Joseph White caps off stellar 2023 with Squash’s highest award

Shooting up the rankings and winning the nation’s best male player of the year, Darwinite Joseph White has had one hell of a 2023, and he isn’t done just yet.

Joseph White during his Round 3 match against Aly Abou at the WC. Picture: STUDIOFAIRYTALES.

Australia’s highest ranked squash player Joseph White is finally getting his flowers after playing out his best season to date.

And it would seem uprooting himself from Brisbane and moving to New York has paid dividends for the rising talent.

“It’s definitely a great honour and a humbling experience to have received the award,” White said on winning the Male Player of the Year at the Squash Australia Annual Awards.

“It’s the first time I’ve won the award and I’m very grateful to have all my hard work be recognised by the squash community.”

In the USA and unable to receive the accolade in person, White was made privy to the announcement a week in advance, sending in a ‘thank you speech’ from the US while at training.

“A week before the presentation I received an email asking me if I could send through a speech quickly, and that was when I was told I had actually won,” he said.

“I knew a week before which was funny, but unfortunately I couldn’t get back in time.

“It’s not easy uprooting yourself and moving across to the other side of the globe, but I’m hoping that some of the younger players took notice of what I’ve been able to achieve since moving and it motivates them to do the same.”

Training under fellow Australian and former world number 2 and World Open champion Rodney Martin, White has shot up the world rankings.

Joseph White during his Round 2 match against Darren Pragasam at the WC. Picture: STUDIOFAIRYTALES.

Going from 145 to a career high 90 in under 12-months, White’s not finished for the year just yet, with a major tournament and chance to move up the rankings just around the corner.

“Having the opportunity to compete at the World Champs (in New Zealand) is amazing,” White said.

“It is an opportunity for me to go up against some of the best players in the world.

“You don’t get that sort of chance everyday so I’m going to make the most of it and cause some upsets.

“It’s more special because I’m going across with Rhys (Dowling).

“We’ve grown up playing together and against each other since we were kids on the court’s out at Darwin Squash Club.

“So to be the one and two pairing that’ll represent Australia is pretty cool.”

Not just content with competing at major events, White’s set his sights on the big time.

“My ultimate goal is to make it inside the top 40,” he said.

“When you get in there (top 40) you have a lot more opportunities to qualify for major tournaments such as the World Open, which is the pinnacle, and for the LA Olympics in 2028.

“By the time LA comes around I’ll be 31 and that’s when they say player’s hit their prime.

“So I’m going to do everything in my power to qualify for the games when they come around.”