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Natalie Grainger
Would you give me three words that
describe your game…
I think my game and my life go hand
in hand… I would say, Powerful, because
it’s a pretty powerful game…
Fun, I love to have fun, both in my life
and on the squash court…and Mischievous
I guess ... |
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Grégory Gaultier
How do you see your future in squash?
Well, I’m hoping to get there soon…
In the top 5, you mean?
Yes. Not sure how long it’s going to
take, maybe a short period, maybe
longer. It will depend of my quality of
play in the next weeks. |
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White's Corner
Framboise meets John White's parents,
Ian and Lynne
“John was a lovely kid, and along with
his brother David, a few months older,
we took them to every event in the
country ...
We are going to stay in Nottingham until
the 8th of November,
and I hope to see him lifting the
British Open Trophy…” |
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Isabelle Stoehr:
Aiming for the top
You’re now 25, neither a junior, nor a
vet.
Where do you see yourself in the next
2/3 years?
I hope I can make it to the top of the
top ... I didn’t set a date or anything,
but I think that I should be reaching my
full potential around 28. |
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Renan
Lavigne: 30 Today!
So,
how does it feel to be 30 ?
Physically, I feel fine, I always was
very careful, and look after
my body. So I hope I’ll be able to play
for another 4 or 5 years.
But I don’t think I’ll make it to the
2012 Olympics, though! |
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Joey
Barrington: Proud of my Name
It must be sooooo boring to be
constantly reminded
that you are the son of…
No, I’m pretty used to it now, and
I’m very proud of the
family name and of what my father
achieved in squash. |
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Framboise meets Natalie Grainger ... |
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 NATALIE:
You were away for a while, I was told…
Yes, I suffered a series of illnesses. To be honest,
I think it was just a combination of emotional
stress. Obviously being on the tour causes a lot of
stress, a lot of travelling, I was getting sick with
things, fevers, infections, coughs, just general
really run down, a complete immune system
deficiency, and that had been going on for close to
a year. I actually ended up in hospital in Doha,
with so many illnesses, you name it… I was
miserable, and I was told that, if I carried on like
this, it could become more serious. I decided to
stop then, I took two and a half months, I didn’t do
anything other than get myself better and just went
home for a month in South Africa.
 I
thought you were American?
Yes, but my parents are from South Africa, and I
could actually even play for England, but I will
leave it at that…
If you were trying to confuse me, you have
succeeded…And then?
Then, when I was ready, I just started to train
again, but I had to be ready because the training
and the tour are extremely hard unless you are ready
for them.
So, when did you start again then?
Well, I started with a small tournament first week
of October in Atlanta…
Which you won…
Yes, I won that, that was my first tournament. Then,
I went to the US Open.
Which you won as well…
And I won that, but that was very hard, there were a
lot of good players, I had to play really hard. But
it was great, and I’m really pleased with that one.
And now I’m here, so I’ve only played 11 matches
since I’ve been back.
And how do you feel now?
I feel great, I’m very much more relaxed, mentally
and physically, and things have settled down. I had
a hard look at things, and fixed everything and got
on with stuff…
I was told that you did spend a lot of time in
Nottingham?
I was actually here for three years from '87 to '99,
and it was really fun. When I first came here, I was
sharing a flat with Jenny Tranfield, we trained
together, and there was a really good bunch of
people down here. Pam Nimmo then came down, a bit
later, she is another very good friend of mine, and
there was a whole host of players, Simon Parke,
Peter Marshall, Alex Gough, it was a great set up,
Phil Songhurst was still manager, and he really
looked after us as much as he could. It was just a
good base to have, because Nottingham is not too
big. Richard O’Connor actually coached me when I was
here, and he was great for me to have.
And then you left…
Yes, I went to America. I am now a resident in
America, which allows me to have USA behind my name.
But I can’t represent them yet until I’m a citizen.
On a more private side, anybody particular we
should know about?
