November 1-7, 2026   PHILADELPHIA, PA

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Marina Stefanoni and Orfi Overcome First Round Five-Gamers

Marina Stefanoni (L) and Curtis Malik.

The opening day of the 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships produced two first round thrillers in the women’s draw as Team USA’s Marina Stefanoni and Egyptian phenom Amina Orfi both pulled off five-game comebacks Sunday, October 19, at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia.

Sunday saw all thirty-two players in the PSA Platinum draws in first round action with all but one top eight seed advancing. Stefanoni and Orfi produced two of the standout results of the day to the thrill of the Specter Center crowd following the annual U.S. Open House.

Earlier this month, Orfi made history by becoming the youngest player ever to reach No. 3 in the rankings at just eighteen years old. The tournament’s four seed found herself 2-1 down against Belgium’s Nele Gilis, who was ranked as high as world No. 4 two years ago. Orfi clawed back to keep her hopes of a first U.S. Open title alive 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4 in eighty-seven minutes.

Stefanoni entered the U.S. Open with a career high ranking of world No. 24 and found herself up against world No. 23 Georgia Adderley in the first round. It was the Scot who stormed to an early lead and one foot in the second round. Stefanoni was able to regroup and adjust her tactics to record her third career U.S. Open victory 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 in sixty-five minutes. The twenty-three-year-old American will face eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini Tuesday night.

“I feel great, I was down 2-0 pretty quick and it was sort of one of those moments where you don’t really know what’s happening and was disappointed that it was going that way,” Stefanoni said. “I told my crew before the match that I would need a lot of home support. I haven’t been feeling great in the past few days so I just needed something extra from off the court and they did great and supported me really loudly and I had almost all the important people in my life there and I probably couldn’t have done it without them. I was a bit lackadaisical in the first two and Georgia did well to get me to play her pace sort of just lulling it in the back and she was getting more opportunities than I was because I wasn’t injecting any pace. I think once I upped the ante a bit and started stepping forward and taking the ball in a bit more and I was rewarded for that and that’s when she was struggling more from the third onwards.”

Stefanoni joins U.S. teammates Olivia Weaver, Amanda Sobhy and Sabrina Sobhy in the second round. The Sobhy sisters will face off against one another Tuesday night after contrasting first rounds. Amanda defeated France’s Melissa Alves in three games while Sabrina needed five games to overcome Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee.

The men’s draw saw two changing of the guard moments with young Englishmen Curtis Malik and Jonah Bryant dispatching Egyptian veterans Mohamed ElShorbagy and Mazen Hesham, respectively, in their first career U.S. Open victories.

Bryant, who has broken into the world’s top twenty for the first time this season as just twenty-years old, defeated 2024 U.S. Open semifinalist Hesham in three games.

Malik toppled three-time U.S. Open champion, five seed and compatriot Mohamed Elshorbagy in a five-game battle to reach his first U.S. Open second round.

“I’m massively pleased and proud of myself,” ElShorbagy said. “I know that Mo hasn’t been in his best form over the last couple of events that he has been in previously. But for me to play him, I grew up watching him, and to even be on the court with him when growing up was a dream come true. So, to beat him is amazing. The respect I have for Mo is unmatched. He’s been so helpful to me over the last few years with England. So much advice that I wouldn’t have learned or known if it weren’t for him. Just being around him, having conversations with him, I can’t thank him enough for what he has done.”

Team USA’s Timmy Brownell recorded his second career U.S. Open first round win against U.S. Junior Champion and wild card Alex Dartnell. Brownell will take on Egypt’s world No. 1 Mostafa Asal in the second round Monday night.

Monday will see the first half of the second round play out from 5pm ET.

SquashSmarts Celebrates VIP Night at U.S. Open

SquashSmarts, the award-winning Philadelphia youth enrichment program, celebrated its past and future at the 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships Monday, October 20.  More than 300 SquashSmarts staff members, students, parents, donors, advisors, and board members attended the SquashSmarts VIP Night, celebrating the ongoing success of the program while enjoying the display of world-class squash at the U.S. Open.

Founded in 2001, SquashSmarts is now entering its twenty-second season. A 501(c)3 non-profit, SquashSmarts is an award-winning, free, intensive, out-of-school academic and athletic mentoring program changing the lives of Philadelphia’s public-school students. Students are recruited in middle school from Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary, Neuva Esperanza Academy Charter, Science Leadership Academy, Carver School for Engineering & Science, and Overbrook Educational Center. Operating out of two facilities—the Lenfest Center in North Philadelphia and Arlen Specter US Squash Center—the program has students attend practices three days a week for seven years.

IMS VP Chris Leonard Hits U.S. Open First Ball

Starting in 2017, a friend of the game has officially started the U.S. Open Squash Championships with the first ball hit on court. The 2025 U.S. Open were launched when Chris Leonard took the ceremonial first swing.

