Nicholas J. LePore, III was honored tonight by The Philadelphia Squash Racquets Association.
Nicholas J. LePore, III was honored tonight by The Philadelphia Squash Racquets Association.
The Philadelphia Squash Racquets Association honored Nicholas J. LePore, III tonight at the 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open with the 2019 PSRA Service Award.
“Nick Lepore has been a conscientious, deeply caring leader of the Philadelphia squash scene for the last thirty years,” said Tim Dearnley, the president of the PSRA, during an on-court ceremony. Lepore serves on the board of SquashSmarts, the urban squash and education program that is the official community partner of the U.S. Open and the Arlen Specter US Squash Center. Lepore and his law firm, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, are working with US Squash on the development of the Specter Center.
Lepore was the president of the Philadelphia Squash Racquets Association from 2012 to 2017. While president, he presided over 12% growth in participation in league singles and 14% in league doubles. Twice he has been a U.S. captain at the Copa Wadsworth, an annual team event between the U.S. and Mexico, and he hosted the Copa when it was held in Philadelphia in 2017. He’s served his home club, Germantown Cricket Club, as the squash chair several times and played on the club’s league teams. He is also a two-time GCC club squash doubles champion.
“It’s an honor, but it is even more a privilege,” said LePore, “to work in the Philly squash community.”
The world’s oldest squash organization, the Philadelphia SRA—originally called the Philadelphia Association—was founded in 1903. Previous winners of the annual PSRA Service Award include Molly Pierce (2013), Ken Jaffe (2014), Frank Reidy (2015), Bill Lane (2016), Andy Nehrbas (2017), and the Hand/McIntosh Family (2018).
Roberta and Ian Andrews were this year's First Fan(s) in the building.
Roberta and Ian Andrews were this year’s First Fan(s) in the building.
One of the central goals of the FS Investments U.S. Open is to expose the game to people from around the country. Per usual, the first fans to walk into the Daskalakis Athletic Center at Drexel for the very first match on the ASB GlassCourt today were good examples.
It was Roberta and Ian Andrews. For the past four years they’ve come to the first weekend of the U.S. Open, taking front-row seats behind the ball wall. “We always book our tickets on the first day or two after they go on sale,” Roberta said. “We love sitting right up by the glass court, just so close to the action. It is so accessible.”
The Andrews live in Ypsilanti, a town six miles outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Roberta is a bankruptcy attorney; Ian is an English professor at Eastern Michigan University. Ian grew up in Manchester, England and after graduating from the University of Essex, he came to the U.S in 1982. He plays squash at the Canton Township Life Time Fitness Club.
“Some people will go to Barcelona for holiday,” Ian said. “For us, we just love coming to Philadelphia for the Open for the weekend. It’s a great experience.”
Vincent Amatulli (left) and Nabilla Ariffin (right) after this year's First-Hit
Vincent Amatulli (left) and Nabilla Ariffin (right) are this year’s honorary First-Hit representatives.
The 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships started up today at Drexel University in Philadelphia. All the excitement kicked off with its classic first-ball ceremony. This year’s honorary representatives were Vincent Amatulli and Nabilla Ariffin.
Vincent Amatulli is the Chief Technology and Operations Officer from FS Investments, the returning title sponsor of the 2019 U.S. Open. Amatulli said that FS Investments is proud to return as title sponsors, and that the squash fans will see throughout the day will be “much better” than his own. This was followed by his first hit which Nabilla Ariffin had no problem returning.
Ariffin is a Community Impact Director at SquashSmarts, the award-winning urban squash and education program that is the official community partner of the U.S. Open. Originally from Penang, Malaysia, Ariffin has been a part of SquashSmarts since September 2016. She was also a top competitor as an international junior squash player and All-American at the University of Pennsylvania. More recently she’s joined the Women’s Squash Doubles Association tour, rising to as high as No. 13. At SquashSmarts she has focused on empowering youth and building partnerships, from civic to educational to corporate, across the region. She is a leader with the International Youth Federation as a director for its bureau of sports and as a member of Cohort 2030, its global youth-led initiative focused on delivering the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
FS Investments and SquashSmarts work closely together on local community outreach. FS Investments is a leading asset manager dedicated to helping individuals, financial professionals and institutions design better portfolios. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the firm provides access to alternative sources of income and growth and focuses on setting industry standards for investor protection, education and transparency.
Founded in 1954, the FS Investments U.S. Open is one of the oldest professional squash tournaments in the world. Since 2011 Drexel has hosted the tournament at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in University City.
Eight Americans will be aiming to harness the home crowd support during opening weekend of the 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open, October 5-6.
