G.O.A.T: The Contenders 2000-Present – Part Four

Over the coming weeks, we’re giving you the chance to decide the greatest players in squash history as we take a look at the achievements and legacies of some of the most recognisable names ever to take to a squash court.

This week, we’re looking at the best players between 2000-Present – each day we will profile some of the best players from this period and you can then vote for who you think is the greatest at the end of this week.

Voting is also open for the following eras:
1980-99
1960-79
Pre-1960s

David Palmer

Nationality: Australian
World Championship Titles: 2
World Championship Finals: 3
British Open Titles: 4
_British Open Finals: 4
PSA Tour Titles: 27

Aussie legend David Palmer won all of the sport’s major titles, with two World Championships, four British Opens and a trio of Commonwealth Games gold medals to show for a superb career.

Palmer was known for his incredible physicality, while a rigorous training regime helped him enjoy the kind of success that no Australian man had enjoyed since the legendary Geoff Hunt in the 1970s-80s.

Born in New South Wales, Palmer made his PSA debut in 1998 but within a few years was competing right at the very top of the game and collected the first of his quartet of British Open titles with victory over Englishman Chris Walker in 2001.

The following year, Palmer beat John White to capture his maiden World Championship title, while two further final appearances would follow in 2005 and 2006, with a sensational comeback over France’s Gregory Gaultier seeing him claim the sport’s biggest prize for a second time.

The hard-nosed Australian fought back from four championship balls down in a crucial fourth game, before using his big game experience to great effect as he powered past a shattered Gaultier to become the first male Aussie in 29 years to capture two World Championship titles.

Palmer also enjoyed two stints atop the World Rankings – for four months in 2001 and a further month in February 2006 – while he also had significant success on the doubles scene at the Commonwealth Games.

Despite announcing his retirement in 2012, Palmer stepped back on court in the 2014 Games in Glasgow and helped Australia to two gold medals, teaming up with Cameron Pilley in the men’s doubles and 2007 World Champion Rachael Grinham in the mixed.

And he repeated that feat on home soil in April 2018, this time joining Zac Alexander to claim a third Commonwealth Games gold medal.

Last summer, Palmer started coaching Egypt’s Mohamed ElShorbagy and was a key reason behind the World No.1s stunning return to form this season.

Lee Beachill

Nationality: English
World Championship Titles: 0
World Championship Finals: 1
PSA Tour Titles: 9

The first English-born World No.1 ever, Yorkshireman Lee Beachill battled back from a series of serious injury issues to leave a lasting legacy in the sport, winning two Commonwealth Games gold medals during his career.

Under the tutelage of legendary coach Malcolm Willstrop, Beachill developed into one of the leading players of his generation but required great mental fortitude to shrug off some freak injuries along the way.

A serious ankle issue sustained after being hit by a go kart saw him spend a number of months out of the game, while a car accident in his early 20s left him with two crushed vertebrae, leaving his doctor to say he may not walk again.

Despite these setbacks, Beachill was back on the squash court after three months and he claimed his first British Nationals title in 2001 before repeating the feat a year later as he beat Peter Nicol to become the first man to retain the trophy.

2002 also saw Beachill team up with Peter Nicol at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and the duo claimed gold medals in the men’s doubles event, following that up with a second gold medal in Australia four years later.

Beachill claimed a series of major titles on the PSA Tour, with triumphs at the Qatar Classic and two U.S. Open titles – the latter sending him to World No.1 in October 2004.

In December of that year, Beachill came within a whisker of winning the sport’s biggest tournament – the PSA World Championships – holding championship ball against Thierry Lincou in the final before the Frenchman came back to win.

Beachill continued to be a force at the summit of the sport over the next few years until he announced his retirement in February 2009 due to a persistent knee injury.

The following month, Beachill became the Chief Operating Officer of the Professional Squash Association and has overseen the launch of the PSA’s broadcast arm – SQUASHTV – in addition to a myriad of improvements across the sport.

Carol Owens

Nationality: New Zealand
World Championship Titles: 2
World Championship Finals: 2
British Open Titles: 0
British Open Finals: 1
PSA Tour Titles: 27

Melbourne-born Carol Owens has the unique achievement of representing both Australia and New Zealand at the highest level and won medals for both countries at the Commonwealth Games.

Born in Melbourne, Owens lifted a total of 27 PSA Tour titles during a trophy-laden career, which included two World Championship triumphs.

Owens represented Australia in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, claiming a bronze medal alongside teammate Sarah Fitz-Gerald in the women’s doubles and she followed that up two years later with her first World Championship triumph, beating Kiwi Leilani Rorani.

In 2001, Owens moved to Auckland, New Zealand and changed her nationality, winning Commonwealth Games gold and silver medals for New Zealand at the 2002 Games in Manchester.

Owens became World No.1 for the first time in 2002 and picked up her second World Championship crown the year after with victory over England’s Cassie Jackman.

Owens stayed at World No.1 from July 2003 – January 2004, at which point she announced her retirement from the sport.

Vanessa Atkinson

Nationality: Dutch
World Championship Titles: 1
World Championship Finals: 0
PSA Tour Titles: 25

Former World Champion Vanessa Atkinson is the only Dutch player ever to win the World Championships, while she also spent five months atop the World Rankings during her career.

Newcastle-born Atkinson moved to the Netherlands from a young age and proved to be a proficient squash player as she rose up the World Rankings rapidly, winning the 2004 World Championships in Kuala Lumpur after seeing off the challenge of Natalie Grinham.

Atkinson made her debut at World No.1 in December 2005, while she recaptured the honour in April 2006, holding the spot for four further months before the emergence of Malaysian icon Nicol David.

She also won 12 Dutch Nationals titles before retiring in 2011 with a trophy haul consisting of 25 PSA Tour titles.

Atkinson currently serves as a commentator with SQUASHTV, while she currently lives in Harrogate with partner, James Willstrop, and her two sons.