Yes, he is on his way, he is Irish, Brian O'Hora, he
is a squash player, but he doesn’t play on the tour,
he coaches in Washington DC where I live… And he is
charming…
Would you give me three words that describe your
game…
I think my game and my life go hand in hand… I would
say, Powerful, because it’s a pretty
powerful game… Fun, I love to have
fun, both in my life and on the squash court…and
Mischievous I guess… on the court again,
if somebody beats me with a really good shot by
sending me the wrong way, I get pleasure out of the
fact they’ve done that, rather than get frustrated.
A lot of attack also, but I had to learn how to
defend a bit, I’ve been practising that…!
Out of life, what do you expect?
Actually, I had quite a few things that happened to
me the last 5 or 6 years. I had a very ill brother,
and he died, and I married/divorced, you name it, I
think that anything you can expect of life is to get
up everyday, see that you can enjoy it to the
fullest, try and achieve what you can achieve, and
get on and do what you planned to do. And make sure
you smile as much as you can….
Thank you very much, Natalie…
You’re welcome… |
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Framboise meets Gregory Gaultier ... |
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GREGORY:
Where are you based ?
Still in Aix-en-Provence.
How do you choose your tournaments?
It depends of my physical preparation. For example
this summer, I did two months of intense training,
but as I didn’t have any training partner, I came
and spent a week in England to be able to play, then
another week in Holland. Then, 10 days in Malaysia,
then Hong Kong, then right after that the European
Championship. That is why I couldn’t physically play
the US Open in Boston. It’s enough to look at what
happened to Thierry. He did the same tournaments
that I did, and after Hong Kong, he did the US Open,
and got knocked out in the first round.
I was told that you didn’t feel at your best
while in America…
You’re right, I played St Louis and Detroit, but I
really didn’t feel right. For 10 days, I was in a
pitiful state, I was sort of ill, I couldn’t move on
court, didn’t have any impulse to play. In Detroit,
I got lucky, as Jonathan Power got injured. After a
few days, I started to feel slightly better, but I
still had a concentration problem.
How did you sort it out?
Well, as soon as I came back to Europe, I was able
to rest at home, and then I went to Hungary, and I
felt 10 times better. I’m only starting now to get
my sensations back.
How do you see your future in squash?
Well, I’m hoping to get there soon…
In the top 5, you mean?
Yes. Not sure how long it’s going to take, maybe a
short period, maybe longer. It will depend of my
quality of play in the next weeks. If I play well
here, in Qatar and in Pakistan, I think I could jump
into the top 8. But if I don’t play that well, I’ll
stay around 10, 11. Last year, I was prevented from
playing because of a foot injury, so I couldn’t play
the tournaments I wanted. I hope that I’ll be able
to catch up in points this year…
How do you feel at the moment?
Not on top form really. I’m still very tired, I
don’t have the urge to play, but I’m doing my utmost
best to overcome those feelings. I just did 3/4
tournaments, I guess I feel “oversquashed”… But I
love playing on a glass court, it’s a court that
suits my game very well, so I’m pretty confident for
the rest of the tournament. But then again,
nowadays, the world level is so high, and starting
from the second round, all matches are fierce, and
all players are contenders for the title. In the top
12, anybody could beat anybody. But my two
favourites for the tournament? Thierry and Lee of
course…
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Framboise meets Isabelle Stoehr ... |
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ISABELLE:
So, sweety pie, you’re based in Manchester now,
are you ?
Yes, I’ve been living in Manchester since the 1st
July.
Why Manchester?
For 18 months two years, I was going up there
regularly, and was spending roughly a week per
month. So, I knew some people there. So, it was
logical for me to settle there….
Since the move, has your game evolved?
Yes, now, every day, I can play a high standard
match, and I’m in much better conditions to train.
When I was in Chambery, I was the only player there.
Here, there is a real group, with a real dynamic,
and it feels great. And on top of that, in England,
squash is the only thing I can do. That, and improve
my English…
Did you find somewhere to live?
