|
RISING STAR NCHOLAS MUELLER
 Rod
Gilmour catches up with the rising Swiss star, who started 2010 under
scrutiny by compatriot Roger Federer and will end the year doing
military service.
Pressure is of little concern to this 20-year-old, who lives at home in
Zurich with his parents and is clearly revelling in life on the world
tour.
Müller, a former European Junior champion, admits to having had “no real
off-season” during his short career. Since finishing high school last
year and turning professional he has been inching towards no.41 in the
rankings, the top ranking of his idol Lars Harms, the highest-ranked
Swiss player ever, and is now just a single point behind him.
“Both my parents played,” says the 6’ 3’’ right-hander, who first picked
up a racket as a five-year-old. “And I kept on watching them.” So much
so that he played in his first World Junior Open at 14.
Having won 15 matches on the trot at the start of 2009, Müller has a
relaxed outlook but he knows his strengths and what needs seeing to. “It
is a big plus being tall. I have to bend further to play drop shots but
there are more advantages.”
Malcolm Willstrop knows all about coaching tall players – his son James
is one centimetre taller than Müller – and believes the Swiss is a
future top 20 player. He says: “He is elegant and composed and there is
little fuss in his play.”
But Müller concedes he still has much to learn. “I am an attacking
player and like to go for shots – maybe a bit too often. I was always
told at junior level to play steadier because my opponents knew I was
going short to get an opening. I have trouble with this one short to get
an opening. I have my style but I just have to perfect it.”
Another Swiss racket sport player who has certainly perfected his art is
Roger Federer, and Müller says it was “an inspiring moment” when the two
met. Talk predictably turned to ‘squash’ shots on the tennis court –
"the fancy shots – the ones he hits between his legs,” recalls Müller,
“but what I learned was the way he is. The way he talks and trains is so
professional and I tried to pick up tips from that.”
Perhaps his 18 weeks of military service will reinforce his own
professionalism. In any case, Nicholas Müller is a name to watch.
CARRY ON CARRIE
The Daily Telegraphs’ Rod Gilmour interviews England’s latest
champion
 CARRIE RAMSEY, England's latest champion at junior level, is packing for
a holiday at her home in Leeds. Running shoes. Swimsuit. Check. Squash
racket? Leave at home.
Squash may be flourishing in Croatia but even for a determined
19-year-old from Leeds, the day job can take a backseat for a week.
After all it is her first break since leaving school with PE and
Psychology 'A' levels last summer. She turned professional soon after
and has endured a rollercoaster first year as she looks to break the
senior ranks.
It all started at the World Junior Championships last July. "I didn't
get selected for the world teams," she says. "It was tight as to whether
I would and in the end I only played the individuals. It is certainly my
biggest disappointment to date."
She admits to being a late developer in becoming one of England's top
junior players. In her words, she was "always chasing and never
considered for selection as a younger player".
The chase included losing, consistently, to English rival Millie
Tomlinson, a year younger than Ramsey. "I always met her in the semis
and finals of tournaments but had never beaten her," she says.
That all changed in Vienna in March when she finally ousted Tomlinson,
the British junior champion, to win the European U19 Championships.
After an early round scare "something felt different" by the time Ramsey
reached the final. "The closest I had got to her before that was a 3-1,"
she recalls. "But I have known for a while how to play her. Millie is
such a strong player and I really had to work hard to break her down."
Ramsey eventually won 3-2 win over 75 gruelling minutes.
Underneath her relaxed - perhaps the thought of the Dalmatian Coast is
looming - and confident outlook lies typical Yorkshire grit. It is no
surprise that Nick Matthew and Jenny Duncalf are two professionals she
knows well. But don't go mentioning that she likes playing men more than
women at Chapel Allerton, her club in Leeds. "I can't believe that
article!" the right-hander chuckles when asked about a local piece on
her rise. "I am trying to play more women, although it is good to play
the men every so often."
Boy, there's drive there alright. But what about her on-court demeanour?
Ramsey thinks she's curbing her temperament already. "I used to argue
quite a lot. I have learned to keep quiet but that's not to say I won't
say anything to the referee. It is best to let it pass you by as it
could effect the next rally and I think that was the difference when I
played Millie."
Prior to her European win, the breakthrough came before Christmas when
she beat Deon Saffery (Pontefract and Welsh International) in the
Austrian Open. "That showed her improvement [from No 4 at U19 level],”
said David Campion, England Squash & Racketball's high performance
coach. "She showed that she had arrived then."
She backed Campion's views up in February at the British Nationals when
she beat Lauren Selby and Laura Mylott, both 3-2, to qualify for the
first round. Manchester has since become a regular visit and she has
been training with the 'transitional squad', which includes senior and
younger developing players.
"She has benefited hugely from working at the National Centre," said
Campion. "She is a fantastic athlete and a very good mover. It is all
about enlarging her game and she is starting to use it now. She can
attack now and not just retrieve."
With the obligatory laptop purchased, the world No 103 is now ready for
the WISPA tour and the demands of travelling. "There is no schedule as
yet," Ramsey admits. "But hopefully I will qualify, play in the bigger
tournaments and take on the higher-ranked players, which is always
interesting!"
Despite her keen approach she has yet to indulge the history books and
England's past success with the likes of Cassie Jackman. Duncalf, of
course, is her idol and the England No 1 currently has Alison Waters for
company in the world's top 10. England Squash, though, has the
tantalising thought of Ramsey and Tomlinson one day taking over those
reins. Now, where's that passport?
Back to
Telegraph Index Page
|
