Perth homecoming a special moment for world masters champion Sue Hillier

From winning that maiden State Championship to claiming three World Masters Championships and a World Masters Games crown, Hillier’s journey through the sport has spanned decades, continents and countless friendships.

As her home city of Perth prepares to host the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships, Hillier will have the opportunity to compete on home soil in front of family, friends and the wider squash community.

The City of Stirling will welcome the world’s top masters squash players when Mirrabooka Squashworld co-hosts the World Squash Masters Championships from 30 August to 6 September.

The tournament will also feature a purpose-built glass squash court at Karrinyup Shopping Centre, providing a one-of-a-kind sporting showcase for visitors and fans.

“It’s really exciting,” Hillier said.

“My family and friends will get to come and watch, and I have a training group on Wednesdays and a lot of them are playing as well. It’s just really good to have it here.”

Hillier has enjoyed remarkable success at the international level and experienced some of the sport’s most iconic venues and atmospheres.

The defending champion from the 2024 World Squash Masters Championships in Amsterdam, she will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed in her division.

Rather than focusing on where she is seeded or what might happen, Hillier says she backs her ability, tries her hardest and enjoys the different challenges that each opponent presents.

That mindset has helped her continue competing at the highest level of masters squash, where experience and strategy are just as important as athletic ability.

“The biggest thing I love about squash is the people and the social connection,” she said.

“Then, it's the fact that it keeps me fit, and the third thing is the challenge. Every time I play someone new, it’s about working things out, it’s a mental game.

"At my age, I’m not necessarily getting faster, so it becomes about the mental challenge and figuring things out – it’s like physical chess.”

With an international event coming to Perth, the home-crowd hero is excited to showcase squash to a wider WA audience, with matches set to take place on a glass court in Karrinyup Shopping Centre.

The event will also highlight the strength of the local squash community, with several WA players among the top seeds.

“I’m really hoping people come along and watch because squash is such an exciting sport,” Hillier said.

“For people who have never seen it before, masters squash is probably a great introduction because it’s not quite as fast as the professional game. People can actually see the rallies and understand what’s happening."

Hillier said she would love more Western Australians to discover the joys and benefits of masters competition, including the lasting connections you make along the way.

“People get to 35 and think they’re too old for sport, but that’s actually when the masters category starts,” she said.

“I just wish more people would play masters because it’s so good. It’s competitive, it’s social and it gives people a reason to stay involved.

“Squash has given me so much – fitness, friendships, travel and so many amazing experiences. It’s been a huge part of my life.”

And now, with the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships just days away, Hillier is preparing for another opportunity to add to her remarkable squash story – this time, in front of the people and community that helped shape it.

The City of Stirling is a proud sponsor of the event, working with Squash Australia and Tourism WA to bring the championships to Perth for the first time.

Around 1,500 competitors, supporters and officials are expected to make the trip to Perth from more than 55 countries.

“We are passionate about attracting world-class events and fostering an active and connected community, so these championships are a great fit,” City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin AM said.

“Sue is a fantastic ambassador for this sport and someone we can all look up to when it comes to staying active and connected.

“To everyone who is visiting for the event, I encourage you to explore all the City of Stirling has to offer, from the idyllic Scarborough Beach in the west to the cultural hub of Mount Lawley in the east and everything in between.”