Thierry, ever the professional, patiently answered questions collected from amongst the Lake Forest Squash player base, including their high school team and junior elite team members; aspiring junior and totball players; and adult members.

Here is a recap of their questions and his answers:

When did you start playing?
I started at 8 years old.

What other sports did you participate in as a child?
Swimming and Judo. Judo was good because it helped me control my emotions and to not be afraid of the ‘fight’. It taught me courage and discipline.

Who is your coach and how does he/she help you?
I have a technical coach and a fitness coach. I check in with them weekly. They help me prepare for upcoming events.

What type of training do you do in the off season?
Mostly running. In squash you need to be quick and fast for a long time. And play with a lot of speed. So lots of running for endurance.

Who do you think will be your toughest competition this week at the WCO?
Well, as you said, we are eight guys all vying for the top position. And any one of us could do well. So I am taking it one match at a time. And as you know, I (stand to) face Amr Shabana in the quarterfinals.

What’s your strategy against a shooter?
To be really aggressive. Not defensive. You can not wait and see what he is going to do. So I will need to get in front of him first and play at a fast pace. And really accurate; really tight to the wall. And volley to take the ball quickly.

Against the players who play fast, they do not like it when you are in front of them first.

How much can a pro squash player make?
There is a huge difference inside of the top ten. With sponsorship contracts and prize money the top five can make maybe between $100,000 to $200,000 USD. But that’s without taxes!

What’s the most important part of the game for you?
I think it’s the variation. Just try to surprise your opponent. Not every time. But you have to be unpredictable. And I think that it’s very difficult.

Regarding anticipation, what are you watching with your opponent: their feet, their follow-through, their eyes, the ball?
You need to watch the arm much more. Anyone can play a quick short swing. The game became very fast. The pace is high so you don’t have time to make a large swing. So you need to watch the last part of the swing.

Seeded #1, how do you think you will do this week at the Windy City Open?
I have no idea. We’ll see. I hope to play my best squash.

Who are you looking out for?
Shabana is in top form now. Power. Ricketts. Willstrop.

What was your most memorable victory?
The final of the world championships one year ago. I was down two-one and I saved a match ball against Lee Beachill.

When you were down at match ball against Beachill, what were you thinking?
It was a really critical situation and I just went for it. I wanted it so bad that I went for the shots. I wasn’t scared. I wanted it from that point on.

Have you ever been in a brawl on court?
No. But it’s the only racquet sport where you are vying for the same space with your opponent. So it’s easy to touch.

Comment est-ce que je peux améliorer ma “boast”?
Just find a target on the side wall and push toward that. Do not think about the front wall. You have to push into the side wall. It’s a question of the target. You have more power if you push forward into the shot.

How popular is squash in France?
It’s getting bigger in France. Especially in the past four years.

Is it played in school?
Not really. It’s just in the clubs. It’s pretty hard because you need lots of courts for 30 or 40 students.
   

While qualifying continues at the Windy City Open, the big guns are arriving in town. Some with luggage. Some without.

Thierry Lincou, World Number One for the entire year of 2005, arrived in Chicago yesterday ‘sans bagage’, lost somewhere between connecting flights on the Continent and the Great Lakes.

Missing baggage, just one of the many difficulties pros endure on the tour, seems to happen with more frequency now.

Despite this, Thierry managed to travel 28 miles north of the city with Tecnifibre representative Paul Zalatoris, to work with 40 junior and adult squash enthusiasts at Lake Forest Squash this afternoon.

Lake Forest Squash is the nation’s only public squash program and is open to all.

The program has hosted many top international professionals over the years including Martin Heath, Sue Wright, Fiona Geaves; and sponsored the state’s first US Men’s Team Selection Event in September, 2005 which brought in Michael Puertas and Preston Quick. Lincou is the first World #1, however, to appear there.

Thankfully, Paul produced Tecnifibre shorts and shirt for Thierry to change into. But just as Thierry took his street shoes off, he realized he didn’t have any sport sox.

Luckily, one of the members had an extra pair in his car and donated them to the cause. The show would go on.

Thierry demonstrated his warm up routine and ghosted a variety of shots which highlighted the superior and efficient way he moves around the court.

He displayed amazing racquet ability with Figure-of-Eight and 360° Figure-of-Eights that brought a roaring cheer from the watching crowd.

 
After that demonstration, the inspired membership was hungry to get on court with the World #1. Thierry good-naturedly challenged groups of players to ‘Beat the Pro’ on three quarters of the court. A few points were won by the amateurs, in spite of Thierry’s efforts.