(l-r): Lach McIntosh, Jud Hand, Liz Hand, Ian McIntosh
The McIntosh/Hand family will receive the Philadelphia Squash Racquets Association’s Service Award at the 2018 FS Investments U.S. Open on Saturday, October 6. The ceremony will be on the ASB GlassCourt following the 5:30pm match.
Since the mid-1970s, McIntosh/Hand family have been stalwarts at Gwynedd Racquet Club in North Wales, Pa. They have held just about every leadership role at the club at one point or another. Gwynedd Racquet Club is a unique member of the Philadelphia squash scene. Housed in a converted Methodist Church, the key club has two singles and one doubles court. Its nickname is the Church of the Holy Racquet.
The McIntosh/Hand family has had success on court. Lach, partnered with Tina Rix, won consecutive Manheim Mixed doubles tournaments. Ian, partnered with Peter Lutes, won the National C doubles tournament in 2006. Together Lach and Ian led their team to the Czar League title in 2016.
“The PSRA is proud to recognize and honor Jud, Liz, Ian and Lach as the recipients of the 2018 PSRA Service Award,” said Tim Dearnley, the president of the PSRA. “They kept a unique squash presence in greater Philadelphia alive. All league players know that a trip out to North Wales is going to make for good squash and great camaraderie.”
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) and Andy Nehrbas (2017).
World No. 1’s Mohamed ElShorbagy (l) and Nour El Sherbini
The 2018 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships draws have been released as Egypt’s world No. 1’s Nour El Sherbini and Mohamed ElShorbagy lead the field as top seeds, October 6-13, at Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia.
The 2018 draws mark the first year of the U.S. Open employing forty-eight-player main draws with no qualifying rounds as a result of the PSA Tour’s new structure for the 2018-2019 season.
The draws reveal an arduous path to a successful title defense for Egypt’s 2017 champions Nour El Tayeb and Ali Farag. El Tayeb, the women’s three seed, slots into the top half of the draw and could face Team USA’s Amanda Sobhy in the round of sixteen, 2016 champion Camille Serme in the quarterfinals and teammate El Sherbini in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Farag, the men’s two seed, is set to open his tournament with a second round match against New Zealand’s world No. 10 Paul Coll–the second straight year Coll will face the two seed in an early round match. Last year, Coll toppled Egypt’s then two seed Karim Abdel Gawad in first round. Should Farag progress, the Harvard graduate could face three-time champion Gregory Gaultier in the quarterfinals and world No. 3 Marwan ElShorbagy in the semis.
The elder ElShorbagy, Mohamed, is seeded to face off with world No. 4 Tarek Momen in what would be an all Egyptian semifinal in the top half of the draw. ElShorbagy, who captured his first world championship title last season, is searching for a third U.S. Open title after losing in a U.S. Open final for the first time last year against Farag.
Raneem El Welily, the women’s two seed and world No. 2, will hope for another chance to capture her first U.S. Open title after falling short in the finals last year and in 2012. El Welily, who also captured her maiden world championship title alongside ElShorbagy last season, is seeded to face New Zealand’s world No. 4 Joelle King in what would be a rematch of the 2017 semifinals.
Seven out of eight Americans are set for first-round action. In the men’s draw, Todd Harrity will take on Australian veteran Cameron Pilley in what will be their first career match up Saturday, October 6, at 6:30pm on the ASB GlassCourt. Harrity, world No. 50, is joined by wild cards Chris Gordon and Andrew Douglas.
Gordon, world No. 67, is set for his seventh consecutive U.S. Open wild card appearance and will take on England’s world No. 23 Declan James Saturday, October 6, at 2:30pm on Drexel’s Kline & Specter Court 1. Later that afternoon Douglas, a Penn sophomore, will make his U.S. Open main draw debut against France’s former world No. 6 Mathieu Castagnet at 4:45pm on the ASB GlassCourt.
On the women’s side, world No. 14 Olivia Blatchford is the sole American to enjoy a first-round bye as the twenty-five-year-old awaits either Hong Kong’s Liu Tsz-Ling or England’s Emily Whitlock on the ASB GlassCourt Sunday, October 7, at 4pm.
After missing the 2017 U.S. Open due to injury, Amanda Sobhy returns to Philadelphia in hopes of replicating her 2016 semifinal run. The world No. 18 opens her campaign against Hong Kong’s Tong Tsz-Wing Saturday, October 6, at 5:45pm on the ASB GlassCourt.
World No. 43 Haley Mendez qualifies for her first main draw based on ranking after her 2017 wild card appearance, and will play Egypt’s Nadine Shahin in one of the first matches on Drexel’s Court 1 Saturday, October 6, at 1:45pm.
