Community squash leaders met at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center during the 2021 U.S. Open Squash Championships presented by Truist, one year after US Squash established the Community Affiliate Network.

The group reviewed progress against the goals for the network of mission-aligned affiliate network in its first year–including documenting the model in print and video, accrediting eight facilities, identifying thirty-six emerging markets, and establishing monthly info sessions–and future collaboration and expansion for the year ahead.

“It was fitting to host this meeting at the Specter Center–the Community Affiliate Network’s anchor–the day after it officially opened,” said Barrett Takesian, US Squash Senior Advisor for Community Programs. “In the year ahead, US Squash will continue building momentum by welcoming more emerging, local, and regional affiliates, as well as working to strengthen the tools that power our mission to fill courts around the country with youth and families from the entire community.“

In its first year, the Community Affiliate Network has grown to include Virginia Squash, the SL Green StreetSquash Center in Harlem, MetroSquash in Chicago, Portland Community Squash in Maine, Atlanta Community Squash, Access Youth Academy in San Diego, Urban Squash Cleveland, and the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia.

“Each time the community affiliate network gets together I come to learn the best practices, and I come away inspired that we have everything we need in our own community,” said Karthik Sundaramoorthy, who leads an emerging affiliate program in Durham, NC. “This movement will involve us all, and that’s what makes community squash so special.”

The Community Affiliate Network (CAN) establishes more formal relationships between US Squash and non-profit facilities that advance the goals of the Community Initiative, deliver US Squash programs and closely align with US Squash’s mission of promoting squash’s growth and development by increasing access and awareness, supporting meaningful lifelong engagement in the sport, and encouraging sportsmanship while achieving competitive excellence. CAN facilities conduct programming inclusive of junior scholastic squash team programs, junior squash grassroots development and high-performance programs, squash and education programs, adult squash development, and accredited leagues, ladders, and tournaments to provide access to squash for all.

A record eleven Americans will compete in the inaugural U.S. Open presented by Truist staged at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, October 1-6, as the facility celebrates its Grand Opening, October 2, in Philadelphia on the campus of Drexel University.

Tickets starting from $15—including access to all matches each day and the Grand Opening Ceremony—are available on usopensquash.com/tickets. All match times and locations are available on usopensquash.com/draws.

The Platinum draws with $250,000 of equal prize money have attracted the best players in the world to inaugurate the Specter Center’s two all glass show courts.

Egypt’s world No. 1 Ali Farag and world No. 2 Nouran Gohar return to defend their titles as the one and two seeds, respectively. Farag, a Harvard graduate, will aim to equal two seed Mohamed ElShorbagy’s three-time U.S. Open champion record. Just weeks after winning the iconic Egyptian Open by the Pyramids, Gohar will aim for a second straight U.S. Open and major title.

The U.S. Open remains the only major title in squash to elude world No. 1 and U.S. Open top seed Nour El Sherbini, who has already become one of the sport’s most decorated players at just twenty-five-years old with five world titles and thirteen Platinum titles.

Team USA’s four top-twenty-five-ranked women are set to defend their new home courts for the first time at the Specter Center.

World No. 6 Amanda Sobhy enters the tournament as the four seed–her highest career U.S. Open seeding in her tenth appearance. After a first-round bye, the twenty-eight year old opens up her campaign following the Specter Center’s Grand Opening ceremony Saturday, October 2, at 7pm ET. World No. 12 Olivia Blatchford Clyne also enjoys a first round bye and will feature on the west glass court Saturday at 2:15pm against Egypt’s Nadine Shahin.

After a first round bye, world No. 18 Sabrina Sobhy faces a difficult draw in the form of Gohar Saturday night on the east glass court at 8:30pm. World No. 22 Olivia Fiechter joins first round action Friday, October 1 on the east glass court at 6:30pm against Egypt’s Menna Hamed.

World No. 41 Haley Mendez takes on fellow Harvard graduate Georgina Kennedy in the third match on the east glass court Friday at 1:30pm. Harvard sophomore Marina Stefanoni will make her third U.S. Open wild card appearance and first in four years against Canada’s Danielle Letourneau on the west glass court Friday at 2:15pm. Her younger sister, Lucie, makes her U.S. Open debut as the second wild card against Cornell’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in the first match on the east glass court Friday at 12pm noon.

Todd Harrity, a Wayne, Pennsylvania native, will play in front of the home crowd against Germany’s Raphael Kandra Friday night on the east glass court at 7:15pm. World No. 45 Shahjahan Khan will make his U.S. Open debut as a member of Team USA on the west glass court against Mexico’s Cesar Salazar Friday at 6:30pm.

Specter Center-based Timothy Brownell will play on his new home courts as a wile card against former Harvard teammate Victor Crouin Friday on the east glass court at 2:15pm. Faraz Khan is set for his sixth U.S. Open with his highest career ranking of world No. 61 and a first round match against Switzerland’s Nicholas Mueller on the east glass court Friday 12:45pm.

The 2021 U.S. Open Squash Championships presented by Truist will celebrate its inaugural staging at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia on the campus of Drexel University, October 1-6, alongside the facility’s Grand Opening October 2.

Tickets are on sale now at usopensquash.com/tickets. The Specter Center Grand Opening will be streamed to the entire squash community on Saturday, October 2—details will be shared in the coming weeks.

The U.S. Open—the sport’s first major tournament to offer prize money parity in 2013—is a PSA Platinum-level championship featuring the world’s best forty-eight men and women with $250,000 on offer. The 2021 edition of the U.S. Open marks a decade of partnership between Drexel University and US Squash to host the event in Philadelphia, over which time the U.S. Open has cemented its position as one of the world’s preeminent championships.

The U.S. Open will be the first major tournament hosted at the Specter Center, which features sixteen traditional singles courts, two all-glass singles courts and two hardball doubles courts. Matches will take place on four courts simultaneously for the first two rounds of play Friday and Saturday, October 1-2; the round of 16 and quarterfinals will be held on both glass courts October 3-4; the semifinals and finals will be held on the Specter Center’s east glass court October 5-6.

Ticket options include General Admission/Standing Room and reserved Backwall Premium seating behind the east and west glass courts. Tickets include access to all matches for the selected day, and attendees have access to concessions and multiple viewing locations to experience the action as never before, showcasing the Specter Center’s ability to transform from the world’s largest community squash center to a premier event venue.

Due to City of Philadelphia mandates and the professional athletes’ (PSA) policy to compete unmasked, proof of vaccination will be required to enter, so unfortunately children 11 and under will not be permitted into the Specter Center during the U.S. Open. While subject to change, masks are not required however are recommended. Safety protocols are subject to change if new guidance unfolds.

U.S. Open draws will be released on September 14. For more news and information, visit usopensquash.com.