Ali Farag, the world’s top-ranked squash player: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random work-related questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is Ali Farag (LinkedIn), currently ranked as the world’s number one squash player.

My name is Ali Farag. I was born in 1992 and raised in Cairo. I started playing squash at the age of six or seven, following in the footsteps of my elder brother — who’s been my role model ever since I was born.

I was fortunate to find my passion from a young age. I saw my brother playing squash when we were younger, and like any younger sibling I wanted to do what he was doing. I started playing and I fell in love with it. I don't remember a single time my parents had to drag me to practice, it was always the other way around — they would drag me off the court to get me home.

My life’s dream was to win the world junior championships in squash — which I managed to reach the final of, but came up short. I then went to AUC for a year and then was recruited to play for Harvard. It’s crazy to say, but I was actually debating if I wanted to go. I was, and still am, very attached to my family, home, and everything to do with Egypt.

I went to my interview with them anyway, and by the time I came back to Egypt it was 23 January 2011 — and the revolution happened two days later. My dad saw where everything was heading at the time, and he pushed me to go secure a good degree. I got my bachelor’s in engineering and Harvard turned out to be the second-best decision I made in my life — right after marrying my wife.

I come from a very academic background — my family are all doctors, and I didn’t ever see myself working anything other than a desk job. I decided to give professional squash a chance before starting a job in consulting or engineering, and it went very well not just in terms of results, but how much I was enjoying it. I was engaged to my now-wife, and we were touring the world together, doing the thing we’ve loved doing since we were kids, and I just never looked back.

My mornings have changed over the years, especially since having my daughter, Farida. She started going to school this year, so whenever I can, I wake up at 7am, drop her off, and start my day. I usually have breakfast with my wife or by myself somewhere and then head to practice.

My day job looks different than most people’s. I train two to three times a day, twice in the morning and then again at 6-7pm. The hours are flexible, but the activities are rigid. It has become more tiring with the years, especially as I have to leave my family 11 or 12 times a year for tournaments. It’s very exciting, but it takes a toll on your body and mind with time.

The beauty of living in Egypt is that you have so many top players that you can hit with on a daily basis. As much as there is competition here and it might create a bit of awkwardness sometimes, we’re all very good friends.

The one constant in my day is my daughter. If I don't see her, the day is quite dull. My downtime now involves spending time with her, picking her up from school, asking her what she did and who she played with. I used to enjoy playing on the PlayStation, but after having Farida, I’ve probably turned it on once or twice. That's how much my life has changed — and in a good way, honestly.

My family helps me stay focused and organized. My wife Nour has been a rock in my life for the past 10 years, along with my family and God. Nour understands my schedule because she was also an athlete who had to master the balance between work and personal life, and thankfully our schedules have always aligned. My parents have also helped keep me organized and focused all of my life. They were both working parents who taught us how to juggle work and our personal lives.

I would say my life is quite balanced. I can’t take credit for it, because it has mainly been my wife that has helped me. I’ve had to miss some big events in my loved ones’ lives like weddings and funerals because of my travel commitments, but for the most part I’d say that I’m in a good place in my work-life balance.

I don’t have exact plans for my future yet. I like to think that I’ve had a good run with my squash career — and that I still have a few more years in me. I also have plans to help out with my family’s business in the farming industry and I’m also opening doors in different industries to look for something to do with sports, education, or healthcare.

In general I like to read a lot about entrepreneurship and religion. I am fascinated with self development and success, but I also like to remember that the world is not just about its physical, materialistic side — it's important to explore the metaphysical side of the world. I have a pretty broad view of religion and I like to read about all religions, with a specific focus on Islam.

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