Leonard has managed the AV technologies at the Open every year since the event arrived on the campus of Drexel University in October 2011. Leonard is the Vice President of Operations at IMS Technology Services and based in Philadelphia. From his aerie on the third floor of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Leonard directs customized solutions to when players are not on court, harnessing the energy of squash’s fast-paced live action and conveying the branding and communication strategies of US Squash.

“I love curating the spectator experience,” said Leonard, who first learned how to run audio event production with his father. “I try to give fans a rich, engaging atmosphere, using lighting, sounds and video to make the Open so exciting that the tech disappears and the experience shines.”

In addition, Leonard helped lead IMS’ effort to install all audio/visual equipment when the Specter Center was under construction. Because of their exceptional work, IMS was honored in 2021 with the Best Large Venue Project by Commercial Integrator.

“There is No Tournament I Love Competing at More Than the U.S. Open”-Olivia Weaver

USA No. 1 Olivia Weaver is Philadelphia born and raised, an inspiration to up and coming USA players and the best chance the country has of celebrating a home U.S Open champion.

Weaver has reached the semi-finals of the prestigious event on three occasions now, including the last two editions. A barrier between Weaver and the U.S Open final has been coming up against one of ‘The Big 3’ in the semis. The 30-year-old is yet to score a win over any of Gohar, ElSherbini or El Hammamy but where better to break that losing streak than her home championships.

Weaver has been plagued by injury so far this season but returned to competitive action at the Silicon Valley Open last week and emphatically claimed the Gold event to defend her title, an important victory for the World No.5. Despite the injury setbacks this season, the California win will give Weaver so much confidence heading into this year’s U.S Open where she is determined to make a mark.

“I can’t wait. It’s no secret that I’m Philly born and raised and there’s no tournament I love competing at more than the US Open – in front of a home crowd,” said Weaver. “Playing at the Silicon Valley Open this week, no matter what, I think I was really enjoying my squash this week. I’m now going to go into next week feeling confident just with the way I’ve been playing. But to battle through a match like the final against Siva [Subramaniam] gives me that extra bit of confidence just in my competitive edge and that competitive fighting spirit that I had to tap into today. I’m really, really excited. And hopefully it’s going to be great tournament for me.”

Weaver’s first event of the season was cut short at the London Squash Classic after she was forced to withdraw due to an adductor problem. The USA No.1 had visions of coming back at the Qatar Classic but that proved to be too soon. Waiting to return to action has been a tough wait for Weaver but she admitted that the break provided a fresh perspective ahead of the Silicon Valley Open.

“After a summer of good training, it was definitely challenging,” Weaver said. “I was really eager to get back on tour and compete. So to get injured in London definitely wasn’t part of the plan. But as hard as it was sitting out of Egypt and Qatar, I think absence makes the heart grow fonder. It makes you realise how much you love competing and playing. I was just so excited to get out here and play in front of a crowd in Silicon Valley, play on the bigstage again.”

Weaver holds an unwanted record of being 0-31 against ‘The Big 3’ in PSA competitions. A streak that Weaver is keen to break but isn’t her primary focus. That remains to be winning matches against her tough competitors and reaching finals.

“My goal for this season is to win titles. I want to get to finals. I know I made it to a lot of semifinals last year, but I don’t want to stop there. I’m coming into this season and I want to be beating not only the girls in front of me, but also the girls behind me because everyone’s improving. So no one can be underestimated. I’m just focusing on myself and constantly trying to improve. And I think when I’m playing my best squash, I can beat anyone. So hopefully next week is the place where it all happens.”

In order to reach her first Platinum event final next week in Philadelphia, Weaver will not only be relying on her best squash to surface but also a boisterous home crowd to cheer her on to victory.

“Playing in front of a home crowd is the best,” Weaver said. “We all love playing on the big stage. But when you have that extra support and enthusiasm from the crowd, it just helps you elevate your game to that next level and dig even deeper. So, yeah, I can’t wait. Hopefully everyone’s going to come out, get loud, get rowdy and pack the Specter Center.”

World’s Best Take Aim at Comcast Business U.S. Open Glory

The 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships have arrived as the world’s best squash players take aim at the PSA Platinum titles, October 19-25, at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia.

The U.S. Open draws have taken shape following notable withdrawals in recent weeks including defending women’s champion Nouran Gohar, 2022 men’s champion Diego Elias and men’s five seed Marwan ElShorbagy.

Eight-time world champion and 2023 women’s champion Nour El Sherbini leads the draw and is opposed by Egyptian rival and world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy in the bottom of the draw. Team USA’s Olivia Weaver, the three seed, enters her home town tournament on a wave of momentum following her second consecutive Silicon Valley Open title this week in California. Six-time U.S. Champion Amanda Sobhy slots into the eight seed and could face her younger sister, Sabrina, should both Americans progress to the second round.