Four of the six members of Team USA’s gold-medal-winning Pan American Games will aim to challenge the best in the world. All six members and coaching staff will be honored for their achievements in Lima on the glass court Monday following the 5:30pm match.
Amanda Sobhy, Pan Am Games triple gold medalist and world No. 8, is the highest-ranked American and only one to receive a first-round bye. Sobhy could face fellow American Olivia Fiechter in Sunday’s second round. Fiechter, world No. 40, would first need to get past Emily Whitlock, world No. 23, on the glass court Saturday at 4pm.
Olivia Blatchford Clyne, world No. 18, opens up her U.S. Open against twenty-year-old English international Lucy Turmel Saturday on the glass court at 5:45pm. World No. 42 Haley Mendez plays Australia’s former world No. 1 Rachael Grinham on the glass court at 1:45pm.
Wild Card Laila Sedky, a Seattle native, will contest the first match of the tournament on the glass court against Egypt’s Nadine Shahin at 12pm noon local time. Sabrina Sobhy, a Pan Ams double gold medalist and the second women’s wild card, faces Egypt’s world No. 33 Mayar Hany.
Team USA lost a representative in the men’s draw this week following the withdrawal of local favorite, Todd Harrity. Harrity was forced with pull out due to an injury that has kept him off court since the Pan Am Games. As a result, wild cards Spencer Lovejoy and Andrew Douglas will be the lone Team USA representatives in the men’s draw.
Douglas, a rising junior at Penn, will be in search of his first career U.S. Open victory in his fourth appearance–and second consecutive as a wild card. Douglas will follow Sabrina Sobhy on the glass court Saturday at 4:45pm against France’s world No. 35 Lucas Serme.
Lovejoy, a rising senior at Yale, is set for his second U.S. Open appearance, and first in the main draw as a wild card. The Connecticut-native will take on Egypt’s world No 25 Mazen Hesham on the glass court Saturday at 2:30pm.
The 2019 U.S. Intercollegiate Squash Doubles Championships begin tomorrow alongside the 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, October 5-6.
Last year, with only a men’s division in action, the U.S. Naval Academy maintained their doubles dominance with Senen Ubina and Michael Kacergis claiming a fifth title in six years for Navy after overcoming fellow Midshipman Jonathan Lentz and James Kjorlien in the final. The championship was Ubina’s third of his career and his second with a partner named Kacergis. Younger brother Michael earned his first intercollegiate doubles title, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Billy.
This year there are sixteen men’s teams, seven mixed teams and four women’s teams; eight universities are represented. Navy is again favored to win but a new dark horse has emerged from Providence, RI. Now that the Gorgi Family Squash & Education Center has opened on the campus of Moses Brown School in partnership with SquashBusters, Brown has the opportunity to regularly play hardball doubles.
Two defending champions return: Lindsay Stanley will look to repeat as women’s champion, alongside Penn teammate Jessica Davis. Franklin & Marshall’s Sanja Jeeva, having won the mixed doubles two years ago, will try to repeat with teammate Audrey Burling.
The 2019 championships are the fortieth edition of the tournament, which was founded in 1942. The world’s only annual collegiate doubles event, the Intercollegiate Doubles are again presented by the U.S. Jesters Club.
Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, 2018 Olympic hockey gold medalists, will headline the 2019 Women in Sports Day panel discussion presented by Comcast NBCUniversal during the FS Investments U.S. Open on Wednesday, October 9.
Since 2013, the U.S. Open has been a world leader in prize money parity and promotion of the women’s game. Women in sports day will highlight the efforts to advance the lives of women and girls through squash and sport, and celebrate the on and off-court achievements of women leaders.
The panel discussion will take place from 4-5pm in the Daskalaskis Athletic Center media room, and center around the theme “Gender Equity & Women’s Sport: Shifting the Landscape and Participation.” Other panelists include Trinity College Women’s Head Coach Wendy Bartlett, Drexel University Department of Sports Management’s Dr. Ellen Staurowsky and Baldwin School Director of Squash Madeline Perry. The panel discussion will stream live on the US Squash YouTube channel.
A special reception will follow the panel discussion from 5-6pm next to the ASB GlassCourt, and will feature two prominent awards. Molly Pierce, one of the most accomplished leaders in U.S. squash history, will be awarded the Achievement Bowl, and the Lamoureux twins will be presented the 2019 Women in Sports Day Special Recognition Award. Reception remarks will begin at 5:15pm. Quarterfinal matches follow the reception from 6pm onward.
