Country Club, Johannesburg, South Africa- Leading South Africa women’s player Alex Fuller has decided to end her professional career of a decade of representing the country on the international circuit with outstanding success.
SA fans, however, will be pleased to hear that she is not stepping away from the sport entirely and will continue, depending on her schedule, to take part in various national events.
The 30-year-old, who grew up in Cape Town but has spent much of time campaigning overseas, reached a career-high ranking of 22 in November 2022 and is justifiably proud of what she has achieved.
Explaining her decision, Fuller, who won nine PSA titles during her career, said the decision had been on her mind for some time.
“I have been weighing up the way I was feeling about competing and my love for the game for a long time,” she said.
“I just got to a point where I had had enough touring, being alone competing, and figured I was ready for the next chapter of my life.
“The thought of what’s next made me more excited than competing and, for me, this is the right decision.
“I have been competing for 10 years, and it’s been an absolutely amazing experience with many highs and lows, new friendships and a lot of learnings.”
Fuller, though, still wants to enjoy the game and that is good news for SA squash.
“I will continue to play doubles and hopefully be able to represent my country in the next doubles event,” she said.
“I will be playing Kaplan Cup and hopefully SA Nationals. My aim is to continue playing squash while I enjoy it and am able to manage my schedule accordingly.”
The Capetonian can look back on her career without regrets, having achieved at a high level in difficult circumstances for a South African, with her home base so far from the centre of the professional circuit.
“I do feel that I reached my full potential based on my circumstances and I can be proud of what I have achieved over the years,” she said.
“Looking back, and this is something I have been reflecting on a lot since I retired from the professional tour, I can say I tried everything and happy with where it got me.
“It was a tough gig on the tour, but I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to play.”
As one who has been through the mill, Fuller has some wise words for aspiring young players.
“My advice would be to locate yourself overseas as early as possible which makes travelling a lot easier and cheaper.
“If you’re wanting to try out being a professional squash player and you have the means to do it, then do it. Go out there and give it a try!”
She added that working on all aspects of your game was essential to achieving some success.
“I wouldn’t say there is one major element of my training that only needed focus, but instead it was about being a little better at each aspect along the way.
“The game continues to evolve and change and so my training had to be adapted.”
As she reflects on her career, she recalls the special friendships she made on the way, perhaps even more fondly than her nine titles.
“The highlights are the friends I met along the way, the network and connections I made. These are all special memories for me,” Fuller said.
She pays tribute, too, to the many people who helped her to achieve at a professional level.
“From my friends, family and coaches, there were some passionate people who invested a bit of time and money in my squash.
“My parents, my fiancé, my coaches (Paul Atkinson and Angus Kirkland), especially, were very close to me during my career.
“My sponsors have been a huge support throughout my career, namely Head and Lucky in Love. I am forever grateful to have built such a strong relationship with these brands over the years.”
As she moves into the next phase of her life, Fuller is assessing her options.
“Right now, my future plans are still unclear. I am not 100% sure where I will be and what I will be doing.
“I will hopefully have some more clarity soon, but it is a big step to transition from an athlete into the working world, so I am taking my time to find the right fit for me.”
Ends
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Caption: Caption: Top South African women’s player Alex Fuller has retired from the international circuit after 10 years of plying her trade as a squash professional.
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