KEY POINTS:
How's this for a hectic sporting schedule? Just two days after winning the Australian squash open title on Sunday, Shelley Kitchen was supposed to be playing interclub in Auckland. But the 27-year-old arrived at her North Shore home to find the winter storm had cut the power to
the courts, so she got an unexpected rest, giving Kitchen some breathing space in which to reflect on her ninth international tournament triumph.
"I hadn't thought much about it beforehand - it's not as big a tournament as it once was," the world No 13 said during a chat with the Herald at Unitec's national squash centre in Mt Albert. "It's great to have won it."
Australia has played a big part in Kitchen's life. It was the stuff of childhood dreams-come-true, is the scene of her greatest triumph, and also figures in affairs of the heart ...
Where did squash start for you?
My mum Raina plays in Kaitaia with her friends. My older sister Trina played and I followed her around. I picked up my first racket when I was two, playing in the carport. I annoyed the neighbours a lot - all they could hear was the dung, dung, dung of the ball. Three girls from Kaitaia made the New Zealand junior team before me including my sister. Susan Devoy would come to our summer opens - the club was very strong then, about 500 members.
Favourite childhood squash memory?
I was in a New Zealand team that came second to England at the world junior champs in 1997. It was three Kaitaia girls - Lara Petera, Hayley King and myself - although we had all moved to Auckland by then. We were on the front page of the Herald, big photo, amazing. Lara and I are still really good friends and she was in the New Zealand team last year. Hayley doesn't play any more. Another highlight - the overseas trips. It was amazing going from Kaitaia to Sydney. The shopping. Oh my God. It was play, shop, play, shop. There was a group of us. We had so much fun when we were younger.
So you weren't in the rugger/netball crowd?
Individual sport is what I thrived on. I tried netball but I don't know, maybe I just wanted to control my own destiny. Even with swimming I found it hard to make friends. I just stuck with squash.
Is it a lonely life as a squash pro?
You do spend a lot of time on your own. There were eight other New Zealanders at the Australian champs which was nice. I'm quite friendly with a couple of girls but deep down, you are just doing it for yourself. I'm on the road about nine months a year and we have been based in Pontefract near Leeds in northern England.
We?
My boyfriend is the Australian squash player Anthony Ricketts, the world No 6. We've been together six years. We've known each other since we were 13 after meeting at a junior tournament in Noumea.
Did the courthsip have to survive court time?
We're together about three months a year and it's nothing to be apart four or five weeks at a time. We have four big tournaments a year together. In winter I'm back here and he's in Australia. We practice with each other a little bit. But it's not good for your relationship - put it that way. I'm usually the one walking off. I find it hard to take advice. It's hard when you are partners - you're both under so much pressure. We prefer to find other people to train with.
Those blokes get quite heated, don't they?
Testosterone. My boyfriend is pretty fiery. Not in a bad way - but if you read the clippings he is really aggressive. But I'm probably the problem most of the time because I don't want to listen.
What rates as your finest squash moment?
Beating Nicole David, the world No 1, to win the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games last year. Great memory. Kaitaia had held a big fundraiser for Lara and I. My dad Colin is a fireman and the brigade organised a dinner. Local shops provided things like triboard and trips away for auction. They cut it quite fine. It was only a week before the Games, and they raised $15,000. Amazing.
Let's talk Susan Devoy - do the top women forever feel like they are in her shadow?
I'm not nearly as good as Susan and I don't think I ever will be. It's certainly not from a lack of trying though. She won British opens and world titles, and I've only got three or four years left in me. Susan actually retired around the age I am now.
Your aims?
I'm hoping to break into the world top 10 this year. The highest I've been was 11 two years ago. I've beaten three of the world's top 10 this year. I've got one more Commonwealth Games in me so long as I'm injury free and still enjoying squash.
Have you thought about life after squash?
Yes. That's why I'm back into studying now. I've thought about doing social work or nursing. I think I'll eventually move back up north. I'm talking 10 or 15 years' time.
Anthony's take on that?
We don't really talk about that. We're both focussed on squash at the moment.
