U.S. Open Squash

The world’s most elite players will return to Philadelphia in 2013 to compete in one of the top international displays of professional squash talent, the U.S. Open Squash Championships.

 Official dates have been announced for the 2013 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships, the premier event that forms part of the World Series tour for both the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and Women’s Squash Association (WSA).

The 2013 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships will be held from October 9-18 and once again hosted at Drexel University.

Last year’s U.S. Open saw women’s world #1 Nicol David take home the women’s U.S. Open trophy – the first time she has won the U.S. Open title and the only world series trophy she needed to complete her collection.

Coming off court from a four game match against world #2 Raneem el Weleily, Nicol was thrilled with the win.

“I’m just so overwhelmed – I just won the U.S. Open! I can’t believe it,” she said.

2012 U.S. Open men’s champion Ramy Ashour echoed her sentiments.

“It’s so good to win such a big title, it means a lot to me,” he said.

“All the players are producing the best squash at this tournament, and it’s a great chance for squash fans around the world to watch some quality squash”.

The U.S. Open is a major international showcase of talent in the sport, bringing visitors from across the globe to Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Center to view the competition between world’s best professional players.

“Drexel University works in close partnership with U.S. Squash to host the U.S. Open. They have excellent experience with hosting national and international events.

The Daskalakis Athletic Center is a world class venue which provides the best resources and facilities to present a global event of this size and prominence,” said Kevin Klipstein, CEO of U.S. Squash.

This will be the third consecutive year the prestigious tournament has been held at Philadelphia’s Drexel University.

The finals of the event are streamed live on Squash TV and broadcast by 18 distributors worldwide, reaching a potential audience of 300 million people worldwide.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2013 U.S. Open Squash Championships.  For more information email sponsorship@usopensquash.com.

During the 2012 event, the players created a highlight video of the U.S. Open and tribute to one of the host city's other famous resident athletes, Rocky Balboa...

Article by Kristi Maroc

Player lists have been released for the 2012 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships, revealing that all of the world's top ten men and women will be competing in this year's event!

With every major star in the squash world heading to Philadelphia to compete for the prestigious title, the U.S. Open is certain to conjure up an abundance of skillful and exhilarating squash battles among the best of the best.

The confirmed player list includes the world's greatest competitors such as skillful Englishman James Willstrop (#1), his compatriot Nick Matthew (#2), feisty Frenchman Gregory Gaultier (#3) and captivating Egyptian Ramy Ashour (#4), as well as last year's U.S. Open winner, Amr Shabana from Egypt (#6), who has also won four World Open titles in his lustrous career.

All will have a long and challenging road to make it through to the final deciding match and take home the grand prize on October 12, and with the bar set so high it's anyone's guess who the champion will be.

No one wanted to miss out on their shot at the U.S. Open title in the women's draw, with all ten of the world's top 10 ranked women showing up to compete for the crown.  The draw includes the powerful Nicol David (#1) from Malaysia who is yet to win a U.S. Open title in her astounding career history of 63 professional titles to date, as well as Egyptian sensation Raneem El Weleily (#2) who recently made a big jump into the top of the rankings, last year's defending champion from England Laura Massaro (#3), and athletic Aussie Kasey Brown (#8) who toppled Nicol David at last year's U.S. Open to make the final.

After an off season to prepare, and big prize money up for grabs, all players will be looking to bring their finest game to the center stage in October to progress through the challenging draws.

The U.S. Open forms part of the 2012 World Series for both the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and Women’s Squash Association (WSA), and offers $185,000 in combined prize money.

Article by Kristi Maroc

Despite his notoriety in the squash community and stable position within the world’s top few men’s players for over five years now, we never know what to expect from the artistic and intriguing Ramy Ashour.

One thing we can expect however is that he will be playing in the 2012 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships.

24 year old Ramy, long hailed as one of the most innovative and fascinating players around, has confirmed that he will head to Philadelphia in October for the coveted World Series event.

Known as an unpredictable player, the illusive ‘artist’, as he’s often nicknamed, lives up to the title in all arenas.  His creative talent stretches from his astonishing backhand-volley-drop-nick, to his love of cultures, travel and singing.

Ramy enjoys being center stage both on the court and off, as recently demonstrated when he serenaded his childhood best friend at his wedding, with a song Ramy wrote especially for the occasion.

“I love this guy, he’s one of my best friends and we’ve been friends since we were like 10 years old.  I wanted to do something for him, so I made him a song.  I wrote the lyrics and did the composing and everything…and I thought it didn’t come up too badly,” he laughs.

