USC member Frank goes to student-World’s squash

USC elite sports member Frank Goossens is 23 years old and just started his Master of Logic at the University of Amsterdam. Because he plays squash at elite level, there’s no time for Frank to have a job on the side waiting tables for example – even though his strong forearm would’ve come in very handy when carrying heavy trays. A quick trip to Egypt for the student-World’s is quite an investment, so Frank was unsure if he would be able to go when he qualified. Luckily, thanks to financial support from the USC Elite Sports Fund, Frank is able to play at the World University Championship from 7-13 November!

Frank in action on the court 🎾

With the WUC just around the corner, we fired away – like a really fast squash service – some questions to Frank. Thanks to his quick footwork, answering those questions was pretty easy for him.

In tennis, some players are masters of a certain stroke, like Serena Williams’s serve or Federer’s volley. What is your specialty?

“I really like to finish a ball with my forehand, short and hard. In squash they call this move the ‘forehand’ kill’.”

Squash is often a really hard-hitting sport. How long does your racket last?

“Haha, most of the time I am able to play with just one racket per year. The trick is – when the ball is really close to the wall – to hit it not that hard, but sort of scrape the ball off the wall instead.”

What kind of treat do you give yourself after a nice win?

“We always finish the squash competition night with bitterballen. And they often taste just a little better after a win 😉.”

Squash is pretty popular at USC. Do you have a golden tip for all our fanatic squash players?

“There are two golden rules when playing squash: 1) always get back to the middle of the field (to the T) after you hit a ball, and 2) ALWAYS keep your eye on the ball – even if the ball is being returned from behind. This way, you can anticipate the next move.”

Besides playing squash in Egypt, do you think you have some time to enjoy the country?

“That’s a bit of a painful question… Often, we only get to see the airport, hotel and squash facilities. But luckily, this time we depart a day in advance. So I expect to at least have a look at one pyramid! By the way, Egypt is the best squash country in the world.”

And last but not least: what is your ambition for the WUC?

“I am not really sure about the opponents to be honest. But I do know that some top 100 players from the overall world ranking are playing, so they are definitely the favorites. For me personally, I hope to get to the second round and to finish in the top 8 with the Dutch national team. But the Olympic mindset comes first: the most important thing is not winning but taking part!”

Want to follow Frank and the Dutch team during the WUC? Check FISU WUC Squash 2022.