La Panthère is back
A few weeks ago, Camille Serme announced she was coming out of retirement, with the goal of competing in the LA 2028 Olympic Games in mind. Her comeback to the PSA World Tour could take place at the Paris Squash 2024, provided that she wins the Wildcard Playoff a few days before. We caught up with the former world number 2.
Camille, how was your pre-season?
It’s been very different than it was before, I have a daughter now (she laughs) and my family is my priority. We had planned a vacation in Brittany long before I announced my comeback, and cancelling it was never an option. Nevertheless, I was able to do some sessions overthere and even some hitting. Once I was back in Paris, it was more difficult, luckily her dad was there to look after Jude and we also had some help from family and friends.
Overall, are you satisfied with how it went?
Initially, we had drawn a program with my fitness coach Fred Roualen, but after a while I told him that I could no longer stick with it. It’s no big deal because I was fully aware from the start it was going to be complicated, I have long term goals and I want to take things step by step. When I can only do one session per day, I favor squash rather than physical training. I'm pretty happy with where I am. The feeling with the racket came back quite quickly, and so did the fitness.
Camille Serme (on the right) took advantage of Nouran Gohar being in Paris at the end July to train with the reigning World Champion (Photo credit: Philippe Signoret)
Squash will make its first appearance at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028, did you consider coming back as soon as it was announced and is that the only reason behind your decision?
When it was announced, I hadn't given birth yet so I didn't think about it right away! It came little by little, especially when I picked up the racket again and started playing league matches. In all honesty, without the Olympics I wouldn't have come back. As I said before, this is a long-term goal, over 4 years, which is rather unusual in squash. But as a matter of fact, that’s what’s motivates me. The good thing is, I have people around me - Fred as well as my partner Jonathan Bel Legroux - who have been working with Olympians during their preparation, and I will be able to rely on their experience. It's going to be a long road...
Speaking of which, what are your schedule and your goals for the coming months?
I am starting from scratch and I need points to move up the world rankings. This is why I played the PSA Satellite in Antibes last weekend*, and I will have two others in my club of Créteil in the coming weeks. The goal is to make the world top 100 as quickly as possible, and then top 50 by the end of the season.
*Camille won the tournament in Antibes, but she had to dig deep in the semis against Kara Lincou - she won 13-11 in the fifth game. The Satellite events she mentioned will take place in Créteil next weekend (31 st of August and 1st of September) and then on the 5th and 6th of October.
And of course, there will be the Paris Squash 2024 from September 15 to 21 at the Cirque d’Hiver-Bouglione. Last year, you were MC during the first edition, and this year you are going to try and qualify.
I really want to play in this magnificent venue, and in general it’s one of the main reasons that motivated me to come back on the tour. On the other hand, even if I am not as involved in the organization as I was last year, I am really keen in being a part of it, and it would be kind of a reward for the work I’ve done.
Camille Serme (here with French number 1 Victor Crouin) is hoping to play at the Cirque d’Hiver-Bouglione in a few weeks (Photo credit: Paris Squash Project)
If you can match the level you showed in June at the French League playoffs, you should be able to qualify, knowing that the winner of the Wildcard playoff will face world number 1 Nour El Sherbini in the main draw!
I laughed when I saw the draw! This would obviously be a good test to see where I stand. A few weeks ago, I trained with Nouran Gohar, I was happy because I wasn't completely lost on court (she laughs). Obviously, against players of this calibre the issue is to sustain the physicality for the duration of a whole match. But before thinking about this first round, I have to qualify. Yes I played well in the playoffs but I was relaxed and with no expectations. I know myself, I can put pressure on myself at times and I’ll have to prepare mentally to be ready for this.
THE STORY OF A COMEBACK
16th of September 2021: Camille (world No. 4 at the time) leaves the court injured and in tears, at the semi-finals of the CIB Egyptian Open against Nour El Sherbini. A few days later, she finds out she is suffering from a partial tear in her left Achilles, which she will try and nurse without surgery.
Camille Serme's first PSA career had ended against Nour El Sherbini, and it may be against the World number 1 that she will come back on the tour in Paris (Photo credit: PSA World Tour)
January 2022: Camille has a relapse during training, and decides to have surgery at the beginning of February.
14 June 2022: worn by the physical and mental demands of professional sport, Camille announces the end of her career at age 33, and that she will dedicate herself to other projects – such as the organization of the Paris Squash 2023.
December 2022: Camille temporarily comes out of retirement to compete in the World Team Championships with France, and they finish 6th.
4 April 2023: Camille announces she is pregnant with her first child.
August 27 - September 2, 2023: Camille officiates as master of ceremony during the Paris Squash 2023 at the Palais de Tokyo.
Camille Serme was one of the masters of ceremony at the Paris Squash 2023 (Photo credit: Paris Squash Project)
16 October 2023: the IOC announces that squash is one of the 5 additional sports for the LA 2028 Olympics.
20 October 2023: Camille gives birth to her daughter Jude.
9 March 2024: Camille comes back to competing for a French league match with her club of Créteil.
10 June 2024: Camille announces that she will come back to the PSA World Tour for the 2024-25 season. A few days later, she plays a big part in Créteil coming out victorious at the French league playoffs, with wins over Tesni Evans and Énora Villard.
A few days after announcing her comeback, Camille Serme had shone in Bordeaux, winning the French National League title with Créteil (Photo credit: FFSquash)
September 11-13, 2024: Camille will feature in the Paris Squash 2024 Wildcard Playoff in Montmartre, She will be the favorite, while her main challengers will be French number 2 and 3 Marie Stéphan and Énora Villard. If she wins, she will play her comeback match on the PSA World Tour against world number 1 Nour El Sherbini two days later at the Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione…
📷 Headline picture courtesy of Lauranne Rochais
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