Ramy also prepares for his squash matches by singing and listening to music.

“I love squash, and music for me is always parallel to squash.  I’d never leave this and I’d never leave that.

In fact, don’t rule out a singing career in Ramy’s future.  He says that during the current off season he might even record some of his singing.

“I’m really into music and I know some singers back home and I go with them a lot to studios.  I might do something with them this summer.

“I’ll never be a professional singer I’m sure, but I just want to do something because I love it so much.”

So are we about to see a ‘Ramy’s greatest hits’ then…?

“No, swapping a career or trying to swap your concentration or turn it from your main thing to other things is very hard, so I would never do that.

“When I finish squash though, I might think about doing something else with singing.  But for now I’ll just do it [as a hobby] so I can fulfill the desire that I have for singing.”

There’s certainly more to Ramy than meets the eye, not only in his lesser known singing aspirations and talent.

Ramy has an enthusiastic and passionate manner, and when asked what provokes, motivates or inspires him, he quickly raises to the topic of travel and other cultures, as well as his own home country of Egypt which he clearly feels a lot of pride for.

“I’m always observing new things in the characters and the lifestyles in different countries – more than just going out and seeing scenery and nature.  To be honest, I’m not really interested in that, I’m more interested in the people and the characters and the different lifestyles.

“When I go to other countries and other places, I’m fascinated and interested in the way they live…their systems and regiments too.

“That’s what every Egyptian always speaks about, because our system is very flexible back home, to the extent that it can be changeable at any point in the day.  There is a lot of unexpected in our lives, a lot more than the unexpected probably in America, or England or Europe.

“There’s always motivations back home, there’s always things that you keep on thinking.

“The system, the way we live…our lives always have ups and downs, ups and downs, ups and downs, but living in Egypt is so much fun because we’re always going out and the people have so much humor.

“I love being in America so much because it’s very similar to Egypt in the lifestyle and in the going out style.  It’s always lively and there are a lot of people everywhere.  When you go to New York, and down to Manhattan, there are people going out everywhere and everyone has something to do.

“In Egypt it’s like this, there’s a lot of people too so everyone is caught up in their own thoughts and their own things.”

On the squash court as well, Ramy’s emotion, deep thinking and fieriness is often quite apparent – it’s often easy to see his feelings, whether good or bad, during his matches.

“It all shows on my face, whether I’m in the mood or in the zone.  It doesn’t take an intellectual person to analyze me, and analyze my attitude.  If you just watch me a couple of matches and see me in my pinnacle, in my top game or top performance, and then see me in my down low form, you’ll very quickly realize the difference.

“Probably, as you say, this is a good thing and a bad thing, because other players would see this on my face pretty quickly, and playing squash, especially when it’s a tough game, you should be rigid and you should be firm all the time – you shouldn’t show emotion on your face that much.

“But sometimes I just can’t control it and I’ve tried not to show so much, but then I just felt like I’m not being natural and I’m not being myself.

“That’s another thing I believe in, that whatever you’re doing you have to always be natural and be yourself so you can produce your best outcome or your best skill level.

“I really love this game and I feel a lot of passion towards it.  I treat this game, I treat the racquet and the court and everything about this game as though it’s my best friend, or my closest friend…or as if it’s my girlfriend.

“It’s my ultimate pleasure when someone tells me that their heart was pounding when I was playing.  I believe it’s so important for fans to see the characters and personalities of the players, more than just watching the game and just seeing how hard or how nice or how fun the game is.  I mean, people want to know more about the players so that they get more interested in the whole thing.”

What does Ramy think has been the secret to his success?

“I started playing this game when I was six years old, and I know every single corner and every single aspect of the court.

“I always believe that the more you stay on court by yourself – or even with a coach, but more by yourself – whether you have an iPod in your ears or not, the more that you become familiar with it and the more you have a chemistry and a connection with every angle in the court and every dimension of the court.

“And so that’s basically what I’ve been doing over the last seventeen or eighteen years now.”

It’s little wonder that Ramy is in the position he’s in now then.  As one of the most awe-inspiring players of current time, and only in his early twenties, he’s likely to be around for a long while yet.

“I just try to do what I should do and what I feel joy about.

“I believe as long as you’re doing what you love and as long as you’re doing what you enjoy, and what you believe in, this energy will be conveyed to the people, and I hope its working.”

