Australia's Jeff Davenport and England's Anne Manley made history with breakthrough victories at the WSF World Masters Squash Championships in Amsterdam, becoming the most decorated World Masters players of all time in front of a sellout crowd at the Ottenstadion in France.
Those victories weren't the only thing happening in Amsterdam this week: this year's championships also saw a record-breaking turnout, with 1,070 athletes taking part.
Top-seeded Davenport beat South Africa's Pia Ruud 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 in the 65+ final to win her seventh world championship and set a new record.
“I was very nervous this morning, the most nervous I've ever been,” said Davenport, 66. “I wanted to win for all the kids I coach back home in Sydney because they were all so excited.”
“The record may not last long, but it's nice to be the first person to hold the record in its entirety.”
Davenport won the title by one point over compatriot Brian Cook and South African Craig van der Was. Top-seeded Cook lost to England's Barry Featherstone in Wednesday's over-75 semi-final but Featherstone couldn't capitalise on his chances, losing to compatriot Larry Glover, who triumphed 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9.
Meanwhile, defending over-75s champion Manley set a new women's record by winning her sixth World Masters title. She had beaten Australia's Margaret Hunt Kemp in the previous three tournaments and won again in straight sets in Amsterdam.
“Me and Margaret first met in 1996 on the England Over-40s tour of South Africa,” Manly revealed. “We know each other's game really well but that didn't help today! She was very tricky and hard but I'm very pleased and hopefully my fitness will hold and I can defend my title in two years' time.”
The Dutch crowd was denied an Anjema family double victory when father Robert Jan lost in four games to Finland's Kalle Leskinen in the over-70 final. Son Lawrence Jan, a former world number nine, eased the pain by winning 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7 in the over-40 final against compatriot Piedro Schwertmann.
“It started out as just a little joke between my dad and me playing in this tournament together, and then suddenly, the night before the final, we realized, ‘Wow, maybe tomorrow I can be world champion!'” Lawrence-Jean said. “In 2018 (when I won the over-35 trophy in Charlottesville) it was a nice surprise, but this time there was a lot more pressure.”
Unseeded Mexican Marcos Mendez was the surprise of the tournament, completing his dream winning streak with another dominant performance as he defeated Nicholas Stanton 11-1, 11-2, 11-2 to win the Over-50 Championship without dropping a game in seven matches.
Mendes coaches Leonel Cardenas, ranked 21st in the world in his home country, and has experience playing hardball squash in the United States. “When I switched to softball squash 20 years ago, I started from scratch. Now I know much more about the game and it was a dream for me to prove that I could do it,” he said.
Former PSA World Top 20 players Nicolette Fernandez of Guyana and Samantha Teran of Mexico met again in the women's over-40 final on glass, with top seed Fernandez winning 11-6, 11-4, 12-10.
Two former professional players, Lizelle Muller of South Africa and Lauren Kinsey-Briggs of England, won the women's over-35 and over-45 titles respectively. “I love this game and when I stop playing I realise how much I love it. The joy I get from this game is immense. It's so exciting to be here,” said Kinsey Briggs, who defeated Joanna Yue of Singapore in three games.
Singapore's Peter Hill, a former world number 32, displayed some of his legendary skills in a 12-10, 11-4, 8-11, 11-1 victory over four-time World Masters champion Willie Horsey of Ireland. “When I signed up to play here I said to myself, 'I'm coming to win'. There's a lot at stake but I'm really happy I made it to the end,” Hill said.
Stylish Swede Christian Drakenberg was overcome with emotion after beating England's James Bowden in straight sets over 45+. The seven-time national champion still represents Sweden at the European and World Team Championships and has won two World Masters trophies.
He said: “People don't see my emotions very often because I'm quite calm, but there's a lot going on inside. I've played all my life and of course I love my wife and kids but squash is my life. I love being here and I come back whenever I can. The octogenarians here are my heroes and I hope to be just like them in a few years!”
Over-65s champion Mary Seaney was also ecstatic as she defeated Wales' Jill Campion 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7, and was greeted with jubilant Irish support. “This is probably my last Masters match so I really wanted to win,” said the three-time champion.
Karen Meekins of Barbados defeated Linda Shannon of South Africa in straight sets to defend her over-50 title, while Susan Hillier of Australia defeated Sue Strachan of Scotland for the over-60 title to win her third World Masters title. Another Scot, Pauline Douglas, won her third title in her eighth World Masters appearance, beating Gay Mitchell of Australia 11-4, 16-14, 11-9. Lauren Wagner of Canada won a North American showdown against Hope Prokop of the United States 11-5, 11-9, 12-10.
Two Canadians competed in the final of the men's 80-and-over, the oldest age category, as second seed Gerald Poulton beat his old friend Howard Armitage 14-12, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6. “It's a great friendship,” Poulton said. “I've probably played at least 20 World Masters, World Masters Games and stuff like that and I love seeing the same people and new people. That's the beauty of squash.”
Sadly, Belgium's hopes were dashed when men's over-55 finalist Gilles Rogier, who won his first match 11-2 against Germany's Preddy Fritsche, suffered a terrible Achilles injury.
The night was a great final, with Egypt's popular local player Omar Abdel Megid, who coaches at France's Otten Stadium and captains the Eredivisie team, defeating Ireland's Arthur Gaskin 17-15, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6 in the men's over-35 final.
In Amsterdam, 15 different nationalities were among the 19 winners and 1,070 athletes took part, breaking the previous record of 951 set at the 2016 World Masters in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Today also saw England defend their Nations Cup title and Wales win the Small Nations Cup.
Click here to see all the results from Final Day.
The 2024 WSF World Masters Squash Championships took place from 15 to 22 August at the Ottenstadion in France. For more information about the championships, visit wsfworldmasters2024.nl.
For the latest WSF news, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X (formerly Twitter) Or subscribe to the WSF Newsletter.
Watch squash matches, interviews and features for free on WORLDSQUASH.TV.