Penn’s 2018 Intercollegiate national champion Reeham Sedky will hope to make waves on the professional level in her ASB GlassCourt debut against Egypt’s Hania El Hammamy Saturday, October 6, at 4pm. Recent Princeton graduate Olivia Fiechter marks her wild card debut against Australia’s Donna Lobban Saturday, October 6, at 5:45pm on Drexel’s Court 1.
Do you think you have what it takes to be a commentator on SquashTV for a professional squash match? Now is your chance to show off your skills!
Enter the SquashTV commentary competition for a chance to join Joey Barrington in the booth during the first-round of the FS Investments U.S. Open, Saturday October 6. Winners will be selected to commentate the Amanda Sobhy vs. Tong Tsz Wing match and Todd Harrity vs. Cameron Pilley.
2017 U.S. Open champion Ali Farag (l) and Nour El Sherbini return to defend their titles in 2018.
The player entry list for the 2018 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships has been released, as the world’s top squash professionals are confirmed to return to Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Center, October 6-13, in Philadelphia.
Tickets for all rounds—including group and patron packages—are available on usopensquash.com/tickets.
The 2018 U.S. Open, a PSA World Tour Platinum tournament, features forty-eight-player main draws for the first time in tournament history, as the PSA World Tour prepares for a new look in the 2018-2019 season.
For the sixth year in a row, the U.S. Open will offer prize money parity for men and women with $169,000 on offer for both draws.
After making history last year by becoming the first married couple to win a major individual title on the same day, Egypt’s Ali Farag and Nour El Tayeb return to Philly as the two seed and three seed, respectively.
For the second year in a row, Egypt’s world No. 1’s Mohamed ElShorbagy–a two-time U.S. Open champion–and Nour El Sherbini enter the tournament as the top seeds.
Seven past champions will vie for another title, including ElShorbagy, three-time champion Gregory Gaultier, three-time champion Nicol David, two-time champion Laura Massaro, Camille Serme and defending champions Farag and El Tayeb.
The U.S. Open field features nine of the world’s top-ten-ranked men, and all ten of the world’s top-ten-ranked women.
Four Americans have qualified for the main draw based on ranking, including world No. 49 Todd Harrity in the men’s draw, and world No. 13 Olivia Blatchford, world No. 18 Amanda Sobhy–a 2016 semifinalist–and world No. 43 Haley Mendez in the women’s draw.
World No. 66 Chris Gordon will occupy a men’s wild card position for the seventh consecutive U.S. Open, while Penn sophomore Andrew Douglas will make his main draw debut in the second men’s wild card position.
Penn’s rising senior and collegiate individual champion Reeham Sedky is set to make her fourth U.S. Open appearance, and first in the main draw as one of two women’s wild cards. Recent Princeton graduate Olivia Fiechter joins Sedky as the second wild card in what will be her U.S. Open main draw debut.
The U.S. Open brings the entire squash community together with special events such as the inaugural Drexel Day, Women in Sports Day, Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Character in Sports Day, and co-hosted tournaments such as the U.S. Skill Level Championships, Intercollegiate Doubles and Arlen Specter JCT. View the full tournament schedule here.
Philadelphia, PA—August 8, 2018—US Squash and Study Hotels announces that they will renew their partnership for the 2018-2019 season, including the official sponsorship of the FS Investments 2018 U.S. Open Squash Championships in Philadelphia.
“We are really pleased to partner with Study Hotels again in 2018,” said US Squash President & CEO Kevin Klipstein. “The Study’s central location, great atmosphere and outstanding amenities provide an ideal experience for squash fans attending the U.S. Open and events we host throughout the season both in Philadelphia and New Haven.”
The Study at University City Hotel in Philadelphia will be hosting guests attending the 2018 U.S. Open, Arlen Specter Pennsylvania Junior Championships, U.S. Skill Level Championships and Intercollegiate Squash Doubles Championships from October 6-13. The Philadelphia location of Study Hotels is located at the intersection of 33rd Street and Chestnut Streets in West Philadelphia—at the crossroads of University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University and only one block from the U.S. Open’s location in Drexel’s Daskalakis Athletic Center.
“The excitement was felt throughout both The Study at Yale and The Study at University City last season. We are proud to be sponsoring U.S. Squash another season, continuing our long-standing history of hosting families and athletes for its opening at Yale in 2009,” said Paul McGowan, President and Founder of Study Hotels.
In support of the U.S. Open, Arlen Specter Pennsylvania Junior Championships, U.S. Skill Level Championships and Intercollegiate Squash Doubles Championships, The Study at University City Hotel will offer 10% off the Best Available Rate with the code “US Squash” to consumers who call and book directly through the hotel at 215-387-1400.