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Ramy on trick shots, tattoos, superpowers and sushi

Watch this recent interview where he reveals his thoughts on a variety of on and off court topics, from trick shots to tattoos, superpowers to sushi...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acx4LOTmPPo&feature=youtu.be&w=400

Article by Kristi Maroc

At almost 32 years old, England’s Nick Matthew has achieved virtually every accolade there is in professional squash, including the U.S. Open title in 2007 and finalist in 2011, plus an unfaltering world number one ranking for the entire year in 2011. 

In a recent interview following his impressive win of the British Open, the current world number two confirmed he will again play the Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships in October this year.  

Nick also says he has hopes to reclaim the world number one position once more in his career.

“That would probably be my main goal now – just to have one more turn at the top,” says Nick, settling back into his seat for the interview just minutes after walking off the court from beating Egyptian Ramy Ashour in the British Open final. 

“Obviously James Willstrop – my big rival – is there right now, but before I retire I’d love to get it back one more time.”

Winning the esteemed British Open title for a third time would certainly have contributed to that mission, and Nick's excitement about the triumph is clear. 

He is the first Englishman to win the British Open three times, one more remarkable addition to Nick’s already impressively long list of career highlights - not to mention attaining it by defeating the exceptionally skilled Ramy, another of Nick’s long-term rivals, for the first time in five successive matches. 

“When I win three nil in the first round of a tournament I’m surprised, never mind against somebody like Ramy in the final,” says Nick. 

“I’m over the moon, absolutely delighted.  I don’t have many more of these finals in me, I’m getting on a bit now, so I’ll enjoy it while I can.”

After Ramy’s ruthless performance against James Willstrop in the semi-final the day before, many expectations were that the 24-year old Egyptian would win the British Open.  However on finals day Nick dispelled any illusions of who deserved to take home the trophy, overthrowing Ramy in straight sets in just 33 minutes.

“I’m nearly 32…but I’m a young 32 some days!” Nick chuckles.

“I played great today, one of my best performances ever, so on such an occasion I can’t wish for anything more really.

“I don’t feel like I’m ready to stop yet though.  Hopefully after a good summer, starting back probably with the U.S. Open, I can have a good start to the season and get some more titles under my belt.”

With his unwaveringly strong game style and consistently solid performances, Nick’s chances at the final of the 2012 U.S. Open are evident. 

“I’m at a point now where I’m trying to peak for major events – the big ones in the calendar like the British Open, World Open, U.S. Open, Tournament of Champions – ones that I’m passionate about winning,” he says. 

“It’s sometimes hard to play every single week, but to be the number one in the world you have to be the best player over 12 or 13 tournaments over the year, and that’s something I’ve got to get better at if I want to win get that number one spot back.”

As a PSA and WSA World Series event, and with total prize money of $185,000, the U.S. Open in October will bring all of the world’s top players to Philadelphia to compete for the prestigious title. 

“I love playing in the US – some of the best atmospheres are at tournaments we play in the States,” says Nick. 

“It’s a relatively new sport there so the crowds are always really passionate and really loud, and they always seem to be packed out every day.  They love the dynamic and athletic nature of the game and they really get behind us.”

Nick started playing at the age of eight, and says he realized the potential to be a professional player when he was about 15 or 16.

“As a kid, I played every sport under the moon and then fell in love with squash.  It suited my personality, with the one-on-one combat.  I loved the dynamic nature too, where you had to think a lot and think for yourself.  It made you independent at a young age. 

“I realized from coming to the British Open as a kid that you could make a living out of it if you were good enough, and willing to work hard enough – and so I’ve been working hard ever since.

“In the United States, the number of kids you see attending the big tournaments like the U.S. Open and the Tournament of Champions is great.  And they’re all so keen to play!

When asked what he would say to those young players who have dreams of turning professional like him, Nick says:

“Get to the big tournaments!  See that atmosphere and get inspired to play in one of these amazing venues – it is very different from playing behind closed doors. 

“The sport is growing on television, so you can really do well out of it.  This is the professional game and where you want to be. 

“I’ve made a few sacrifices along the way, but I’ve enjoyed every minute and it’s beyond my wildest dreams what I’ve done up until this point.”

“I think there’s an opportunity there to be that American superstar – not taking anything away from the current players – but to be that first real top ten world champion from the US," says Nick. 

“When that happens, I think squash is really going to take off in the States."

To see Nick Matthew live at the 2012 Delaware Investments U.S. Open, you can buy tickets at http://www.usopensquash.com/tickets/.  Tickets are on sale now!