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Power interview
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Jonathon Power

By Kim Tunney for Illinois Squash News

Jonathon Power is North America's greatest professional squash player. A feat mostly lost in a region of the world where the general public still confuses this niche game with racquetball or hears it referenced as a snooty pastime for the neurotic Niles Crane on the hit television show Frasier. Where, in a sports-hungry society that craves daily doses of seasonal sport-fixes, it receives little, if any, media coverage.

On-court, Jonathon is the greatest reader of the game. By anticipating shots well in advance of their delivery, he commands the "T" for a greater amount of time minimizing his effort and decreasing the amount of time his opponent can react. When he does move, it's with both a unique rhythm and an athleticism that often includes flinging his body headlong to retrieve a shot.

Power is the perfect name for what he's got. His attacking style, although hampered here at the 2000 AON Lakeshore Classic by a 19" tin and paneled walls that made for a lively bounce of the ball back into the court, is legendary. As is his annoyance at loosing a match. Referees tend to be the recipients of his ire. Less acknowledged is his amazing frontcourt tactics and touch, devouring any opponent who dares to challenge him to the front of the court.

Although off-court he cut a military presence this weekend, wearing a cropped Army green Eisenhower jacket and pressed pants, Jonathon's mythic partying style is well documented. Pulled between the requisite post-match stretching and cool down and the attention of adoring fans, he feels guilty when he needs to turn down a party invitation. He struggles, but now knows when to call it an early night. Maybe Jonathon's mellowing a bit. Annoyed but realizing the value of a proper warm up, he spent time off-court stretching quads and hip flexors with the aid of a small basketball he keeps in his racquet bag. And he patiently answered questions from Chicago's junior players and signed autographs.

Jonathon sat down this weekend after winning the 2000 AON Lakeshore Classic eight man-pro draw to discuss where he's at in his career, his future goals and his disappointing performance at the 2000 British Open.

Illinois Squash News: Where are you in your career right now?

Jonathon Power:
I'm ten years into a fifteen-year career. I started playing professionally when I was about fifteen or sixteen and I'm 26 years old now. So I've got about five years left, I'd say. If I'm lucky.

Are you happy with the direction it's going?

Yeah. Lots of speed bumps but it's been fun. It's been good. I did everything I wanted to do. I won the World Open, won the British Open, got to number one. So now it's just a matter of staying motivated and wanting to keep playing.

What are your goals for the remainder of this season?

Yeah. Actually, I want to finish up by winning these next three tournaments. (They are the US Open-$57K, P.N.C. Investments Florida Open-$50K and YMG Capital Classic-$70K). Especially the one in Toronto (YMG Capital Classic). That's the one I'm really focused on. That's the one that's going to make me the money.

Of all the coaches you've had, which coach has been the most influential?

Well, I'd have to say that my father was obviously the most influential. Sort of in creating a work ethic and the basics and he just has a great idea on how to produce a good player. He didn't have a squash background but he had an extensive sports background. He just knew how to produce a top athlete- regardless of the sport. So, maybe technically he wasn't the best coach in the beginning but he certainly came a long way. In terms of making a good athlete, a good player, there's nobody better.

And then Mike Way (Squash Professional at the Toronto Racquet Club): He was another guy who sort of, when I wasn't too into playing and stuff like that just into having fun, he sort of made squash fun again for me when I was nineteen or twenty. So, he was cool: a very big part of my success. Those two are probably the most influential coaches for me.

Which squash player, past or present, do you admire the most?

Well, Jansher Khan, by far. He's the greatest of all time. He's the guy who understands the game of squash better than anybody else. He's smarter, more clever. He's the guy. He was a tactical genius. He did the most with the least amount of effort. There's nobody with his understanding, his ability. He just did everything better than everybody.

If you couldn't play squash, what other sports would you have played?

It probably would have been tennis. I mean, I like basketball a lot but I'm an individual sports guy because I can't stand relying on anybody else. So it would be tennis or badminton: Sort of those types of sports. Individual. Maybe golf. It's just more individual sports not necessarily a racquet sport. Boxing. I would love to have been a boxer. For sure that would have been my favorite.

If you had to chose another career outside of sports what would it be?

Nothing. I would just play sports. That's all I want to do.

When things get tough for you on court, do you think about anything to motivate yourself to get out of the situation?

No, I don't think you think about it like that. It's just natural to sort of draw on experience in that given situation. You've been there a million times at stages. There's no calculated talk.

What happened to you at the British Open this year?

I lost in the quarters.

Was it a tough draw?

No.

If you could give one piece of advice to a club level player to improve their game what would it be?

I would say to improve you've got to get onto the court by yourself and do drills or you'll stagnate.

Any drills in particular?

No. Just getting a feel for the racquet and being on the court and thinking about what you're doing exactly. Not mindless stuff.