Season Review: Joelle King

New Zealand’s Joelle King recorded one of her best seasons to date this season on the PSA World Tour, claiming two titles and reaching the semi-finals of nine events, including a first final four appearance at the PSA World Championships. We caught up with the New Zealand No.1 to reflect on the season:

On competing at, and winning, the New Zealand Open.

JK: “Overall, I think going home to New Zealand was one of those tournaments that was going to go one of two ways. It was either going to be too much pressure that I couldn’t play or I’d embrace that pressure. I tried to have a mindset of how many times am I actually going to get to play at home in front of my people again, and I just tried to really enjoy every part of that tournament. 

“Sometimes when you win a tournament you get confidence and playing Singapore with two days break probably helped, to be honest. So, I think it’s been an interesting season, I’ve talked about wanting to enjoy things and that almost releases pressure from you instantly. It doesn’t mean that I’m not looking to improve things or try new things and obviously I’m still wanting to be competitive against the top players in the world.

On her mentality switch and trying to be consistent throughout the season

“I think when you look at it five to four [in the rankings] doesn’t seem like much, it seems like just one place but it completely changes draws. It’s quite a big jump, maybe not number wise, but I’d say consistency has been a big part of my season this year and I’m extremely proud of that.

“Probably years ago, I would have been a bit more, I don’t know if hungry is the word, but you’re always trying to think about next year and the next tournament. I guess as you get closer to the end you don’t know how many next tournaments and next years there are going to be. So I think at every tournament and every training session, you can always improve and that’s probably been a big part of my. Even at the later stage of my career, I’m not happy with just where I’m at, I’m always trying to make little changes, 1% here and 2% there. That can make a big difference. 

“But to beat one of the top three is a very hard task and we can’t hide away from that. I’ve talked about being consistent, these guys have been super consistent and I think that’s a credit to them and the women’s game in general. Now we’re starting to see other players come through from behind as well. So it’s one of those times where you’re looking forward but you’ve also got to keep an eye on behind. But that’s the fun of the challenge, trying to find new ways to start making some of these big finals, things like that. It hasn’t happened this season. I’ve reached semi finals and I think when you’re in it, sometimes you don’t take a step back and look at how great that really is. But it’d be nice to start trying to convert some of those into finals and hopefully winning Platinum events.

On her disappointing Commonwealth Games result and bouncing back.

JK: “Slightly disappointed is probably an understatement. It was a really devastating event for me. I mean, it started that way, but obviously finished on a real positive. To be honest, for weeks after that, I didn’t even want to pick up a squash racket. I went away on holiday and I was really heartbroken. It’s funny when I think back to my first Commonwealth Games at 21, going in there, completely unknown, I didn’t know anything, there was no expectation and I had freedom to just play and explore what I could do on the court. I came away with a Gold and a Silver and going in this time was a completely different experience. I was never one of those players that dreamed from eight years old that I wanted to play squash. I played lots of different sports. At the time, people told me you should try and go pro because I finished in the top three at the World Juniors and I thought, you know what, for a year I’ll do it. And here we are 17 years later, so I’m very proud of the character to come back.”

On her semi-final clash with Nour El Sherbini at the PSA World Championships.

JK: “I finished the season probably with, on paper, my two worst finishes of the season. But I’m not taking that away from my opponents by any means at all. I think a lot of people don’t actually realise that was my first semi-final at a World Championships because I’ve been around for so long, so for me there was actually a lot of emotion after the match against [Nour] El Sherbini. It’s probably one of the best matches I’ve ever played against her if I’m being honest. I felt competitive in the match and I was making inroads against her in that match. Obviously I still lost but there were lots of positives and coming off after that match, I actually cried. I’m not a crier when it comes to squash. I’m not that kind of person, it’s not the be all and end all for me if I’m being honest. I like to keep balance in my life and and I guess I sort of realised that there’s more to life than squash for me personally.

“So it was quite weird. I didn’t realise I had that much emotion about it and after the match it was the whole combination of a first semi final after all this time, feeling like I was in the match for a period and losing and you just never know at this stage whether there’s going to be another World Championships. So I think a whole lot of things built up inside without me even really knowing which meant an emotional end to the World Championships for me. But it was a great ride and Chicago did a fantastic job of hosting an amazing event.“

On competing at a World Tour event in New Zealand for the first time.

JK: “I had my parents in the crowd, my grandmother, as well as all my friends at home that all follow me from afar but never get to see it live bringing their kids to watch me play. Auntie Joey playing on a big stage and being something of an inspiration for the next generation of my friends and family. That’s probably one of the reasons why I do this, to try and inspire. My little nephew is eight years old and he calls me and tells me how he’s training and getting ready to try and beat me because he sees me out there doing this for a living. So those kinds of things matter for me right now more than anything. But playing in New Zealand and taking the title at home was the most special moment for me this season for sure.”

On her favourite moment of the season.

JK: “I think that whole period in New Zealand, Singapore, even Hong Kong, it just seemed to all flow on from each other. So overall that period is probably my favourite and the best I played.

“I couldn’t really pinpoint it down to just one moment but against El Sherbini, it’s that she’s always been a bit of a marker because she’s been at the top dominating for periods. But there’s been a few performances, I wouldn’t say there’s just one specific one, but it was a good season all round.“

On what she’s looking forward to about next season.

JK: “I was asked a question, I don’t know how many years ago, asking me where would be my favourite place to play. I actually said the Eiffel Tower. So for me, that’s a big one that I’m aiming for. Just to even get on the court in front of that beautiful place, it looks amazing. So that’s a big one for me.

“And obviously New Zealand again, going back home and trying to defend my title on home soil, again in front of my family and friends. That will be an unbelievable way to near the end of my career. So I can’t wait for that.”