Yes, I’m sharing a house with two mates from Cheadle
Squash Club.
You’re now 25, neither a junior, nor a vet. Where
do you see yourself in the next 2/3 years?
I hope I can make it to the top of the top ... I
didn’t set a date or anything, but I think that I
should be reaching my full potential around 28.
You endured quite a long series of injuries…
Yes, I think they were due to bad training and
overweight. So, I started losing the weight, and I
changed my training routine. My knee also is now
sorted, I did a lot of rehabilitation. In other
words, I’m trying to get a real athlete's body.
An athlete's body…
Stop laughing! No, when I arrived in England, it was
pointed out to me that the physical preparation is
vital, otherwise, the body just cracks up. And also,
the mental side plays a crucial role…
On a more personal subject, are you single?
Yes, since I’ve moved here, as I had to leave my
heart in Chambery…
To finish, apart from you, who may win the
tournament?
Well, not that I enjoy the prospect, as I’m in her
part of the draw, but I think that Natalie Granger
has got a very good chance… |
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Framboise meets Renan
Lavigne ... |
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RENAN
LAVIGNE :
30 today! (01-Nov)
You’re meeting Grégory yet again…
I don’t mind that much. It proves that French squash
is doing pretty well, I guess. On top of that, we
weren’t supposed to play. But as Peter Nicol retired
from the tournament, everything was changed. Anyway,
for me, it’s revenge time, and a beautiful one in
prospect. And it’s the second round of the Harris
British Open, we’re far from the first round of the
Hungarian Open… And we get to play on the glass
court, which is always a bonus.
You’ve been injured recently. How do you feel?
Well, I tore a ligament in one of my left hand
fingers, but it’s OK, I don’t feel any pain
whatsoever. The doctor told me that in 8 weeks, it
should get back to normal, but that if it doesn’t,
there's nothing that could be done, as an operation
would be dangerous and for a result that wouldn’t be
assured. The only thing he said to me was “you won’t
be able to pick up peanuts in a can of coke”. Like I
said, I think I’ll live with that… Now, for the
knee, I’ve got not pain when I play, only if I stay
seated too long, in a car or in a plane…
What is your schedule for the next few weeks ?
I was top seed for the qualifiers in Toronto next
week, but I forfeited. It was just too much, I
didn’t want to make more travelling just now,
especially with the disaster of the Czech Classic.
So, I’ve decided to prepare myself with care for
the next two big tournaments, Qatar and the new
Pakistan Open.
Do you know who you meet in Qatar?
Yes, I’m playing Adrian Grant. That should be an
interesting game, I’m happy to play him. I really
admire him for his calm, he is so laid-back. I would
love to be like him, to be relaxed before my games…
So, how does it feel to be 30 ?
Physically, I feel fine, I always was very careful,
and look after my body. So I hope I’ll be able to
play for another 4 or 5 years. But I don’t think
I’ll make it to the 2012 Olympics, though!
Apart from yourself of course, who do you see
winning the tournament ?
Well, I think that all the players that reach the
second round must believe that they can win, me
included! Otherwise, I’d better go home, if I don’t
believe I’ve got a chance. But I hope that Thierry
is going to continue on his good form, although I
feel that the English players will be very dangerous
with the home support…. |
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Framboise meets Joey
Barrington ... |
Joey Barrington
Jonah Barrington
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JOEY
BARRINGTON :
PROUD OF MY NAME
It must be sooooo boring to be constantly
reminded that you are the son of…
No, I’m pretty used to it now, and I’m very proud of
the family name and of what my father achieved in
squash.
Are you that different from you dad?