About The Study at University City
The Study at University City is located at the intersection of 33rd Street, Chestnut Street and Woodland Walk in West Philadelphia – at the crossroads of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. The Hotel encompasses 212 well-appointed guest rooms, suites and “Study” signature guestroom accommodations. The second floor of the hotel consists of event and light-filled social catering spaces including an impressive banquet salon. Also offered at The Study at University City, is CO-OP Restaurant & Lounge, positioned at the bustling corner of 33rd and Chestnut streets in the heart of University City. CO-OP is a fun, energetic neighborhood restaurant featuring great food and spirited hospitality in an open, light-filled space.
About Study Hotels
Study Hotels is a brand conceived to accommodate the needs of university markets by offering high-quality, full-service lodging. Study Hotels is discreet in its use of branded collateral in order to allow a unique personality to emerge at each location – enriched by the character of the university.
Intellectual, thoughtful, stylish, restful, yet not too serious – Study Hotels offers an authentic, thoughtful campus-oriented experience for families, alumni, groups and visiting dignitaries.
The 2018 U.S. Skill Level Championships will be held alongside the U.S. Open finals weekend, October 13-14 in Philadelphia. Skill level divisions are available for players of all abilities, and the tournament is a great opportunity to test your game against players from around the country while joining the squash community as it comes together for the U.S. Open.
The host venue—the Kline & Specter Squash Courts at Drexel University—is in the heart of Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood just blocks away from 30th Street Station and near numerous restaurants, museums and hotels including official US Squash partner hotel The Study University City.
Players who placed first or second in any given skill level in a Regional Adult Championships tournament gain free entry to the tournament. All players receive a special 50% off discount code to the U.S. Open semifinals and finals rounds.
All Saturday, October 13, matches at the tournament will be completed in time for players to enjoy the U.S. Open finals beginning that evening on the glass court.
All draws will be capped at sixteen players and are filling up already—register today at the U.S. Skill Level Championships tournament page to book your spot for a unique tournament experience.
Chris Spahr (center, left) won the 2016 Father & Son Open title with his son Carson (left) against Timmy (center, right) and Bob Brownell
The fifth-annual Character in Sports Day will be held at the 2018 U.S. Open on Tuesday, October 9. Chris Spahr will receive the 2018 Robert W. Callahan Men’s Sportsmanship Award. Register for Character in Sports Day here.
Spahr is the squash director at the University Club of Boston. The son of the late national champion Kit Spahr, he grew up in Philadelphia and played on undefeated teams at Haverford School. At Franklin & Marshall, Spahr was a three-time All American and two-time captain, helping lead the Diplomats to a No.2 national ranking. Spahr has captured two masters titles in doubles, the 40+ in 2007 and the 45+ in 2012, both with fellow Bostonian Doug Lifford. He has also played in every Can-Am Cup since its inception in 2008. After ten years as the head squash pro at the Field Club in Greenwich, he has spent the last eighteen years at the University Club, coaching hundreds of juniors and running dozens of tournaments each year. He and his wife Catherine are the parents of two squash playing children, Dartmouth’s Carson Spahr with whom he has won seven U.S. Father & Son titles, and Caroline Spahr, who is presently in India competing for Team USA in the World Juniors.
Character in Sports Day calls attention to the importance of sportsmanship in squash. It welcomes all past recipients of national sportsmanship awards including the Callahan, Feron’s Wedgwood, the DeRoy (for junior players), the Skillman and Richey (collegiate individual awards) and the Sloane and Chaffee (the team awards). The Robert W. Callahan Sportsmanship Award was started in 2014. Previous winners include Ed Chilton, Rich Sheppard, Richard Chin and Mark Talbott. Bob Callahan was the men’s coach at Princeton for thirty-two years before he died in January 2015 at the age of fifty-nine. His teams won three national titles and more Skillman Awards than any other college in the nation. He founded the world’s oldest squash summer camp and in 1998 directed the World Junior Men’s Championship. He was inducted into the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame in the Class of 2011.
Two pioneering players have been chosen for the highest honor in American squash, the United States Squash Hall of Fame. Anil Nayar and Carol Thesieres will be inducted into the Class of 2018. The induction ceremony will be held at a gala luncheon alongside the ASB GlassCourt prior to the finals of the U.S. Open on Saturday October 13, 2018. Register for the Hall of Fame Luncheon here.
Anil Nayar
Anil Nayar, born and raised in India, came to the U.S. after winning the Drysdale Cup (the British Junior Open’s BU 19 draw) in 1965. The first player not from North America to win the national intercollegiate title, he captured three in a row while at Harvard, and lead the Crimson to two national team titles. Nayar won two National Singles titles as well as national open championship for Canada (twice), Mexico (once), India (eight times) and seven U.S. age-group titles.
