Hania El Hammamy is the new Women’s World No.1 — but reaching the top wasn’t the fairytale moment many imagine.
In the latest episode of the Squash Player Podcast, Hania opens up about pressure, psychology, rivalry, maturity and identity, explaining why becoming World No.1 mid-season was emotionally unsettling rather than euphoric.
She reflects on her fierce rivalry with Nouran Gohar, the hunger that rivalry created, and why part of her felt lost when Gohar stepped away from the tour. Hania explains how desperation once drove her — and how letting go of that desperation ultimately unlocked her best squash.
We go beyond results and rankings. Hania speaks candidly about:
• Learning to manage expectation and external “noise”
• The psychological toll of World Championship defeats
• Why mental health and sports psychology transformed her game
• Working with Laura Massaro and Danny Massaro for emotional balance
• Identity beyond squash and stepping back from the sport
• Why rivalry is essential for greatness
If you want to understand what elite performance really costs, and what it takes to evolve from prodigy to champion, this is one of the most honest interviews you’ll hear.