Clyne Announces Retirement from Professional Squash

USA’s Olivia Clyne has announced that she will retire from the PSA Tour on January 1, 2024.

New York-born Clyne, who made her first appearance on the PSA Tour 17 years ago, reached a highest ranking of World No.11 in October 2021 and has played over 350 matches on the PSA Tour during her career.

The 30-year-old has seven PSA Tour titles to her name, is a two-time U.S. National Champion and has represented her country at four Pan American Games, capturing four gold medals, two silvers and three bronzes. She also represented her country at six World Team Championships, helping Team USA to record a best-ever finish of second place behind Egypt in the 2022 edition.

Clyne was a prolific player at junior level, winning four national titles throughout her junior career and becoming just the second U.S. player to win a British Junior Open title when she won the U15 event in 2007.

Earlier in 2023, Clyne made at least the semi-finals of five consecutive PSA World Tour events, including the title deciders of the Cleveland Classic, Bahl and Gaynor Cincinnati Gaynor Cup and the Chestnut Hill Classic.

Taking to her personal Instagram account on Wednesday, Clyne wrote: “On January 1st of 2024, and for the first time in a very long time, I will no longer be competing on the PSA World Tour.

“I can say with so much certainty that although it hasn’t been the easiest decision, I know in my bones and heart that it is the right one. Being a squash player has been the pillar of my identity for most of my life. It has been my best friend, my worst enemy, and greatest teacher all of these years.

“Since watching from the top of a brick wall in the Grand Central Station all those years ago, I dared to dream. Though I can not promise that I won’t be back to compete, I do know that I’m ready for this relationship to evolve and I’m truly excited to see what that might look like.

“I have been so lucky to have had this incredible journey, surrounded by the most generous and loving people. I have seen the world, made lifetimes worth of memories and wouldn’t change a moment of it.

“I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this chapter of my life is the product of the many people and organisations who have supported me. Many people have taken chances on me over many years and I am truly grateful.

“Squash has given me so much and I can only hope that in this next chapter I am able to give back even a fraction of what has been gifted to me.

“Ultimately, my story originated with one guy on a cold winter’s day when I was five years old. He saw something, then so could I. We set out on this whirlwind adventure and what an adventure it has been. I wouldn’t change a moment Dad, not a single moment.

“To make an end is to make a beginning, and so we begin again.”