Rex Hedrick: Birmingham 2022 to finish on a high note

The Australian representative is looking to make his second Commonwealth Games team after debuting at Gold Coast 2018, where he made the Round of 16 in the Men’s Singles.

However, this time around, he has turned his attention to the doubles events. Most of Australia’s success at the Commonwealth Games has come through the three doubles events on offer - Women’s, Men’s and Mixed - winning eight of their 11 gold medals.

“There is a doubles focus in our team, which isn't as prevalent in squash when it isn’t a Commonwealth Games cycle,” Hedrick explained.

“There isn’t a lot of doubles played for two or three years and then when it's coming up to a Commonwealth Games year, doubles becomes really important.”

Unfortunately, the 33-year-old hasn’t been getting in as much doubles practice as he planned, with internal border closers over the past two years limiting his ability to get up the National Training Centre on the Gold Coast.

Despite these challenges, Hedrick remains optimistic with national events back on the cards in 2022.

“I haven’t had the opportunity yet [to play doubles] because of lockdowns but in the next three to four months there is a lot of doubles action coming up so I'll get some training and competition. Then try and put some good results in to strengthen my chance of being selected [for Birmingham’,” he said.

The chance to don the green and gold for Australia at the pinnacle event for squash would mean a lot to Hedrick, especially since it was the reason he jumped back into training and competing again.

“The sole purpose was to try and make myself available for the Commonwealth Games and hopefully perform well. I'm 33 now so this is probably my last cycle so I'm just kind of hoping to end on a good note in Birmingham,” he explained.

It was just before the COVID-19 pandemic that Hedrick decided to take a break from the sport.

Since 2015 he had been combining full-time work with playing professionally but after almost seven years with 10-13 hour days, pushing himself to the limits, he wanted to cut back.

“As I did COVID-19 came around…so I had time on my hands and decided to train again,” said Hedrick. “I’m kind of an active person so I quickly slip back into a training routine.”

Hedrick was able to train throughout Victoria’s lengthy lockdown in 2020, with elite athletes offered exemptions to continue training, something the Melbourne-born squash player believes was crucial.

“It was the only way to structure my days. Obviously, with lockdowns, it's quite isolating but being able to go to the club and break up the days by training felt normal,” he said.

In June last year, Hedrick marked his return to top-level competition by taking out the Men’s title at the Australian National Championship, beating top seed Rhys Dowling. It was his first National Title since 2017.

It was a good marker in his preparations for Birmingham 2022 with the Men’s Team World Cup in December set to be another stepping stone. Unfortunately, just hours before they were due to fly out, the event was cancelled.

It was hard not to be disappointed upon hearing the news with Hedrick training in Melbourne alongside Jo White and Rhys Dowling, both had been selected to make their senior debuts for Australia, while Ryan Cuskelly was over in the United States.

“The three of us haven’t had a lot of competition so we had been looking forward to something,” Hedrick said. “A few days went by and we were wondering what our next plans were because we kind of were just looking forward to that in the short term.”

Now with the first major event for squash, the Australian Doubles Open, just over a week away, it marks the beginning of an important period for Birmingham 2022 hopefuls.

Hedrick already has a full diary of tournaments he’s planning to compete at following the Australian Doubles Open this month.

“Most of the Aussie players are trying to be selected for the Commonwealth Games team from playing in these tournaments and events so those will get factored into the selection process as well…hopefully I've done enough in the training block to go along to those and then put my hand up for selection,” he said.

“It's a massive year for squash players! So hopefully I can get results on the board, make the team and go over there.”