There are several headings for this post, it was in fact quite an eventful weekend.

Getting there

Often I pack my rackets as in Europe, low cost airlines consider them baggage and I have to pay.

At the last second, I packed my rackets. I was three hours early, a direct flight. Priority tags on my bag. What could go wrong?

I arrived in Philadelphia Wednesday morning – giving me lots of time before my first round match Friday afternoon.

While the flight was on time, I arrived in Philadelphia but my baggage did not.

I filled out the forms for lost baggage – I was the only one on the flight not to have their bags follow – and expected that with three further flights that day, it would arrive later that afternoon.

It didn’t.

Philadelphia

I had never been to Philadelphia before and transit to the courts and subsequent hotel were easy on paper.

Without bags I stopped at the club, bought some shoes and a shirt. From there headed to Lululemon to buy some clothes and continued walking on to the hotel.

After checking into the hotel I took the Metro/Underground back to the club for a hit.

Above ground, Philadelphia was rather nice. Underground, it was bizarre, different, unlike anywhere I have ever been.

Over the weekend, there were unconscious drugged out people, smoking all over the place, thought I was going to get robbed, almost late for a semi final as a guy dodged security jumping back and forth across the tracks, three guys beating up a guy on a platform, a guy absolutely covered in fleas and on the way to the final a guy unconscious on a seat who had surely shit himself.

The metro in theory is really convenient but it is an adventure.

The Sponsor – Eye Rackets – Stepping up.

When my gear did not show, I expected it to arrive the same day or the next morning given the number of direct flights. I was wrong.

When it initially did not arrive, I emailed Brian by Eye rep and flippantly said I might need some gear. As it turned out I did.

Eye stepped up. Immediately they shipped me three rackets, three pairs of shoes and three complete outfits to get me through the tournament.

I received all the gear in time for my first round match. Thank you to Eye Rackets.

The Squash

I had never won US Nationals, managing to lose in the semi final or final three or four times. With Canadian (now based in the US) Hall of Famer Jamie Crombie in the draw, I did not honestly expect to win the event, but felt the match if I got there would be a good measuring stick – my previous match against Jamie was an uncompetitive loss in Arizona.

With my new but factory strung rackets and gear, managed a solid 3-0 victory in my first round – the quarter final having been granted a bye.

My semi final was going to be vs Steve Wren, who I had never beaten at US Nationals. With perfect timing my regular gear and my custom strung rackets also arrived.

With my favourite racket I defeated Steve in three mostly close games. I would be playing the final vs Jamie Crombie.

The Final

I love the courts at the US National Squash Center, they amplify my style of play.

In a previous tournament I had been too happy to reach the final and did not play my game in the final and lost meekly. My goal was play aggressive this final, lesson learned.

After leading the first game, I gave it away cheaply but there was belief gained.

From there I won the next three games. Jamie was perhaps not at his best, showing a bit of injury. But fuck that. Attrition is part of the game.

I won my first US National title 3-1. A very decent win.