U.S. Open Squash Championships Return to Drexel This Fall

Nicol David (left) claimed the 2013 women's title at the U.S. Open Squash Championships.

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. 9-18 to compete in the 2014 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships.

The U.S. Open is the only professional squash tournament in the world to offer equal prize money for winners in both the men’s and women’s brackets. As such, its $230,000 combined purse has drawn the top players in the world during the last three years that Drexel has hosted the tournament –and this year is no different.

"Hosting the U.S. Open on Drexel's campus is a highlight for all the men and women on the professional squash tour,” said Kevin Klipstein, president and CEO of US SQUASH. “We have over 20 countries being represented across the globe, and for them to be integrated into an American college during their stay, especially at Drexel that is such a forward thinking University with a passionate and dedicated student body, faculty and staff, is a special experience for them.”  

Both 2013 champions Nicol David and Gregory Gaulthier will be back to defend their titles against fields that already include 12 of the top 16 players on the men’s side and 15 of the top 16 women’s players, with more of the world’s best players set to qualify. The quality of last year’s U.S Open earned it “Tournament of the Year” recognition by the Women’s Squash Association –a standard US SQUASH will seek to exceed at this year’s competition.

All main draw matches will be held in the Daskalakis Athletic Center, as Cozen Court is converted into the world class squash venue that has welcomed thousands of spectators since Drexel became the host in 2011. With the success of the tournament thus far, after last year’s competition US SQUASH inked a 10-year deal to keep the tournament at Drexel.

“We are thrilled at the success of the event over the past three years and are honored to partner with Drexel for the next decade to host this prestigious squash event,” Klipstein said.

Qualifying matches will be held at Drexel’s Kline Specter Squash Center, home of the school’s nationally ranked varsity squash teams beginning on Thursday, Oct. 9. Elimination play opens on Oct. 11 with daily sessions starting at noon. The finals are set for Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. 

Two Back Wall General Admission tickets are available daily, free of charge, to Drexel University students and staff with a valid Drexel ID. No physical ticket is required, but fans will be required to present a valid Drexel ID when entering the Daskalakis Athletic Center. For more information about tickets email: tickets@usopensquash.com.

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