Jesse Ryan

USA TODAY NETWORK

The door shuts and you find yourself in a glass box with your opponent. There’s a ball flying every which way at speeds topping 100 mph. To some, this may sound like the beginning of a nightmare. To 10-time Swiss national squash champion Nicolas Mueller, it's bliss.

Nicolas was among the world’s best squash players who competed in New York City’s iconic Grand Central Station at the J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions earlier this year. Unlike in tennis, squash players can hit the ball off any wall, in any direction. It's a true 360-degree sport. In the video below, VRtually There brings you courtside for the tournament to feel the intensity of the sport in VR.

Often, players only have only milliseconds to make tough judgement calls. They must be physically strong enough to hit the ball and aerobically fit enough to race around the court. It’s a mentally and physically grueling game that requires players to always think two or three shots ahead. The focus and stamina required has its rewards. Nicolas fell in love with how the sport forces him to confront his strengths and weaknesses.

“You get to know yourself when you’re on the squash court,” he says.

Sharing the same space with opponents adds a unique beauty to how the game is played. There are two competitors breathing down each other’s necks, but they also must move to allow their opponent access to the ball. In a sense, these matches resemble a fast-pasted, dynamic dance.

Step into the ballroom in the video above.

For the ideal experience, view in 360 degrees on your mobile phone or in VR headsets such as Google cardboard or Daydream. Subscribe to VRtually There on YouTube and browse the “Virtual Reality” section of the USA TODAY app (iOS | Android) to catch three new episodes every week.

And whatever you do, don't forget to look around.