Alison Waters Announces Retirement

England’s former World No.3 Alison Waters has announced her immediate retirement from professional squash.

London-born Waters made her professional debut in 2000 and has since gone on to play 200 professional events, winning 10 titles along the way and recording seven months at her career-high ranking of No.3 in the world.

The 37-year-old’s most recent title came at the 2014 Carol Weymuller Open when she defeated Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy to win the biggest title of her career. Waters has reached 24 finals during her career, notably appearing in the final of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in 2015 inside New York’s Grand Central Terminal.

Waters ends her professional career with 301 wins from 494 matches, while away from the tour she racked up 140 caps for England. Waters played a key role as England won the WSF Women’s World Team Squash Championship in 2006 and 2014, while she also helped her country to four runner-up finishes.

The Londoner was also a medallist at the Commonwealth Games and secured a Silver and a Bronze medal at the 2014 Games in Glasgow. Together with Peter Barker, Waters achieved the Silver in the Mixed Doubles event and acquired a Bronze after finishing third in the Women’s Doubles event together with Emma Beddoes.

Waters also won the European Women’s Team Squash Championship 11 times between 2005 and 2018, while she also tasted victory at the British National Squash Championship four times and reached the final on 10 occasions, more than any other female player.

Her final appearance on the PSA Tour came at the DAC Pro Squash Classic where she exited to Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in the last 16.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone that has supported me over my whole career, especially my family and friends who encouraged me from the very start,” said Waters.

“A huge thanks to England Squash, the English Institute of Sport and Performance Herts for the incredible support over my whole career. I couldn’t have done it without you all. It was always a huge honour for me to put on the national colours and represent England. Thanks to all my amazing team mates over the years for so many amazing memories.

“Special thanks to my coach Paul Carter, who was in my corner since I was 12 years old. Thank you for being an amazing coach and for supporting me on and off the squash court. We definitely shared lots of amazing times together, especially on England duty, special moments I will always remember fondly.

“And thanks for sorting out my forehand swing. That was definitely a coaching miracle. Thank you to everyone that has sponsored me, billeted me or helped or supported me in any other way. I plan to stay involved with squash through coaching and hopefully sharing my experiences.”

Alison Waters: Career Stats
PSA/WSA Matches: 494
PSA/WSA Match Wins: 301
PSA/WSA Titles: 10
PSA/WSA Finals: 24
PSA/WSA Tournaments Played: 200