The men’s draw is bookended by world No. 1 Mostafa Asal and World No. 3 Paul Coll who are both in search of their second U.S. Open title this week. Welsh world No. 4 Joel Makin will hope to disrupt the top seeds, as will Egyptian veteran and world No. 5 Karim Abdel Gawad, who joined Olivia Weaver on the Silicon Valley Open podium this week.

Before matches begin Sunday, October 19, squash enthusiasts and beginners alike are invited to attend the annual U.S. Open House for clinics and mini games. All opening day General Admission tickets are free and open to the public with match play beginning at 12pm, noon, on four courts.

The first round will feature eight Americans. U.S. Junior Champion and Penn freshman Alexander Dartnell will make his U.S. Open debut against U.S. National Champion Timmy Brownell at 1:30pm on the east glass court. Salim Khan will make his second wild card appearance against Colombia’s Juan Vargas at 12pm noon on court sixteen.

In the women’s draw, Marina Stefanoni will make her sixth U.S. Open appearance with a career high ranking of world No. 24. The twenty-two-year-old will face Scotland’s world No. 23 on the east glass court at 6:15pm. Lucie Stefanoni will make her fifth wild card appearance at the same time adjacent to her sister on court 16 against England’s world No. 17 Jasmine Hutton.

Sabrina Sobhy returns for her eleventh career U.S. Open appearance as she continues to return to form this season following a return from injury. The former world No. 13 will take on Hong Kong’s world No. 37 Ka Yi Lee at 4:45pm. Amanda Sobhy could face Sabrina in the second round, but will face a difficult opening match against France’s world No. 18 Melissa Alves at 2:15pm on the east glass court.

Weaver opens her campaign against Egypt’s world No. 16 Farida Mohamed on the west glass court at 1:30pm.

For tickets and more information visit usopensquash.com.

James Zug to Host Updated “Squash: A History of the Game” Book Signing at U.S. Open, October 20

Award-winning author, leading squash journalist and US Squash Senior Correspondent James “Jim” Zug will offer book signings at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center on Monday, October 20 during the SquashSmarts night of the 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships.

Upon its release, “Squash: A History of the Game” (2003) was the first-ever history of squash in America on hardback, featuring a foreward from the late George Plimpton. “Squash: A History of the Game” is America’s all-time bestselling squash book, providing an in-depth look at the duology of singles and highlighting stories of important players from the last century.

Now, Scribner, part of the Simon & Schuster publication house, releases an updated, revised paperback version available starting November 11 highlighting changes in the game over the last 20 years, including its journey to Olympic inclusion. Copies will be available on-site on October 20 or can be purchased online here.

About the book:

Updated and with a new afterword from the author, this definitive history of squash by journalist James Zug is a must-read for squash lovers and sports history buffs alike,capturing the evolution of one of America’s greatest games.

Step into the fast-paced world of squash with this ultimate deep dive into one of America’s fastest-growing sports. This newly updated edition of Squash packs in fresh stories and insights, charting the racquet sport’s evolution.

From its scrappy beginnings in the 1850s, when English schoolboys invented the game in alleys and yards, to its arrival on US soil in 1884, squash has grown into a global phenomenon. Award-winning journalist James Zug takes readers on a fascinating journey, exploring defining moments like the pivotal shift in the 1990s from the one court size to another, a change that propelled the US to international squash dominance. The game has over 1.6 million players in this country, a growing presence in schools and colleges, and is on the brink of its next big milestone—making its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Packed with vibrant profiles of squash legends, Zug’s narrative goes beyond the court. He uncovers the game’s rich cultural roots, tracing its elite origins and its expansion into public and commercial clubs. Along the way, he captures the passion, drama, and camaraderie that make squash so much more than just a sport.

In the tradition of iconic sports histories like David Halberstam’s The Amateurs, Squash isn’t just for players—it’s for anyone who loves a great story. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or curious newcomer to the game, this is your definitive guide to the lasting legacy of squash.

Comcast Business U.S. Open to Feature Squash’s Most Ambitious Broadcast Production in History

SQUASHTV to Deploy Record 18 Cameras, Including First-Ever
Overhead Cable Cam, for Immersive Coverage

The 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships will feature the most advanced TV broadcast in the sport’s history, with a suite of new production elements elevating the viewing experience for fans around the world and advancing the presentation of the sport in preparation for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

The action from the 52nd edition of the prestigious tournament will be captured by SQUASHTV at Philadelphia’s Arlen Specter US Squash Center (October 19-25), with 18 cameras – the most used in a squash broadcast since SQUASHTV’s inception in 2010 – bringing fans closer to the action than ever before as stars including USA’s No.1 Olivia Weaver and men’s World Champion Mostafa Asal compete for the crown.

