Rodney Eyles
Encyclopedia
Rodney Eyles is a former professional squash
player from Australia. He is best remembered for winning the World Open title in 1997.
Eyles joined the professional squash tour as a 16 year-old in May 1984 and was an athlete in the inaugural Australian Institute of Sport Squad from 1985. He was on the PSA World Tour for 16 years and held the position of President from 1996-1998. He retired in November 2000 at the age of 33. His career-high world ranking was World No. 2.
The pinnacle of his career was reached in 1997 when he became world champion, defeating Peter Nicol in the final of the World Open 15-11, 15-12, 15-12. Eyles attained a wealth of title's including:
World Men’s Team Champion (1991), Australian Open Champion (1997), Australian Junior Champion, Commonwealth Games Men’s Doubles Silver Medal (1998), US Open Champion (1993 and 1996), French Open Champion, Hong Kong Open Champion, Hungarian Open Champion, Italian Open Champion, Mahindra Open Champion, North American Open Champion, Tournament of Champions, New York (Champion 1994 & Finalist), British Open (Finalist), Qatar Open (Finalist 3 times), Pakistan Open (Finalist)
As a junior player, Eyles was runner-up to Jansher Khan in the final of the 1986 World Junior Squash Championship. Between 1980 and 1986, he won four Australian junior titles and three Queensland
junior titles.
Eyles was a member of the Australian teams which won the World Team Squash Championships
in 1991 and the World Junior Team Championships in 1986. He also won a silver medal for Australia in the men's doubles event at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
(partnering Byron Davis
).
After retiring from the tour, Rodney coached up and coming players in Italy, Hong Kong and the USA before returning to the Gold Coast and establishing the Rod Eyles Squash Academy to focus on the development of juniors, seniors and professional squash players.
In 2009 Rodney managed the Australian Men’s Team in Denmark, was the Manager and Head Coach for the 2010 Australian Boys Junior Squash Team in Ecuador, and the Manager of the successful Australian Squash Team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
In 2010, Rodney joined the Squash Australia Team as an AIS consultant coach before becoming the National Talent Development Coach in 2011.
Rod was inducted into the Australian Squash Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Queensland Squash Hall of Fame in 2005.
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player from Australia. He is best remembered for winning the World Open title in 1997.
Eyles joined the professional squash tour as a 16 year-old in May 1984 and was an athlete in the inaugural Australian Institute of Sport Squad from 1985. He was on the PSA World Tour for 16 years and held the position of President from 1996-1998. He retired in November 2000 at the age of 33. His career-high world ranking was World No. 2.
The pinnacle of his career was reached in 1997 when he became world champion, defeating Peter Nicol in the final of the World Open 15-11, 15-12, 15-12. Eyles attained a wealth of title's including:
World Men’s Team Champion (1991), Australian Open Champion (1997), Australian Junior Champion, Commonwealth Games Men’s Doubles Silver Medal (1998), US Open Champion (1993 and 1996), French Open Champion, Hong Kong Open Champion, Hungarian Open Champion, Italian Open Champion, Mahindra Open Champion, North American Open Champion, Tournament of Champions, New York (Champion 1994 & Finalist), British Open (Finalist), Qatar Open (Finalist 3 times), Pakistan Open (Finalist)
As a junior player, Eyles was runner-up to Jansher Khan in the final of the 1986 World Junior Squash Championship. Between 1980 and 1986, he won four Australian junior titles and three Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
junior titles.
Eyles was a member of the Australian teams which won the World Team Squash Championships
World Team Squash Championships
The World Team Squash Championships are an international squash competition played between teams representing different nations. Countries enter teams of three or four players to represent them in the championships. In each round of the competition, teams face each other in a best-of-three singles...
in 1991 and the World Junior Team Championships in 1986. He also won a silver medal for Australia in the men's doubles event at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
(partnering Byron Davis
Byron Davis
Byron Davis is a squash coach and former professional squash player from Australia.As a player, his most notable successes came in doubles play. He won the men's doubles title at the World Doubles Squash Championships in 2004 , and was a men's doubles silver medalist at the 1998 Commonwealth Games...
).
After retiring from the tour, Rodney coached up and coming players in Italy, Hong Kong and the USA before returning to the Gold Coast and establishing the Rod Eyles Squash Academy to focus on the development of juniors, seniors and professional squash players.
In 2009 Rodney managed the Australian Men’s Team in Denmark, was the Manager and Head Coach for the 2010 Australian Boys Junior Squash Team in Ecuador, and the Manager of the successful Australian Squash Team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
In 2010, Rodney joined the Squash Australia Team as an AIS consultant coach before becoming the National Talent Development Coach in 2011.
Rod was inducted into the Australian Squash Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Queensland Squash Hall of Fame in 2005.