Carol Thesieres
Carol Thesieres was a legendary doubles player. One of the great female champions from Philadelphia, she won the National Singles in 1971 and was runner-up twice more. Thesieres, a leftie, was a top left-wall doubles player for two decades. She won seven National Doubles titles, including a then-unprecedented four in a row with Joyce Davenport. She also captured one National Mixed Doubles, as well as nearly every doubles tournament in the country.
The United States Squash Hall of Fame was founded in 2000. Based at Payne Whitney Gymnasium at Yale, it is the only national squash hall of fame in the world with annual inductions and a bricks-and-mortar location. With the additions of Nayar and Thesieres in the Class of 2018, there will be sixty-three members of the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame.
Tickets are on sale for the 2018 U.S. Open Squash Championships, October 6-13, hosted at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Tickets for all rounds—including group and patron packages—are available on usopensquash.com/tickets.
Under the new PSA Tour structure, the U.S. Open will be held as a PSA World Tour Platinum event, and—for the sixth consecutive year—will offer prize money parity for men and women.
Last year, married couple Nour El Tayeb and Ali Farag made history by claiming both U.S. Open trophies side by side. Reserve your seat today to witness more history on the ASB GlassCourt in Drexel’s Daskalakis Athletic Center.
The U.S. Open brings the entire squash community together with special events such as the inaugural Drexel Day, Women in Sports Day, Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Character in Sports Day, and co-hosted tournaments such as the U.S. Skill Level Championships, Intercollegiate Doubles and Arlen Specter JCT. View the full tournament schedule here.
2018 World Series Finals champions Nour El Sherbini (l) and Mohamed ElShorbagy.
Egypt’s world No. 1’s Nour El Sherbini and Mohamed ElShorbagy triumphed on a thrilling final day of action at the 2017-2018 ATCO PSA Dubai World Series Finals to claim the prestigious season-ending titles inside Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Overcoming compatriots Ali Farag and Raneem El Welily—the respective men’s and women’s world No. 2’s—ElShorbagy and El Sherbini etched their names onto the trophies to bring the curtain down on what has been one of the most competitive and thrilling seasons in the history of the PSA World Tour—with ElShorbagy successfully defending the title he won twelve months ago and El Sherbini claiming the coveted crown for the first time in her career.
El Sherbini, the 22-year-old from Alexandria who has occupied the world No. 1 position unchallenged for the past 26-months, underlined her dominance over the rest of the field as she swept El Welily aside in a one-sided 11-3 opening game. El Welily, who defeated El Sherbini to win the 2017 World Championship final, managed to find her footing in the second game but it proved to be in vein as El Sherbini regained the upper hand to move 2-1 ahead, before controlling the fourth game to seal the win courtesy of an 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 scoreline.
“It feels amazing to have won this title,” El Sherbini said. “I was proud just to be one of the eight players who came here. It’s been a long season so I’m really proud and happy to end the season with this title. This season has been one of the most successful of my career but there are still improvements to be made and I can still become a better player.”
El Sherbini claimed four World Series titles leading into the World Series Finals, including the British Open, Tournament of Champions, Saudi PSA Masters and Hong Kong Open.
“Raneem and I keep playing each other and battling against each other on court, but we both go to Russia together in just a few days to cheer on Egypt in the World Cup,” El Sherbini said. “It’s difficult when you play against the same player so many times.”
“All credit to Nour tonight, she played very well,” El Welily said. “I was maybe a little slow and not at my best on court. I’m happy with my week and my season but there are certainly things to work on over the summer, hopefully next season will be even better.”
In the men’s final, it was Farag who started stronger against ElShorbagy in the men’s final to take the opening game as he looked to exploits the tired legs of ElShorbagy—with the 27-year-old from Alexandria having reached twelve finals from fourteen events played during the campaign.
But ElShorbagy showed just why he’s know as ‘The Beast’ on tour as he showed tremendous fighting spirit to level the match before prevailing in a physically punishing third game to set up the platform for victory—which sees him end the season as world No. 1, World Champion and World Series Finals champion.
“It’s been an amazing week here in Dubai,” ElShorbagy said. “There have been some great matches and I’m very proud to have been part of this event at the end of the season and to have won it. Ali and I have played so many battles this season and I’m happy that we managed to end the season playing against each other – he’s a great guy and great player and I look forward to being back on court battling with him again next season.”
Leading into the World Series Finals, ElShorbagy had claimed the Qatar Classic, Hong Kong Open and Windy City Open this season.
“Mohamed has been proving day in and day out that he is the best player in the world,” said Farag, who defeated ElShorbagy in the U.S. Open final. “Every time I feel like I match him, he keeps fighting back—I will work hard over the summer to try and match him next season.”
2018 marked the third year the PSA World Series Finals were staged in Dubai.
