Laura Massaro is a professional squash player from England. Laura is currently ranked number 2 in the World and number 1 in Europe. Her achievements to date are British Open Champion 2013, KL Open Champion 2013, US Open champion 2011, World player of the year 2011, Commonwealth Games silver medalist Delhi 2010 and 2x British Closed Champion.
It all started for Laura when she picked up a racket aged 7 and progressed through the junior rankings winning British Closed titles at under 14, 15, 17 and twice at under 19. She was part of the winning England Junior Team at the European and World Championships before starting on the WSA (Women’s Squash Association) tour at 19 years of age.
Laura progressed on the WSA tour over the 1st couple of years moving inside the world’s top 50. Laura’s first title came in 2005 as she won the German Open and then consistently achieved quarter-final placings to break inside the world’s top 20.
She won her first $10,000 event, the Wolverhampton Open by beating top seed and national teammate Vicky Botwright in 2006, and returned a year later to again defeat the event favourite, this time beating Madeline Perry.
2008 saw Laura put in an extended run of tournaments in which she exceeded her seeded expectations, and in June of the same year, she broke into the world top 10, where she has remained ever since.
In 2011, Laura won her first Gold 50 event, the Cleveland Classic despite being seeded 8th for the event, beating world champion Nicol David in the final, and later that year claimed another momentous win in the $60,000 WSA World Series Gold event, the US Open. The win allowed Laura to finish 2011 at No3 in the world.
In 2012 Laura became England’s number 1 player when she jumped above England team mate Jenny Duncalf for the first time. She also won the Carol Weymuller Open in Brooklyn before ending the year as runner-up at the World Open in the Cayman Islands. This cemented her place as World Number 2.
2013 did not start positively. A sickness bug meant the withdrawal from the Cleveland Classic before recovering just in time to make the British National’s. The event went well with Laura narrowly losing in the final, which was a fantastic result considering the preparation. Then in March 2013 Laura won the KL Open. A world series Gold event beating world number 1 Nicol David in the semi-final before taking the title against Alison Waters in the final. It was a huge win to beat Nicol on her home turf in Malaysia. Laura then backed up this win with her biggest title to date winning the British Open title and becoming the 1st British Women to do so in 22years. The rest of 2013 was a good year. It didn’t bring any titles but Laura lost in very tight finals in the US Open and Monte Carlo Classic.
2014 started well with another final, this time in the Tournament of Champions in the iconic location of Grand Central Terminal in New York. From there straight to Cleveland where a QF loss to Annie Au ended Laura’s trip to the States earlier than she would have liked. She then flew home to prepare for the National’s and unfortunately lost to Madeline Perry in the semi final. Laura spent some time after that re-grouping and getting her focus back properly on what she wanted to achieve. After a short break Laura then travelled to Chicago renewed and ready to play. The event went great and she got her revenge on Annie and also beat Camille and Raneem to win the event. Great preparation going into the World Open in Penang. The event there was a massive success and after saving 4 match balls in the QF Laura went on to win the event beating Nour El Sherbini in the final to become the 1st English Woman since Cassie Jackman in 1999 to win the title. A massive achievement.
Full Interview on Next Page!
