This article could read as the history of a squash icon. But the difference is that this icon is still playing and capturing national championships today. Joyce Davenport, who won her first National Singles Championship in 1965 (she has over fifty national titles), is continuing to write her squash history by winning national age group and open events, such as the 2008 40+ Women’s National Doubles with Sara Luther and the 2007 Merion Mixed Doubles (Open) with Dave McNeely. While some junior and college squash players are burning out, Joyce has been playing since she learned the game at age twelve and continues to play at a national level in her sixties. But Joyce is not simply a squash story, she is an amazing all-around athlete who played tennis at Wimbledon and says that she is very tempted to play national or international level tennis in the coming years. And her professional life has been anything but one-sided, including helping to buildup one of the first public squash clubs into a major center of squash activity in Philadelphia.
Joyce grew up playing at the Cynwyd Club outside of Philadelphia, coached by Norm Bramall who had a history of turning out national women’s champions. She went to Mount Holyoke to focus on academics rather than athletics. Mount Holyoke did not have squash, but as a freshman Joyce was sent to England by the USSRA to play #1 on the U.S. Women's Squash Team which competed in the Wolfe-Noll competition (U.S. vs. England team competition). This six-week tour was her introduction to the international softball game, and she experienced top level coaching and competition.
Joyce’s professional life has been multi-faceted. After college, she spent three years teaching high school social studies in inner city Philadelphia. She moved in 1969 to San Francisco and became manager of a placement agency. At the time, she was both the national singles and doubles champion, but in the Bay Area there were no squash clubs that welcomed women players. One club in Berkeley told her that if she would agree to run a clinic then they would let her on the courts to play. Joyce didn’t stand for this unequal treatment, and dropped out of squash for the six years she lived in California. She switched back to tennis and played against top-ranked national level 30-35 age group players. In 1970 she did get to play squash when she represented the USSRA in Australia. She played against and toured with such legends as Heather McKay, Geoff Hunt and Jonah Barrington. After playing in Australia, she traveled and played in several clubs in Asia during the Vietnam War.
Joyce decided to change careers and headed back east in 1976 to attend Villanova Law School. She picked up her squash racquet again after her California layoff and began playing again as a thirty-four year old. To finance law school she taught squash at the Berwyn Squash Club and was also a tennis pro. She quickly was back playing the pro hardball singles circuit and became a consistent top-10 player when Barbara Maltby and Alicia McConnell were at the top.
After law school, she worked on a political campaign and as an attorney for an intellectual property firm. At this same time, the Berwyn was experiencing financial trouble and had virtually closed its doors. Eventually the owners of the Berwyn Club persuaded Joyce to become the manager and she stayed on as part everything, owner/manager/pro. She introduced many new tournaments and helped make public squash a vital part of the Philadelphia squash scene. After Berwyn Squash was sold, she worked as a retail broker for Morgan Stanley. She is now semi-retired but is still teaching squash.
When playing in national singles tournaments, Joyce often plays down ten years in age groups so she can find competition. She also plays local and national doubles and mixed doubles. She credits her longevity to having no injuries, a regime that does not emphasize running or weights and a style of play that focuses on shot making. Currently, she plays two to three times per week off-season. She recommends that players who are over forty keep playing year round. Some of her practice, especially just before and during tournaments, is solo on the court working on techniques and shots, something always stressed by Norm Bramall.
Joyce believes that post-college women are more likely to keep playing squash in the long run if they keep their hand in the game. “They can play less and be less fit but still really enjoy the game. They can alter their style of play to less retrieving and more offense and have the fun of developing more shots. If they can find playing partners they enjoy because of their style of play or compatibility they are more likely to keep playing. Even practicing without keeping score can make it more fun and productive. Playing other sports can help with cross training and avoiding burnout.”
Joyce is weighing her competitive options going forward. She would like to qualify for the newly formed Women’s Doubles Squash Association (“WDSA”) tour, which she finds is a fun group of women who are very inclusive and play well. She likes the women’s doubles game and believes it will be a great promoter of the women’s game in general. She believes doubles is a really good way for post-college players to stay involved in squash since it requires less fitness and is more social than singles play.
Joyce says she will keep playing squash as long as she is enjoying it and there is another achievement to go after. She would love to play in the World Softball Singles Championships when they are next played in New Zealand. She won the Women's 50+ Softball Singles World title in Vancouver in 1992. If she puts her mind to it, I bet she could win again.
