60’s.
Any fears or phobias?
Sea sickness!
Any pet peeves? Irritants?
People who complain incessantly.
Life after squash … career, personal?
I would love to stay in the game having retired at a nice age with a nice family somewhere in the countryside.
Three words to describe yourself?
Only Child Syndrome (TM. Paul Walters)
When I travel, the thing I miss the most:
My bed.
When I pack my bags for a tournament, I make absolutely sure I don`t forget:
Passport, freshly strung rackets (I don’t trust stringers at tournaments!) and energy/recovery drinks
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Not being so opinionated all the time.
Despite the challenges, demands and mixed rewards of being a pro player … what keeps your fire burning?
You can only do it so long, so you might as well make the most of it. I want to look back on my career with massive pride after I’ve retired.
Career Low-point (loss, injury, other):
Shoulder surgery in 2008 (out for 8 months).
Top 2 Career Highlights (gratifying, memorable):
2 British Opens & World No.1.
What is your Everest?
Ultimate accomplishment yet to achieve? World Champion & Commonwealth Gold Medals.
Tags: Nick Matthew
Hi Nick,
Hope you are well? We met briefly at Manchester airport this week prior to your flight to Saudi. Thank you for your time to speak and the autographs for my 2 son’s they are made up !! Once again best of luck in the tournament hope all goes well.
Regards,
Paul.
Enjoyed your profile. My 12 year old prodigy from South Africa is a passionate squash player and has high admiration for you and your work ethic. We watched the WO final. You played awesome. At the same time you achieved another Dream adding to your Commonwealth gold. We will be at your club to play in the BJO in January. Hope that we will see you there. He wants to know what is your string tension and why please?
Nick and Jaco