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Laura Massaro is today ranked World No.2 Professional Squash Player. She is winner of 2013 Women’s World Open Squash Championship and has also won Squash World Team Championships Silver at 2008 Cairo, 2010 Palmerston and 2012 Nîmes. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You started playing squash at young age of nine years and reached the pinnacle of success by winning 2013 Women’s World Open Squash Championship and playing 29 times in the World Tour Squash Finals (Including World Series Finals). What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
I think it was a lot of hard work over a number of years. Nothing happens overnight in sport and I think dedication is key to being a successful athlete. From a squash/training point of view I think working on my technique has been massive in helping me improve my shots in matches under pressure. Also improving my movement and speed has been a big factor- although this is always a work in progress and something I need to stay on top of.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel before and after winning 2013 Women’s World Open Squash Championship?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
Before the event I felt good. Training had gone well and I was coming off a win at the Windy City open in Chicago so I was confident. The world open is a unique event though and I knew I needed to play well all week. I was really nervous going into the final. The most nervous I have ever been before a squash match. It was cagey match where I didn’t play my best but I was pleased I managed to hold it together enough to win. Afterwards I was shocked to start and then when it started to sink in I was excited, proud and happy!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
One of the reasons I love training for squash is that no two days are the same. It has so many different elements and they all need training so my sessions for the week are made up of weights, agility, matches, technical swing sessions, high intensity sessions and solo practice.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
As squash is not a weight categorised sport you get all different shapes, heights and sizes. Diet is obviously huge in terms of eating for energy and getting the most out of yourself in terms of movement and speed. Personally I try to eat a high protien /low fat diet and keep a regular eye on my weight so it doesn’t slow me down on court.
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Laura Massaro on Women Fitness:
Thanks for interviewing me and for taking an interest in the sport I love and play.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
Haha, I’m always moaning about how thin my hair is so it’s nice to hear it looks ok. With training all the time I have to wash my hair everyday which isn’t great. It means I need a shampoo that isn’t too oily but can help repair the damage caused with regular washing. As for my skin I have the same problems with showering 2-3 times per day. I try to moisturise well. I use – proto-col health and beauty products.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding professional squash playing girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of playing squash?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
Like I said earlier, dedication day in, day out is hugely important. So is an attitude of never giving up and fighting to the last point. You never know what can happen. My motto is – You get out of life what you put in.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You won the British Open Squash Championship in 2013, the first English woman to do so in 22 years at the time, what preparations went into achieving this success and how do you feel on this landmark in your professional career?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
Preparations went great in the lead up to the British. I had worked hard with my psychologist to focus on getting the most out of myself and the home crowd.
It was by far my biggest win at that time and I feel honoured to be on the trophy with some amazing players who have won the title before me.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have won silver at World Squash Team Championships at 2008 Cairo, 2010 Palmerston North and 2012 Nîmes respectively. You have selected a sport where while playing doubles, it being a team sport, requires a lot of cohesiveness and rhythm between the players to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
I feel in the team events we have been a little unlucky. We have played well to get to the finals and we always give it our all in the final. Unfortunately anything can happen and we have always come out second when I have been part of the team. Each year we try to learn and move on taking our experiences on into the next event.
Hopefully this will be our year in Canada in November.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive professional squash?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
I have always looked up to Sarah Fitz Gerald and Cassie Jackman. I loved how they played and wanted to be like them when I was a junior and in the early part of my senior career. I feel having good role models is massively important. A little closer to home my biggest influences have come from my coach David Pearson and my husband Danny Massaro. Both who are hugely knowledgeable and supportive. They always seem to have new ideas on how I can improve and learn. Without them I would be lost!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You won the WISPA Player of the Year award in 2011. What responsibility this award bestow upon you in your future efforts and activities in the field of professional squash?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
Winning the award in ’11 was massive for me at the time. It was voted for by my fellow players and that in its self meant a lot. I was also presented with the WSA player of the year award in March just gone for my 2013 year. Another huge honour for me! I don’t think it adds any responsibility but hopefully I can be a good role model to young players coming through and show hard work and dedication pays off.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website womensfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Laura Massaro:
Thanks for interviewing me and for taking an interest in the sport I love and play. Hopefully I might inspire someone to go down and have a game of squash at their local club. If they need to find a club or someone to play try www.thebighit.net – all rules are on there with a cool video of me demonstrating and Men’s world champion Nick Matthew explaining! Enjoy!
To know more about Laura Massaro: Check out at: http://www.lauramassaro.co.uk/
Women Fitness Team thanks Laura Massaro for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and also like to thank Faye Andrews from The Emilia Group who made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.