RICHMOND BRINGS BACK PSA ELITE FOR DAVENPORT NORTH AMERICAN OPEN

[NAO Website]            [Get Tickets (coming soon)]

Gus Cook and a team of volunteers in Richmond, Virginia, including Winston Price, Tucker McNeil and David Hetherington, have reached another milestone in the staging of world class squash in their city. Richmond, a racquets cruciable in the US, original home of famed tennis star Arthur Ashe (who by the way later promoted squash in the Washington DC area through his organization Arthur Ashe and friends), has always been an attractive destination for top squash players.

In the past several years, beginning with a small event in 2004, the Richmond squash community has built up its growing PSA pro event, last year staging the highly successful Davenport Virginia Open in the center of Richmond on a glass court.

Willstrop and Darwish in the Davenport Semis, 2008

(photo Patricia Lyons: ©2009)

NORTH AMERICAN OPEN COMES EAST
Now, the non-profit group of volunteers who have developed this event, have signed an agreement with US Squash , who own the title, to host the storied North American Open right there in Richmond for the next 3 years with an option for another 2 more years after that.

This finally brings this important squash event back to the East Coast of the USA, and hopefully back on a road to squash prominence. The North American Open was once the absolutely most prestigious squash title in the US and Canada, a title closely associated with such legendary players as Mo Khan, Sharif Khan, Ralph Howe, Mike Desaulniers, Mark Talbott and Jahangir.

The incomparable Sharif pretty much owned this event - winning it a total of twelve times - with the enigmatic Victor Niederhoffer breaking through to defeat Sharif in the 1975 edition of the event and Mike Desaulniers putting an end to Sharif's run by beating Sharif in the finals in 1982.

Mo Khan beats Sharif in the NAO '68 Final

(photo SquashTalk archives: ©2009)

The event was staged around the east coast, customarily, revolving between such cities as New York, Detroit and Hartford.

The North American Open was staged for two years on the west coast, in San Francisco, an unfortunate decision made by US Squash, because a paucity of publicity and lack of real prize money relegated a once revered title to the ranks of a satellite also-ran event for those years.

Now finally, the event has a chance to make an important comeback.

This year, the North American Open in Richmond will be a quite unique world class sporting event not only because it is one of the top 2 PSA events ( and larger than any WISPA and all but one ISDA event) anywhere in the Americas with nearly $100k on offer, but especially because it is a non- profit endeavor and staffed entirely by volunteers.

As of today 15 of the top 16 ranked players had entered and the closing date is in 2 weeks.
 
The venue will be the same, as was the Davenport Virginia Open last year, in the Millhiser Gym at the U of Richmond, with seating for 400 spectators, using the McWil portable court.

Whilst the pros are here in Richmond they hit and conduct clinics with many junior and college level players along with giving multiple media interviews and sponsor clinics. Directly following th event will be the VA State Open ( Feb 27 - Mar 1st ) amateur event.

 

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