Finland’s Tuominen Announces Retirement

Finland’s Olli Tuominen has announced that he will retire from professional squash after the Montpellier Open next week.

The 40-year-old from Helsinki made his PSA debut in 1997 and since then has gone on to lift 15 titles on the PSA Tour, while also reaching a career-high World Ranking of No.13.

Tuominen played 535 matches on the PSA Tour, winning 292 of them, while his final piece of silverware came at the Subbotnik Open in March of this year. He is the second highest ranked Fin of all time after Sami Elopuro.

In a statement released earlier today, Tuominen said: “It’s time to lower the sword, burn my passport and sail towards calmer inland waters. I played my first PSA match as a teenager in 1997. Well over 500 PSA matches later, I will play my last PSA tournament in Montpellier this week.

“During these years, I’ve played in over 50 countries, from Pakistan to Bermuda. Some highlights of my career include making the semi-finals at the Tournament of Champions in 2007 and at the U.S. Open in 2010, climbing up to the World Ranking of No.13 in 2006, beating several top 10 players and of course winning the Subbotnik Open in Moscow this March.

“All together, I’ve won at least 15 PSA titles. I may leave the PSA world behind, but squash will naturally continue to be an important part of my life. My plans for next year are to keep fit, play league matches in Europe and maybe do a bit more coaching, both in Finland as well as internationally if there is demand for it.

“At the same time, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time at home in Finland and enjoy the ordinary life. Maybe [I will] find something new to do outside of squash like renovating apartments, fixing bikes or picking locks. Hopefully I will also have more time to play music.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the entire squash community. I want to thank all the friends I’ve made, fellow players for sharing this adventure with me, my wonderful host families around the world for their endless hospitality as well as all my sponsors for supporting my career. Special thanks go to my family and friends in Finland for bearing with me throughout these 22 years as a squash professional.”