Childhood ambition, when I grow up I want to be a ...
Doctor

How did you get started playing squash ?
My father started me playing when I was 7. Our club had a great junior coach and there were several other good juniors my age and a little older to push me along.

Best advice you received early in your pro squash career?
Not really sure this advice worked, but it was revealing. I was playing Palmer that afternoon and had a hit with Shabana that morning. He told me "Yeah David is easy to play against, just keep the ball out of the middle and you'll be fine." Still working on keeping it out of the middle better!

If it wasn't for __________ I would never have attained my current level of squash success.
Khalid Mir, Gareth Webber

Biggest sacrifice being a full-time squash professional?
Being away from home a lot, having to worry if playing soccer or going out or whatever will affect my squash game.

How would you describe your playing style?
I like to play assertive and aggressive squash, while taking pride in keeping the ball tight.

3 Best squash players of all-time?
Must be Jahangir, Jansher, and…….Jonathon Power?

Who are some of the people you admire and respect the most in the pro game?
Chris Walker has mentored me a bit, and I respect his professionalism, as sometimes it can be a weak point of mine.

Which PSA Event is the most enjoyable for you and why?
I like TOC. Great atmosphere, great fans that actually get into it. Also I live in New York now and have had some of my best results at that tournament.

Who is the funniest person on tour?
I find Simon Rosner to be one of the funniest guys. He rarely knows when or why he is being funny, which certainly adds to my amusement. I think it's a cultural thing.

Aspects of being a Touring Pro that you could do without?
Being talked down to by the PSA board. Long flights in economy

What contribution or impact would you like to make on squash now and after your playing career is over?
Once I am done playing, I am sure I will do something unrelated to squash for a career. However I would like to coach some juniors in the city I end up in. I would love to have a little core of good juniors to coach a couple times a week.

If you could play another sport professionally, what would it be?
I always really enjoyed team sports more than individual sports. What I really loved about soccer is that you actually compete with your friends on the same field, you win and you lose together, and that I think is more rewarding than winning by yourself. You can get that in squash a bit at a team competition, but even that is not really the same. I would say soccer or basketball.

Career-wise, if I wasn`t a Touring Professional I would be …
maybe a ski bum somewhere, or getting laid off by a Wall Street bank

Passions, talents or interests people would be surprised to learn you have?
Interested in film and video editing.

Thanks Julian


Related Links
   Julian Illingworth Official Site
   King Julian - Cool Video of Julian on streets of New York
   Squash360 Video Interviews by James Poole - 18 Video Interviews 
   Previous Squash360 Profiles (Shabana, Power, White, Gaultier, David, Grainger, Nimick, McWil and many more ...)

Comments (0)