Bermudian squash standout Taylor Carrick endured a difficult start to his 2026 season as he was knocked out of the Squash On Fire Open Wild Card Challenge in Washington DC.
Competing at the prestigious Squash On Fire facility, Carrick faced a stern test in his opening match of the year against Ukraine’s Dmytro Shcherbakov. Despite arriving in the American capital with high hopes of securing a wild card spot for the main PSA World Tour event, the Bermudian found it difficult to settle into a rhythm against a clinical opponent.
Shcherbakov took control of the contest early on, utilizing his precision to claim the first game 11-3. Carrick looked to respond in the second, but the Ukrainian remained relentless, doubling his lead with an 11-5 win to put the Bermudian on the brink of elimination.
The third game proved to be the most competitive of the match as Carrick found his range and pushed his opponent to the limit. In a tense, see-saw battle that saw both players trade points deep into the game, Carrick looked poised to extend the match into a fourth. However, Shcherbakov held his nerve during the tie-break to seal a 13-11 victory, concluding the 25-minute encounter in straight sets.
While the result brings an early end to his run in Washington, the tournament provided valuable court time for the national number one as he looks to build momentum for the busy professional circuit ahead.
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