Twenty years ago, a local eighteen-year old entered the Hashim Khan qualification draw at the Denver Athletic Club in Colorado. It was the Denver-native’s first professional doubles appearance, and would be the first match of professional doubles career spanning fifteen years.
On Sunday, Quick, and partner of the past four years, Matt Jenson, found themselves one point away from a third Hashim Khan title. Their final opponents and top seeds, Mike Ferreira & Jacques Swanepoel, were also one point away from defending their 2015 title—which was held as an invitational and their partnership’s debut—as the match came down to the last point at 14-14 in the fifth game.
During the final rally, Quick fired a cross court to Ferreira on the left wall, who returned the shot with his own cross court, just escaping Quick’s reach on the right wall to close out the match and seal a second consecutive title—and first title together in a full-ranking event.
Although Ferreira & Swanepoel claimed the title, the post-match ceremony turned it’s focus on their local hero, who went on to announce that the Hashim Khan was his final tournament as a touring SDA professional.
“That was a hell of match,” Quick said afterwards. “Thanks to both of you, you’re both such gentleman on court. It was a pleasure playing against you, congratulations to you both.”
“My first event was here twenty years ago in qualifying as an eighteen year old. I’ve been playing on tour now for fifteen years, which is hard to believe it’s been that long. I couldn’t think of a better place to end it than here at the Hashim Khan. Hashim was one of my first coaches who taught me how to play. It was very special to me to have my name on the trophy two years ago. That meant a lot to me. It was great to have Sam Khan here tonight. Thank you to Hashim Khan and his family for all they’ve done for squash in Denver.”
Quick ends his career with five pro doubles titles, three final appearances this season, five national doubles titles and two world doubles titles. His most recent title was the 2014 Hashim Khan with Jenson.
In his singles career, Quick won two college national team titles with Trinity in 1999 and 2000, and two S.L. Green U.S. Men’s Championships in 2003 and 2004. He won three national doubles titles and two world doubles titles.
Quick thanked numerous coaches, mentors and partners including his sister, Meredeth, Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach Paul Assaiante, Denver Athletic Club professional John Lesko, partners Jamie Bentley, Ben Gould—with whom he reached world No. 1, John Russell and his partner of the past four years, Jenson.
“I’m proud to be back in Colorado and I’m proud to be a member here at DAC,” Quick continued. “Thanks to my parents for introducing me to the club, the game and bringing me down here as a kid to play. Getting me on the doubles court. To Dad, my first doubles partner. To my wife, Jess. Thank you for all of your love and support these last few years. My body has been breaking down more and more and she still encouraged me to keep playing. Now we have to kids at home, and she still encouraged me to keep playing. Even before coming on court tonight, she wanted to double check to make sure I wanted to call it quits. So I couldn’t thank you enough for your love and support.
“I’m going to miss this game and miss playing at this level. I’m really looking forward to being at home more, playing for fun and bringing my little ones down to teach them the game just like my parents did with us.”
Jenson and the champions also paid tribute to one of the squash greats of the past two decades.
“I’ve played with Preston for the past four years and it’s been special winning two titles here with him,” Jenson said. “It’s been special not only playing with Preston, but having Preston run the tour in a period of growth.
“The Quick family has been an integral part of this club and community. It’s only fitting for Preston to end his career on this court. I think for this crowd and all of the players here, there’s nothing more important than this game, this club and this court. It’s been an honor playing with Preston. He’s a great guy. I’ll dearly miss playing with him.”
For Ferreira and Swanepoel, the Hashim Khan was Ferreira’s second and largest full ranking title, and Swanepoel’s second of the season and his career, adding to the Pittsburgh Challenger with Jenson.
Ferreira paid tribute to a fellow Bantam.
“Preston will be missed as a player on tour,” Ferreira said. “He has not only had a very impressive career, but really is a great guy and has really helped grow the SDA tour and squash doubles. So we all really appreciate the work he has done. Preston is also one of the first Trinity guys to play doubles and inspired a lot of the younger Trinity guys, including Jonny Smith, myself, and a number of others on tour to take up the game and compete.”
“Preston will be missed on the tour,” Swanepoel added. “He is a great player and a really good guy. He was always willing to talk about doubles and help out other players.”
Although he will no longer be on tour, Quick said he would be competing in the Hashim Khan for years to come.
Watch a replay of the final here, and the post-match ceremony here.