Rowan Damming (NED) 3-1 [7] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 11-9, 11-5, 4-11, 11-5 (48m)
Rowan
I’m 21, but I’m 12 in my head sometimes!
I’ve been working on that side on things, as when I was a junior, I had troubles with my temperament. I have a form of autism, which means that I can be overwhelmed by emotions, in particular if I believe it’s unfair. It’s very wild in my head, and I have to work on it to keep calm at all times during those emotions. Otherwise, it goes wrong.
For example today, the ref was saying I was pushing my opponent. I don’t feel I was pushing, I was trying to get to the ball, and he was in the way, a normal collision. “conduct warning for pushing” the official said. I wasn’t pushing at all. I was trying to get to the ball, normal traffic. So I want to argue with her, to explain, at the moment it’s called “dissent”. Which in my opinion is sometimes wrong. Because sometimes, a simple explanation can clarify what is happening. And that’s good! But I can’t do it. So my emotions are high. And during those moments, I am working very hard to keep calm in those moments. Just focusing on the next rally, no matter what the official says.
I’m proud I’ve thrown from that; two years ago, I would have gone nuts at times.
Positive points about my game? I’m very fast, and my crosscourt nicks! Negative? My focus, my concentration. For example, today, I was playing a WR52. But in the third game, my focus went out of the court completely, and I had no chance, I was playing WR150, no focus at all.
So for me, my squash level varies so much, up and down, because of my concentration, and that’s something I need to improve, and work on. If I can improve that consistency, my level will improve: I can beat those guys. Yesterday, I beat the WR67, today, WR52. If I can beat those guys back to back, it means I have that level. I am working with a sport psychologist, who is a great help.
