PSA tour players travel across the world each year to compete in events, but the Czech Republic’s Jan Koukal takes this to a new level. Known as the PSA’s most traveled player, Koukal has played in over sixty PSA events in the past three years. He is also the eleventh all-time winningest professional squash player with twenty-seven tour titles to his WaWme.
This year you have competed in twenty-four PSA Tour events in sixteen countries. With all of this traveling are you actually based anywhere?
I have always been based in Prague, where I was born and grew up. Even though I love traveling, I love that place and can’t imagine living anywhere else.
How much time do you spend at home in Prague each year?
I spend around three to four months at home, and I love it that way.
In 2013 you logged around 113,000 km of air travel, what do you do with all of this free time in the air?
I’m a book freak, and traveling gives me a lot of time to read. Recently, I’ve also started to play poker, which I have found to be a great addition to a squash player’s life!
You have competed in tournaments in eight different time zones in 2013 alone, how do you deal with some of the stresses of travel, like jet lag?
I don’t have trouble adapting at all. As soon as I get to a new place, I just accept the local time and get on with it. Sleeping has never been an issue for me—I can fall asleep pretty much anytime, anywhere.
You play about thirty-eight PSA matches each year. How do you fit training into your schedule with all of this tournament play?
Actually, this year it has been close to fifty PSA matches and, if you count nationals, Europeans, and leagues, it’s closer to 100. I find playing matches is the best practice and the best way to keep fit. Good summer training and rest are also key elements for me. I rest well between tournaments so that I can survive the season.
Who do you train with? Do you have a coach or anyone that travels with you?
I have a great fitness coach, Martin Kostal, who I spend a lot of time with, and that has really been paying off. I haven’t had a squash coach since I was eighteen, but I hit with Czech No. 2 Petr Martin and with my brother-in-law and neighbor, Greg Gaultier.
What is your favorite place that you have played so far?
I like most places, but I do have a few favorites. I’m big fan of Brazil, Canada, and most recently Australia and New Zealand.
What is the strangest thing you have encountered during your travels? Do you have any good travel stories?
Last year, I had to get from a playoff match in Poland to Czech the next morning for the doubles nationals. The two places are 250km away, and my only chance to make it was by catching an early morning bus. But, the bus never showed up, so I ended up taking taxi. The ride would normally take about two hours on the highway, but I fell asleep and woke up three hours later to find that the driver decided to take small country roads instead! The trip ended up costing me around five hours and a very “nice” price. Luckily in the end I managed to sign in five minutes before the tournament deadline.
