David Palmer (squash player)


David Troy Palmer is a professional squash player from Australia. He won the Super Series finals in 2002, the World Open in 2002 and 2006; the British Open in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2008; and the Australian Open in 2008. He attained World No. 1 ranking in September 2001 and again in February 2006.

Career overview

At the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Palmer won a Gold Medal with partner Zac Alexander in the men's doubles. At the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Palmer won a men's singles Silver Medal after losing in the final to England's Peter Nicol. At the same 2006 Commonwealth Games he also won Bronze Medals in the men's doubles and the mixed doubles. In the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games he won Bronze Medals in both the men's singles and the men's doubles.
In technical terms, Palmer plays a classic all-court attrition game with hard-hitting attacking shots from his opponent's loose shots. He is known for the power of his striking, and the strength of his physical play, contributed to by rigorous attention to fitness. His training regime involves completing the multi-stage fitness test five times with a three-minute break between tests.
Palmer has served as president of the Professional Squash Association. Following the 2004 World Doubles Squash Championships in Chennai, India, he was banned from playing in events run by the World Squash Federation for 13 months after a disciplinary panel found him guilty of verbally abusing the referee.
In 2009, Palmer was approached by the Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to help increase his team fitness.
Following his retirement as a professional squash player in 2011, Palmer maintained his status as a successful, high-level coach at his David Palmer Squash Academy in Orlando, Florida. In November 2016, Palmer made his college squash coaching debut as he was named The James Broadhead '57 Head Coach of Squash at Cornell University. Palmer now leads both the men's and women's squash team at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

World Open">World Open (squash)">World Open final appearances

2 titles & 1 runner-up

OutcomeYearLocationOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Winner2002Antwerp, Belgium John White13–15, 12–15, 15–6, 15–14, 15–11
Runner-up2005Hong Kong Amr Shabana11–6, 11–7, 11–8
Winner2006Doha, Qatar Grégory Gaultier9–11, 9–11, 11–9, 16–14, 11–2

Major World Series">PSA World Series">World Series final appearances

British Open">British Open Squash Championships">British Open: 4 finals (4 titles, 0 runner-up)

OutcomeYearOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Winner2001 Chris Walker12–15, 13–15, 15–2, 15–9, 15–5
Winner2003 Peter Nicol15–13, 15–13, 15–8
Winner2004 Amr Shabana14–16, 11–7, 13–11, 11–7
Winner2008 James Willstrop11–9, 11–9, 8–11, 6–11, 13–11

Hong Kong Open">Hong Kong Open (squash)">Hong Kong Open: 1 final (1 title, 0 runner-up)

OutcomeYearOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Winner2001 Thierry Lincou15–13, 15–6, 15-9

[Qatar Classic]: 4 finals (0 title, 4 runner-up)

OutcomeYearOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Runner-up2001 Peter Nicol15–12, 15–5, 10–15, 12–15, 15-10
Runner-up2002 Peter Nicol15–9, 13–15, 15–6, 13–15, 15-7
Runner-up2005 James Willstrop11–1, 11–7, 11-7
Runner-up2007 Ramy Ashour8-11, 11–9, 11–9, 11-6

US Open">United States Open (squash)">US Open: 3 finals (1 title, 2 runner-up)

OutcomeYearOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Winner2002 Stewart Boswell15–13, 15–10, 15-11
Runner-up2003 Peter Nicol15–10, 14–15, 15–14, 17-15
Runner-up2005 Lee Beachill11–7, 9-11, 8-11, 11–1, 11-8

Commonwealth Games final appearances

Total medals won, 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 4 Bronze

Career statistics

Singles performance timeline (since 1999)

To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only once a tournament or the player's participation in the tournament has concluded.
Note: NA = Not Available