For the first time in squash history, a cable camera will be installed over the showpiece glass court to provide unparalleled views of the competition, crowd, and venue, while four manned super slow-motion and gimbal cameras will provide cinematic coverage of the biggest moments from the tournament.

“We’re excited to deliver the most ambitious broadcast in the history of the sport at the U.S. Open,” said PSA Chief Operating Officer Lee Beachill. “By expanding our camera coverage, production crew, and technical integrations, we’re providing fans with the most immersive SQUASHTV broadcast ever seen in the sport. This scale of production reflects our ambition for where we want the sport to be as we look towards squash’s debut at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28), and we are grateful to Comcast Business for powering this enhanced broadcast coverage through their cutting-edge connectivity and enterprise-grade technology solutions.”

In addition, two replay cameras will be dedicated to covering the out-of-court lines for instant officiating reviews, meaning an increase of seven cameras in comparison to a regular SQUASHTV broadcast. The broadcast presentation will be enhanced with in-depth stats and analysis to tell greater stories around the matches in real-time, including the number of winning shots, errors, rally duration, shot count, and areas of strengths and weaknesses of the competing players.

“Leveraging Comcast Business’ advanced technology with SQUASHTV’s latest innovations at this year’s U.S. Open is the ideal showcase for squash’s rapid growth and expansion,” said US Squash President & CEO Kevin Klipstein. “The Comcast Business U.S. Open being streamed by NBC’s Peacock featuring SQUASHTV’s fullest production team ever is powering tremendous collaboration and excitement across squash organizations globally. We can’t wait to see where this leads the sport by the time squash has its Olympic debut at the Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios in 2028.”

The global broadcast feed will be distributed to broadcasters across 89 countries, enabled by Comcast Business’s integrated technology infrastructure at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, ensuring seamless, high-quality delivery to audiences worldwide.

“At Comcast Business, we’re proud to power the technology behind the most ambitious squash broadcast in history. Our advanced network solutions are enabling SQUASHTV to deliver an immersive, world-class viewing experience to fans across the globe,” said Eileen Diskin, CMO, Comcast Business. “Supporting the U.S. Open Squash Championships and the growth of professional squash reflects our commitment to innovation, community, and the future of sport.”

Lead presenter Michael Absalom and lead commentator Joey Barrington will be spearheading the team calling the action during one of the sport’s majors. They will be supported by a cast featuring former World Champion Vanessa Atkinson, Aisling Blake, Lisa Aitken, Nicole Bunyan and American stars Gilly Lane and Chris Gordon.

NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, will stream the semi-finals and finals live for the first time in the US between October 24-25.

Comcast Business U.S. Open Two Weeks Away

The 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships is just two weeks away! The world’s top squash professionals descend on the Arlen Specter US Squash Center to compete for record prize money, October 19-25.

Semifinals and Final back walls seats are sold out, but remain for all other rounds while GA tickets remain available for all rounds. Tickets are available on usopensquash.com/tickets. Contact [email protected] to host a group at the U.S. Open.

Opening day will feature the U.S. Open House from 10am Sunday, October 19, where squash fans of all ages and skill levels can jump on court before the pros for mini games and clinics. All General Admission is free to celebrate the U.S. Open House.

If you are not able to attend the U.S. Open in person, Peacock is the perfect place to enjoy the unprecedented U.S. Open broadcast. The tournament’s broadcast will expand its production coverage, with more camera angles and new technology elevating the overall presentation.

Watch the U.S. Open Semifinals and Finals on Peacock

The 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Semifinals and Finals are one month away! For the first time ever, the semifinals and finals (Oct. 24-25) of this year’s tournament will be streamed live on Peacock in the United States. The tournament’s broadcast will expand its production coverage, with more camera angles and new technology elevating the overall presentation.

This is our chance to show TV networks that people want to see squash ahead of the LA28 Olympic Games!

If you are not able to attend the U.S. Open in person, Peacock is the perfect place to enjoy the unprecedented U.S. Open broadcast.

How to Tune In:

Do you have Peacock? The U.S. Open will be available in the Peacock Sports menu here on Friday, October 24, and Saturday, October 25 from 6pm ET.

Do you not have Peacock? Subscribe to Peacock here and then tune in October 24-25.

Do you have both SquashTV and Peacock? Watch SquashTV from October 19-23, then switch over to Peacock, October 24-25.

U.S. Skill Level Championships to be Held Alongside U.S. Open Finals

The U.S. Skill Level Championships will be held alongside finals weekend of the 2025 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships, October 25-26, at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia.

The Skill Level Championships offer draws ranging from 2.5 up to 6.5. All draws will be capped at sixteen players and entries will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.

All players participating in the U.S. Skill Level Championships will be eligible for a 50% discount on general admission tickets for matches on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25–semifinal and final matches of the U.S. Open.

Secure your spot today and register on the U.S. Skill Level Championships tournament page.

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