The sisters were the first set of twins to ever play on the United States Women’s National Hockey Team. At 12-years-old, Jocelyne and Monique led an all-boys hockey team to the North Dakota State Championship. The sisters later went on to play at the University of Minnesota where Jocelyne finished freshman year as All-WCHA First Team, and Monique finished the year as the WCHA Scoring Champion and WCHA Rookie of the Year. Jocelyne and Monique then returned home to play at the University of North Dakota. The sisters helped lead Team USA’s fight for equal pay in the spring of 2017 before the IIHF World Championships. Currently, they are both contributors to the Know Your Value platform, which helps to promote principles of gender equality across all industries. Jocelyne and Monique also volunteer with the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, the largest youth hockey organization for disadvantaged youth in the country. They are committed to growing the sport, to help increase participation and opportunities. With the support of partners like Comcast and CCM, Monique continues to help pave the way for future Gold Medalists.
Women in Sports Day Ticket Packages can be purchased here to attend the reception and matches. A portion of the proceeds will benefit US Squash’s Women’s Fund, helping build women’s squash programs in emerging and new markets across the country.
The Study at University City is proud to be an Official Sponsor of the 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships for the past three years.
On Friday, October 4, from 5:00-7:00pm The Study is hosting a Meet & Greet with players including World No. 1 ranking Ali Farag, world No. 3 ranking Nour El Tayeb, plus Declan James, Campbell Grayson, and Sabrina Sobhy. This exclusive opportunity to meet the top players in the game is open to both hotel guests and visitors.
For the duration of the U.S. Open, from October 5-12, CO-OP Restaurant & Lounge, located within The Study at University City, is offering a special “Athletic Performance Menu” created in partnership with Drexel University’s Center for Nutrition & Performance, Department of Nutrition Sciences. The dishes feature a balance of macro and micronutrients to support athletic performance and recovery, which are available to athletes, hotel and restaurant guests alike.
Click here for more information on these events during the U.S. Open.
Hotel rooms during the U.S. Open are available starting at $200/night, with limited weekend availability. For bookings, please visit www.thestudyatuniversitycity.com or call 215-387-1400.
The 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships have arrived in Philadelphia. The world’s best squash players will vie for $370,000 of equal prize money split between the men’s and women’s draws, October 5-12, at Drexel University and the Racquet Club of Philadelphia.
Here’s everything squash fans need to know going into the most action-packed week of squash in the U.S.
Tickets
Tickets are still available for all rounds with a price range available for every budget. A number of backwall seats have been released for each day of the event, including the previously sold out finals session. First and second round matches will also take place at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, October 5-6. Tickets to RCOP matches are also available on usopensquash.com/tickets.
Multiple sessions sold out last year, so book your seats today before it’s too late!
Live Coverage Squash fans who can’t be in Philadelphia in person can keep tabs on all U.S. Open matches. All matches on the ASB GlassCourt will broadcast live on SquashTV. The SquashTV feed will also feature live and free on the PSA World Tour Facebook Live feed through the quarterfinals, October 5-10.
All matches on Drexel’s Kline & Specter Court 1 and both courts at Racquet Club of Philadelphia will also stream and score live on usopensquash.com/live.
SquashTV Subscribers can enjoy all rounds including the semifinals and finals on SquashTV.
View the full field of professionals and each match time and location on usopensquash.com/draws.
Special Events
The U.S. Open will stage a full schedule of special events celebrating the squash community in addition to the on-court matches. It’s not too late to sign up for these unique experiences that celebrate the squash community and those that make it so special.
Auxiliary Tournaments While the world’s best players will be in the spotlight at Drexel, the celebration of squash extends to three other major squash tournaments in the greater Philadelphia area.
The nation’s best juniors will compete in the Arlen Specter Philadelphia JCT, October 4-6, at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. Follow live streaming form six courts and live scores on ussquash.com/live.
118 players are set to compete in the U.S. Skill Level Championships during U.S. Open finals weekend, October 12-13, at Drexel’s Kline & Specter courts.
The 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships draws have been released as Egypt’s world No. 1’s Ali Farag and Raneem El Welily lead the field as top seeds, October 5-12, at Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia.
The U.S. Open is the first of eight PSA Platinum events of the 2019-2020 PSA World Tour season. After becoming the first major event to offer prize money parity in 2013, the U.S. Open will offer equal prize money for a seventh straight year with a record $371,000 split evenly between the forty-eight-player men’s and women’s draws.
Reigning champions Mohamed ElShorbagy and Raneem El Welily will return to defend their crowns, while men’s world No. 1 Ali Farag and women’s world No .5 Nour El Tayeb will also star in Philadelphia –two years after their U.S. Open triumphs saw them become the first married couple in sporting history ever to win the same major sports title on the same day.
