Hannah Slyth dreaming big ahead of AJO

When Hannah Slyth was 10, her mother encouraged her to give squash a go.

At the time she eyed off a treasured neon green and black racquet bag which her mother promised to get her… as long as she played for at least six months.

Six months later not only did Hannah get her prized bag, she had also played her way onto the Western Australian state team and is now well on her way to becoming one of the country’s top squash talents.

With her family living in China for several years, they would return to Australia each summer where Hannah would attend the Blue Gum Park Tennis Club camps in Brentwood, just south of Perth’s CBD. It didn’t take long until she had ditched the tennis racquet and put her focus into squash.

“I didn’t realise that years later Blue Gum would become my second home, not the tennis club, but the squash club!” said Hannah. “I’m thankful it’s only a 10 minute drive to my home since I’m there almost every day.

“I played both racquet sports until I was 12 but decided that squash was more physically intense and exciting than picking up tennis balls every five minutes in the heat and rain.”

Ahead of this week’s Australian Junior Open, Hannah is already thinking about a home World Junior Championships in Melbourne, having tasted that level of competition for the first time in 2022.

“Last year I represented Australia at the World Junior Championships in France and the whole experience was surreal,” she said. “It was my first time in Europe and even though my end outcome wasn’t incredibly high, I’m grateful for the learning opportunity I was given.

“I got a rare insight into the ever-increasing level of international players and what it takes to improve and be more competitive in the game.

“I would be so grateful to have the opportunity to represent my country again, not only in the individuals but in the girls teams event as well.

“I’m still eligible to compete in the WJC for another three more years so my goal is to improve my overall seeding each year.”

Hannah is already turning potential in results, having reached her first open PSA tournament final in Kalgoorlie last year. In that event Hannah overcame a five-game opening match to beat the top seed in the quarter finals, then defeat the third seed in the semis. She eventually went down to Erin Classen in the final with the pair going on to be teammates at the World Junior Championships later in the year.

She also had the honour of playing against former 2007 World Champion and former World number one Rachael Grinham at last year’s Australian National Championships in Darwin.

Working under coach Wayne Krahner, Hannah’s favourite player is Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini.

“She’s a talented player with an instinctive squash brain and excellent technical expertise,” said Hannah. “It’s impressive that she’s a six-time world champion and the youngest female player to win a women’s world championship.”

After starting in tennis and also playing volleyball, Australian rules football, soccer and netball, Hannah has decided to concentrate on squash as she also balances the demands of school.

Having first played internationally in Singapore in 2019, Hannah is excited by the prospect of competing overseas more often as well as excelling in the open ranks domestically.

“I’d like to begin winning the Ladies Open/PSA tournaments in WA and finish in top positions in the under 19 girls Australian events,” she said. “I’m travelling to Europe in July to gain experience and exposure to the international level of juniors which I’m hoping to perform well in.”

With a bye in the first round and seeded in the 3/4 position, Hannah is scheduled to open her Australian Junior Open campaign on Saturday against Queensland’s Kiara Stubley.

The Australian Junior Open will take place at Melbourne Sports Centres on 22-24 April.