Well, spirit wise, I have a similar spirit to him,
I’m quite strong, I never give up a match, like
today for instance, I was 2/0 down and 7/2 down in
the 3rd, and I managed to pull it through. Now,
squash wise, he was a lefthander, I’m a right
hander, and I think that athletically, I inherited
more athletic abilities from my mother who used to
be a very good runner. In terms of my game, it is
very hard to compare because of the time that has
now gone by, and the modifications with racquets and
everything, so it’s really hard to compare.
You know, my father is really open minded about
squash, a lot of people say that he just coaches one
way, and more on the physical side, which is a lot
of rubbish, he is a very open minded person, and we
try working on adapting to the new scoring as well,
which is again a totally different way of playing
the game.
With all that family history, why did you choose
to play squash?
Well, I played for a year between the ages of 11 and
12, and then I gave up through all of my teenage
period, I didn’t play any competitive squash at all,
and then I went to University and I got myself in
quite a bad way through drinking and various other
things. So I started playing a bit of squash just to
kind of get my health back really, because I was
down in the dumps, and I was playing just for
general fitness, and then I picked it up very
quickly and got very hooked on from playing. And
then, after University, I committed to train as a
pro, and that’s what I’ve been doing since.
So you like squash because it makes you fit?
No, it’s just everything, it’s the lifestyle, it’s a
great way of living. I’ve always been naturally very
competitive, I’ve always enjoyed playing a lot of
sports, football, hockey, athletics, I’ve always
loved to compete. So it’s a whole really, I’m living
a healthy lifestyle because I play squash, I get to
compete, I get to travel, and basically do a hobby
which I enjoy for my job, which is what everyone
would love to do, I imagine.
What about your match with Renan in the 1st
round?
Well, all the players in the draw are difficult,
every match is different and I’m very happy to be
playing Renan. The fact that it’s 12am is a bit
difficult, as I had a pretty hard match today, I
think it lasted 1 hour 30 minutes, but as I have
been injured recently, I had a bit of time off so I
think that the running today has done me more good
than harm, so I’m very much looking forward to
tomorrow…
And to finish, where do you see yourself going in
the next 5 years?
I just want to be the best squash player I can be,
and if that takes me to the highest level,
fantastic, if it gets me just a bit higher, so be
it, but it’s just more of a test with myself, I want
to see how far I can get, and how much I can get out
of myself.
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Framboise meets John White's parents ... |
Ian
& Lynne White
Suzy
with Sam in Sheffield
Helping hands in Manchester |
WHITE’S
CORNER…
Call me a sentimentalist, whatever you wish, but I
just love meeting players’ parents. First of all,
most players owe their career to them, as they were
the ones paying for training, taking them to
tournaments, making endless sacrifices to see their
babies arrive on the big stage…
And meeting the parents normally gives you the true
picture of who the players are inside. I truly
enjoyed meeting Nick Matthew’s parents, Thierry
Lincou’s, and tonight, I was lucky enough to spend
time with John White’s parents.
Well, no need to be a clairvoyant to know where John
takes his persona from. His mum and dad are like
him, straight to the point, charming, warm and
sensitive. They are obviously a very close family, a
relationship that John reproduced with his own
family, Suzie his wife, and his “four kids under 5”,
as he described them tonight.
“John was a lovely kid”, said Lynne, “and along with
his brother David, a few months older, we took them
to every tournament, every event in the country. And
it’s wonderful to see how far he has now gone. We
are going to stay in Nottingham until the 8th of
November, and I hope to see him lifting the British
Open Trophy…”
I asked Ian what he was the most proud of about
John. He didn’t think twice:
“I’m proud of the fact John has been able to excel
in his private and professional life. And the two
are linked very closely, he couldn’t have one
without the other. Without squash, he wouldn’t be
such a wonderful person to his family, and without
Suzie’s support, he wouldn’t be able to play at the
level he does.”
“The birth of the twins has been a huge step in
John’s life, and the emotional link is extremely
strong. He can’t just walk out of the house, and
switch off the family side of his life. I think that
his next challenge is going to be able to spread
that emotional link to allow him to perform on the
world circuit”.
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