Farag, a Harvard graduate, leads the men’s draw and receives a bye into the second round where he will face either compatriot Karim Ali Fathi or England’s Daryl Selby. The 2017 champion is seeded on the same side of the draw as world No. 7 Mohamed Abouelghar, Peru’s world No.8 Diego Elias and former world No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad, who he is seeded to face in the semifinals.
Mohamed ElShorbagy weighs in as the two seed on the opposite side of the draw. The world No.2 will take on either Spain’s Borja Golan or Mexico’s Arturo Salazar in round two.
The elder ElShorbagy brother is bidding to join Peter Nicol as the only men’s four-time U.S. Open champions, and is seeded on the same side of the draw as Germany’s 2018 finalist Simon Rösner, who along with New Zealand’s Paul Coll and Egypt’s world No. 3 Tarek Momen, who he could meet in the semifinals.
Pan American Games double gold medalist and Wayne, Pennsylvania-native Todd Harrity will play Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly in round one on the ASB GlassCourt Saturday, October 5, at 6:30pm. Harrity’s Pan Am Games gold-medal-winning teammate and Penn junior, Andrew Douglas, slots in as one of two men’s wild cards and will face England’s Declan James on the glass court Saturday, October 5, at 4:45pm. Yale’s Spencer Lovejoy will make his U.S. Open wild card debut on the glass court against Egypt’s Mazen Hesham Saturday at 2:30pm.
In the women’s draw, world No.1 El Welily will begin her title defense either against compatriot Nadine Shahin or wild card Laila Sedky, a top-ranked U.S. junior.
The Egyptian is seeded to come up against France’s world No. 3 Camille Serme, who won the tournament back in 2016, in the semifinals and also has England’s No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry and New Zealand’s world No. 6 Joelle King on her side of the draw.
Reigning World Champion El Sherbini enters the draw at the opposite end and faces either Team USA’s Pan Am Games double gold medalist Sabrina Sobhy or Egypt’s Mayar Hany in round two. The two-time runner-up will be looking to get her hands on the coveted trophy for the first time in her career, but has the likes of 2019 British Open winner Nouran Gohar, world No. 5 Nour El Tayeb and home favorite Amanda Sobhy standing in her way on her side of the draw.
Sobhy, Team USA’s Pan Am Games triple gold medalist this summer, will open up her tournament either against U.S. teammate Olivia Fiechter or England’s Emily Whitlock on the glass court Sunday, October 6, at 5:45pm. Sobhy is seeded to face El Sherbini in the quarterfinals.
U.S. Champion Olivia Blatchford Clyne will take on England’s Lucy Turmel in round one on the glass court Saturday at 5:45pm, which could set up a second round encounter with New Zealand’s world No. 6 Joelle King.
Glass court action from the U.S. Open will be staged in Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Center, while matches on the traditional side courts will be held on the Kline & Specter Court 1 and the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. Purchase tickets for all rounds and venues here.
Matches from the glass court will be streamed live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only), the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (excluding Europe and Japan) and various broadcast partners.
For a detailed U.S. Open schedule including all match play and events, visit usopensquash.com/schedule.
Nick LePore will receive the Philadelphia Squash Racquets Association (PSRA) Service Award at the 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships during an on-court ceremony following the 5:45pm match on Saturday, October 5th.
As the immediate past president of the PSRA, Lepore and has been a local stalwart and fixture on the area squash scene for the last thirty years. He serves on the board of SquashSmarts, the local urban squash and education program that is the official community partner of the U.S. Open and the Arlen Specter US Squash Center. Lepore is currently working with US Squash on the development of the Specter Center as it moves towards opening in Fall 2020, and he has Philadelphia on the US Squash District Association Committee.
Lepore has twice been a captain of the U.S. at the Copa Wadsworth, an annual team event between the U.S. and Mexico, for which Nick was instrumental in Philadelphia’s selection as the host city in 2017. He’s served his home club, Germantown Cricket Club, as the squash chair several times and played on many of the clubs league teams, and is a two-time GCC club doubles champion.
Jovial in both victory and defeat, Nick is a wonderful representation of Philadelphia Squash. “The PSRA is proud to recognize and honor Nick LePore as the recipient of the 2019 PSRA Service Award,” said Tim Dearnley, president of the PSRA. “He has done so much for our sport both locally and nationally. I’m thrilled that he is being recognized for everything he means to squash in our city.”
The world’s oldest squash organization, the Philadelphia SRA—originally called the Philadelphia Association—was founded in 1903. Previous winners of the annual PSRA Service Award include Molly Pierce (2013), Ken Jaffe (2014), Frank Reidy (2015), Bill Lane (2016), Andy Nehrbas (2017), and the Hand/McIntosh Family (2018).
