Alex reaches 1st Squash Professional Semi-final
Alex Noakes, who trains at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame, travelled to Istanbul in Turkey for the Glass Furnace PSA Squash Open Tournament on 27th April 2019.
Alex’s World squash ranking is currently 164.
Alex progressed untroubled to the quarter finals where he had a good 3/1 win over Ahmed Abualela of Egypt.
In the semi-final Alex had a great game with Argentinian player Juanse Barreyro who was seeded #3. Alex took the first game 11/7 but then went down 7/11, 9/11, 10/12 in the last 3 games. Juanse went on to win the final and take the title.
In the 3rd place play-offs Alex had a huge battle with Ukranian #1 player Valeriy Fedoruk in a match lasting almost 90 minutes. Alex eventually won 11/7 in the 5th.
Racquets squash coach Sue Martin-Downhill said ‘we are extremely proud of Alex who started playing when he was 4 years old at our ball skills classes. He quickly decided he wanted to be great at the game and dragged his dad down to the courts early morning, noon and night’.
Even now 20 years later dad, Chris Noakes who has been a member of Racquets for over 30 years spends hours on court feeding Alex shots to sharpen his lengths, volleys, drops and speedy reactions.
Alex would like to thank his current coach Sue Rose who was once the top lady player in the World who has obviously made a real different recently to his game and to everyone at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame where Alex is training in the gym and working on his solo practice and routines on the court.
Alex will be competing in 4 events in Argentina and Paraguay in May so hopefully his good form will continue.
Looking to try this game that gets you working out hard but is thoroughly enjoyable ?
For kids :
- For ball skills for 4 to 7 year olds at Racquets Fitness Centre : Saturdays 9.40am
- Racquets Junior Academy runs 6 days a week
- See our junior timetable
Or if you might be interested :
- Beginner squash lessons Mondays 10am, Tuesdays and Thursday evenings
- See our adult timetable
Contact squash@racquets-fitness-centre.com for more information.
