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Waters p10-12_3 Column Left 18/09/2012 11:33 Page 1 FEATURE Waters close to high t Richard Eaton reports on climbed 30 places back into the world's top setback in November, just when her 10, offered England a better chance of comeback seemed imminent. Anticipation Alison Waters' extraordinary regaining the world team title and raised was turning to excitement when a calf comeback from a career- hopes of a prolonged run at the World Open. muscle began to cause trouble, forcing her Nobody has described the extent of to miss the World Open and the Hong threatening Achilles tendon this achievement better than Phil Newton, Kong Open. head of the sports injury rehab centre at Such a belated disappointment was injury the Lilleshall National Sports Centre. "pretty tough", she admitted. And so, to "I have been doing rehab since the "clear her head", she took a holiday in revitalised force has emerged with mid 80s and in all that time I have never Dubai. She learned to become such speed and consistency in recent come across anyone more motivated and philosophical. "There are always people Amonths that she may make a professional than Alison," Newton said. much worse off than us," she said. significant impact on the two most "Even when you can't go on court, "Most people have these setbacks," important women’s squash events of 2012. there are different kinds of training which Newton commented. "People in our The force has new ingredients yet can still be done and she actually came medical team know that being optimistic bears a familiar name – Alison Waters, back stronger! But it has to be done day and positive and outgoing often decides whose tenacious rescue of her career in, day out, for months – and that required who really recovers. What she achieved is from prolonged injury at the age of 28 has massive mental strength from her." an amazing feat." created a new momentum. Crucial was Waters' flight to Sweden Having achieved it, Waters may have So magnificently has the former world for an ankle operation by Hakan Alfredson, acquired similar advantages to those which no. 3 used a year's absence to enhance a well-known surgeon who removed a Nick Matthew, England's male world her fitness, to discipline her mind and to bone spur which had been aggravating her champion, gained during a lengthy recovery crank her motivation up to inspiring new Achilles tendon. She also used the from a shoulder injury four years ago. levels that she now has realistic hopes of surprising exercises he pioneered in the One is a profound realisation of how bettering that career-highest ranking. 1990s as part of her rehab. much squash means to her, another is a She has acquired many new admirers But it could easily have all gone wrong. deeper commitment. This has created in the process, especially those who Waters had to cope with the knowledge that greater willingness to analyse her game – witnessed how fast she hit the ground it would be many months before she could not previously a strength – and eventually running – literally and metaphorically – play again, with a realisation that even then to enhanced self-belief. after returning to the WSA Tour in March. she might never be as good. "Obviously it could have been a career- Before long she had won five titles, She also suffered a cruel eight-week threatening injury," she said. "But I never 10 THE SQUASH PLAYER Waters p10-12_3 Column Left 18/09/2012 11:33 Page 2 and my aim is not to come last doing the running sessions …as I do tend to find myself!" she wrote. "I am totally out of my England comfort zone running!!!" she added, before concluding: "It will be interesting to see which one of the boys cries first…ha!’’ team poser That hinted at the steely determination which has grown behind a pleasant ill England's women regain the exterior. It is a long way from the quiet, shy world team title? The question is and timid girl whom Carter met all those more contentious than it may years ago at Southgate Squash Club in W sound. Six years have passed since the north London, where her mother Robin sport's most affluent country last won the ran coaching sessions. women's world team title and in the last His confident teaching style brought a two decades, remarkably, England have rapport which others couldn't create. "I won it only twice. have quite a tactile approach," Carter said. Now this is the most open field ever, "I like to be close. I would take a step with four nations in with a real chance of forward towards her and she would take a becoming world champions, a suggestion step back. Then if I took another step, she which excludes the capable New would go further backwards! Zealanders, who have two players in the "We would laugh about it when she world's top 20. was older. It was a bit of a game I used to That quartet includes the 2008 world play – which helped her develop as a champions, Egypt, who have a player and a person." tremendous bevy of rising young players, Waters was so tiny that there were title-holders Australia, who still have some jokes about her being no bigger than a famous names and an admirable racket, especially after she became a reputation for obstinacy, and Malaysia, national champion at only nine and a half. who now have another top 10 player to But she had a straight arm swing, which support the legendary Nicol David. Carter needed to sort out, as well as a Arguably, though, the likely return of tendency to be over-awed, which he Alison Waters, whose Achilles injury helped dispel. belatedly sidelined her last time, makes She is now less fearful, more driven. England potentially the strongest team. "She became aware that time is not on her "You would hope we are in a stronger side," Carter said of the changes during position this time," national coach Chris her absence. "Her approach has become Robertson says. "I think we have a good very clinical. She uses her time more chance of winning. But we don't want to tide wisely now." talk it up too much. There followed a string of good results, "That way it will make us stronger than with wins over Laura Massaro, Madeline the occasion. If we create an atmosphere looked at it like that. I would see everyone Perry, Kasey Brown, Low Wee Wern, and the right environment, then you stand playing, and travelling around, and Omneya Abdel Kawy, Donna Urquhart and a much better chance of being on top at winning tournaments. And that made me Joelle King. the end." want it more. They brought titles in Montreal, Malaysia could win for the first time if "I really missed it. I love going to Toronto, Dublin, Paris and Matamata (New Low Wee Wern delivers at number two, tournaments. I always did. That was the Zealand), as well as joy in discovering that Australia can hope to prosper again from motivation." she is potentially even better than she was. having a team of even strength and Egypt She survived by making stepping Not only did she still have the speed, may field an entire team aged 23 or stones rather than focusing on such a attacking instincts and eye for a volley under, all capable of raising their game to faraway goal. She learned more about with which to impose herself on the new levels. herself, so that if she felt depressed, she middle of the court, but she had more However, Laura Massaro, Jenny could find ways of dealing with it. mature perspectives too. Duncalf and Waters may be marginally "As soon as I got a niggle, I would get These were indicated by reactions to the best trio – but only if all arrive in top really down," said Paul Carter, the leading the two defeats during the first five months shape and with the strength of mind to coach who has been associated with of her comeback. One was in five games deliver. Waters' career for 16 years and a former against Annie Au, the top 10 player from British national champion. "Of course she Hong Kong, at the British Open in London had ups and downs, but I have never seen in May. The other came in four games to anyone as upbeat as she was." Nicol David in the quarter-finals of the These qualities may perhaps have Australian Open in Canberra in August. been absorbed from those among whom The loss to Au made Waters go she grew up. "All my friends and family are through every detail of how it had positive," Waters said. "People like that happened – a cold court, a muted play an important part." response to her opponent's softly But mostly they will have emerged from manoeuvring game and switching off a her attitude. Those who know her speak of little after gaining a two-game lead. Three her lively smile and lively nature. An months later at the Australian Open example of the buccaneering cheerfulness Waters had her revenge in straight games. with which she approached the chore of Her 68-minute 10-12, 11-1, 11-7, 15- training appears in one of her blogs. 13 loss to David – after getting to within "It’s tough, but everyone really enjoys it one good blow of a decider and stretching The last time England won the women’s world team THE SQUASH PLAYER title: England’s 2006 team of Jenny Duncalf, Alison Waters, Vicky Botwright and Tania Bailey celebrate 11 Waters p10-12_3 Column Left 18/09/2012 11:33 Page 3 FEATURE How to rehab like Alison fter Alison Waters' Achilles tendon non-affected leg on the step to raise the operation, performed by Hakan body back to the starting point.

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