Hitting the Court: U.S. Open Squash Championships Return to Drexel

The top squash players in the world will descend on Drexel this week as the 2016 U.S. Open Squash Championships swing into action at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

The most prestigious squash tournament in the United States returns to Drexel University this fall. The top players in the world will take the court at the Daskalakis Athletic Center from Oct. 6-15 to compete in the 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships.

The University, which annually embraces its position as the host venue for the international tournament, has seen a growth in its own squash prominence over the years. Drexel’s men’s and women’s teams earned top 10 national rankings this season; the men’s team won the Hoehn Cup as one of the top teams in the country at season’s end, while the women’s team finished runner-up for the Kurtz Cup.

“Squash has become a part of the fabric of this university and we are proud to be partners with US SQUASH to host an event that brings international prominence to Drexel and to a sport that is already so popular around the world.” said Eric Zillmer, PsyD, director of athletics.

In 2013, the U.S. Open became the first professional squash tournament, and one of the first professional tournaments of any kind, to offer equal prize money for both its men’s and women’s champion. In addition to elevating US SQUASH as a trailblazer in gender equity, the move has drawn the top players from around the world to participate in the tournament each year.

Both 2015 U.S. Open champions Laura Massaro and Gregory Gaulthier will be back to defend their titles against highly competitive fields comprised of 112 of the world’s best squash players, including the top-ranked players in the world on both sides and several former U.S. Open champions.

Drexel students, faculty and staff can see the competition first hand during the week free of charge with a Drexel ID.

All main draw matches will be held in the Daskalakis Athletic Center, as Cozen Court is converted into the world-class ASB GlassCourt that has welcomed thousands of spectators since Drexel became the host in 2011. Matches are scheduled starting at noon each day.

For more information about the tournament visit www.usopensquash.com.