DailySquashReport.com

Kasey Brown Ready To Show Spark In Philly
by Kristi Maroc

August 31, 2012 - One of the biggest shake ups of the 2011 Delaware Investments U.S. Open was during the quarterfinals of the women’s event when sixth seed Kasey Brown, ranked #6 in the world at the time, beat the robust and long-standing world #1 Nicol David.

In what was one of the greatest wins in her career, Kasey outclassed the rarely beatable Nicol in a smooth four game match that lasted just under an hour, and then went on to beat third seed Madeline Perry to make it through to the U.S. Open final.

The super-fit 27 year old Aussie, who lives and trains in the United States, says that the experience was thrilling and has been one of the biggest highlights in her career so far.

“The 2011 U.S. Open was probably the best WSA tournament I’ve ever played to date,” she says.

“I don’t think anyone really expected me to win that match [against Nicol].  I had to play really well to beat her…and I think things just came together.”

“It was a huge match for me, and it was just a fantastic tournament overall.”

Kasey says her preparation and support in the lead up to the tournament was instrumental in her success at the event.

“It was really good.  I was training with my coach Rod Martin here in the States and he was able to come to the event as well which really helped me get through to that final.”

“The finals atmosphere at the U.S. Open is fantastic, and I really just took it all in and took it in my stride.  Unfortunately I lost the final against Laura Massaro, but it was a fantastic tournament overall.”

Kasey has been playing on the professional women’s tour for eight years now, since she was 19 years old, and has solidly climbed through the rankings to reach a career high of world #5 at the end of last year.

Kasey’s introduction to squash happened at a young age through her mum’s work at a local squash center as she was growing up in the Australian country town of Taree.

“I used to go there with her on the weekends and after school and just hit balls by myself for hours and hours and play games with myself while she was working.  It all really started from there.”

At 13 years old Kasey won the highly competitive Australian Junior Open and realized that becoming a professional squash player was a realistic goal for her future.

“At the time I won I thought ‘yeah I want to become world number one!’ and I think that has always been in my head.  It still is!” she smiles.

“It’s been a long term goal and hopefully I can get there one day.”

Boasting an athletic physique that screams fitness and strength, and the proven ability to beat the unshakable Nicol David, there’s no doubt that Kasey is in optimum shape and at the pinnacle of age and experience right now to do whatever she sets her mind to in her career.

Currently at world #8, she’s got a wealth of knowledge and experience behind her to achieve her ultimate dream.  She has competed solidly in a throng of eminent world tournaments and boasts an impressive list of career achievements, including winning the esteemed Greenwich Open last year.

Kasey has represented Australia at two Commonwealth Games, in 2006 and 2010.  In 2010 she was the only player to take home three medals in the mixed doubles, women’s doubles and singles.  Added to that was the prize of a career highlight win in the singles during a marathon match that saw Kasey fight back from two games down to beat England’s Madeline Perry, proving a life lesson to herself about her capability and endurance.  She also won a bronze medal with women’s doubles partner Donna Urquhart, and a gold medal alongside mixed doubles partner Cameron Pilley.

“To get a Commonwealth Games gold medal is such a huge honor and to win it with Cameron was just a fantastic experience.  To get all three was just a dream come true,” she says.

“It’s just a dream come true really to play for your country.  Especially with Australia having such a strong history in the sport.”

“Another highlight for me was winning the World Team Championships in 2010.  The Australian team beat England, and to win that title and win for Australia was a huge thing for me.”

“Having Michelle Martin as our coach and part of the team was great.  She was my idol growing up so to have her there was just fantastic.”

Growing the profile of women’s squash is important to Kasey.  She’d like to see it more closely aligned with the men’s tour in terms of popularity as well as prize money.

“With the U.S. Open, the gap [in prize money] is closing, which is fantastic for an event like that, and also great for women’s squash,” says Kasey.

“In terms of the appeal of women’s squash, I think the spectators relate a little bit more to the women’s game and I think we need to use that to promote the WSA.”

Women’s Squash Week is happening in the US next week (September 8-15), and Kasey says the goal of getting more women involved in squash is an important one.

“It’s such a great sport for women to play.  Not only does it keep you incredibly fit, but it’s a really social and fun way to mingle with other people.”

Along with her exceptional squash, Kasey has also become well known in the squash world for the eye-catching and glamorous dresses she wears on court, with their fun design making them a standout favorite in on-court fashion.

During her U.S. Open match against Nicol, Kasey was wearing one of the favorite designs – a black racer-back dress with lavish metallic embellishments.

“The reaction that I got from that dress has been just fantastic,” she says.

“A friend of mine and I, we really wanted to create a statement for squash through a bit of fashion, so we found a design and put some ideas together, and my friend’s mother made the dress up.

“We actually made a whole set in different colors, we have a pink and a blue one as well,” she adds.

The outfits have been popular amongst many squash fans.

“I’ve been coaching here at camp with Karen Kronemeyer, and these kids from Philadelphia have said ‘oh, you’re the girl with the dress!’, remembering it from when they were watching last year’s U.S. Open!  So I’ve had a really good reaction from it,” she says.

“I think it’s really important, for the girls especially, to show their personality through what they wear on court.  I think it’s a big part of the game, and hopefully others will follow suit.”

Rather than relaxing over the summer break, Kasey chose to spend her time training with her coach Rodney Martin, coaching at school camps, and mentoring at New York’s urban youth program CitySquash.

“I think it’s really important to give back, and CitySquash is a fantastic charity and so a great way to do so,” she says.

“I try to volunteer as much as I can for that program when I’m around.  I think they’re all just an amazing bunch of kids, and they really open up to you after a while and you see their personalities come out.  It’s a really beneficial program.”

Kasey has just returned from Australia where she competed in the Australian Open at the beginning of August.  Next up she’ll head over to the Malaysian Open, before returning to her home base in New York to prepare for another attempt to win the crown in what she lists as one of her favorite tournaments, the U.S. Open.

“It was such a fantastic event last year.  Drexel University had the glass court set up, on one day the SquashSmarts youth program from Philadelphia came out and watched which was fantastic,” she says.

“I thought that U.S. SQUASH did a great job with the event and I hope that things just become bigger and better each year.”