Sometimes, just sometimes, amidst all the clipped tins, no lets, sweaty defeats and cold, mouldy changing rooms, this sport gives us moments that are almost indescribably wonderful.
On the morning of 18 April 2026, on court six of the CK Sportscenter in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg, one of those moments occurred.
Sandra Denis, a 53-year-old tax adviser for the Luxembourg Ministry of Finance, slotted a winning backhand volley drop shot that saw her team-mates and spectators dissolve into uncontrollable euphoric tears.
The shot earned Denis a 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8 victory against Croatia's Dora Rezic, sealing Luxembourg’s 2-1 victory and promotion from Division 3 of the European Team Championships for the first time in their history.
Luxembourg had played in the bottom tier of the European Team Championships since its inception in 2011. They had never before even got on the podium.
It was the first time the Duchy had hosted the European Team Division 3 Championships. To achieve a long-cherished promotion on home soil, and in such dramatic fashion, was a moment that no-one present will ever forget.
"When I saw everyone crying after the match, my team-mates obviously but also people in the crowd, it made me realise how important it was for them," said Denis.
"If I’d known that before, it would have been really hard to play like I did and win the match.
"In terms of occasion, it’s probably the biggest squash match I’ve ever played."
The victory saw Luxembourg secure second place behind Malta, who will also make their first appearance in Division 2 in 2027. Ukraine and Italy achieved promotion in the men's event.
Match-winner Denis is something of a cult hero on the pages of Squash Player magazine. As we've reported previously, she has won the Luxembourg women's national championship 23 times, making her the joint world record holder for most national squash titles (level with Isle of Man's Dave Norman).
Denis even made her PSA Tour debut last November aged 53 at the Open des Elles de l'Est $6k PSA Challenger event in Nancy, France. She finished 11th in the 50+ draw at the 2024 WSF World Masters in Amsterdam.
She walks from the tax office to her squash club every lunchtime to play for an hour. She hasn't eaten lunch for 25 years. She has a strict training regime and has recently benefited from coaching with Egyptian Wael el Batran, the much-travelled former coach of ex-world No.3 Simon Rosner.
The big question for Denis is, how much longer can she go on for at this level?
Luxembourg's women's no.1 Elisenda Ruiz-Kaiser is a scholar at Trinity College in Connecticut, their no.5 Bidoli Bianca is only 16 and stalwart no.2 Enas Mohamed is 40 — not young, but still 13 years Denis's junior.
Denis said after the victory over Croatia: "I suppose I could quit on such a high, that’s something that went through my mind, but I haven’t made my decision yet.
"Of course, Division 2 next year will be a much higher level, but our no.1 Eli will continue to improve, and I am convinced that our 16-year old Bianca has the potential to make big strides and help the team.
"As far as I am concerned, if I do decide to continue I’ll be available for the team."
The outpouring of emotion immediately after the victory in Kockelscheuer has added context.
Luxembourg's squash federation has a fractious recent history with its clubs and has recently appointed Christopher Votion as national technical director to achieve some harmony and collaboration.
Votion's appointment was made possible thanks to funding from the Luxembourg Ministry of Sport. It also enabled the appointment of Finn Tomi Niinimaki as national coach.
The women's victory may well prove to be part of a big turning point for squash in the nation of under 700,000 people.
Votion wants the hosting of the European Team Division 3 Championships to be a springboard for Luxembourg to play a bigger part in international squash.
Before the championships, he said: “Luxembourg is in the centre of Europe so easy to access. Let’s showcase what we can do so we can continue to hold big events here in the future.
“I want to paint a positive picture of squash in this country and make a strong case for further financial support."
The women's team's historic achievement, and the emotional scenes that followed, will do Luxembourg's profile in the squash world no harm all.
