#TBT – The Story of the 2021 U.S. Open

The U.S. Open presented by Truist took place in October 2021, and along with a new venue, there was also a new champion, along with a defending winner as well.

The Arlen Specter US Squash Center made it’s first appearance on the Tour, in what was the first U.S. Open on the calendar in two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Take a look back at what happened the last time we visited Philadelphia…

New Venue For One Of The Sport’s Biggest Events

Ten years after the U.S. Open was first held in Philadelphia, the tournament moved venues. The spectacular Arlen Specter US Squash Center played host to the event for the first time, and it was an incredible venue for one of the sport’s biggest competitions.

Alves Reaches Maiden Platinum Quarter Final

France’s Melissa Alves showed her quality and skill throughout her run in Philadelphia, as she made it through to a maiden Platinum quarter final.

The World No.27 overcame England’s Lucy Turmel in straight games in the second round at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, before then overcoming another Englishwoman in the third round.

She took on now-World No.10 Georgina Kennedy in the last 16 in Philadelphia, defeating the Englishwoman in less than half an hour to move through to a maiden Platinum quarter final.

Willstrop Rolls Back The Years

Former World No.1 James Willstrop continues to dazzle the crowds into his late 30s, and he was in sublime form at the U.S. Open presented by Truist last year.

The Englishman started off with a commanding victory against Tsz Fung Yip, before then taking down World No.5 Marwan ElShorbagy in four games in the second round.

Willstrop carried on his form to defeat World No.15 Mohamed Abouelghar in a pulsating contest. The Englishman won in a five-game thriller to reach yet another Platinum quarter final, where he would eventually succumb to Egypt’s Tarek Momen.

Fiechter’s Incredible Run Delights Home Crowd

It was perhaps not a surprise that an American woman reached the semi-finals in Philadelphia. However, it might have been somewhat of a surprise that the American in question was Olivia Fiechter.

The then-World No.20 started off with a victory over Menna Hamed, before then defeating Australia’s Donna Lobban in the last match on Glass Court West in the second round.

Her third round match against US No.1 Amanda Sobhy was one of the most anticipated matches of the last 16. Fiechter came through against her compatriot, winning in five to book her spot in the quarters. She then overcame Belgian No.1 Nele Gilis in straight games to make the last four of a major tournament for the first time in her career.

This run to the semi-finals of the U.S. Open presented by Truist was the first step in Fiechter becoming only the second American woman to ever reach the top ten of the World Rankings.

Top Three Knocked Out In Quarter Finals

The men’s quarter finals of the U.S. Open presented by Truist saw several surprises, with the top three players in the world all being knocked out of the competition.

World No.1 Ali Farag took on Welshman Joel Makin, the then-World No.9, in the quarters. Makin had never beaten Farag in three previous meetings, but went on to take the victory in straight games, including winning a 16-14 tie-break in the third games.

Prior to the World No.1 being knocked out, Peru’s Diego Elias took down World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy in the last eight as well. The ‘Peruvian Puma’ lost the first game 11-5, but then dropped just 13 points across the next three games to knock the 2017 World Champion out at the quarter final stage.

The shocks did not stop there, as Mostafa Asal came from behind to defeat World No.3 Paul Coll. The New Zealander took the second game to level a lengthy contest, but the ‘Raging Bull’ fought back to win in four. The match lasted 104 minutes, an incredible amount of time for a four-game contest, and it was eventually Asal that won, and he would not stop there…

Gohar Goes Back-To-Back In Philadelphia

Nouran Gohar came into Philadelphia as the World No.1 and defending champion at the U.S. Open presented by Truist, and she was in sublime form throughout, dropping just a single game as she retained her title.

After starting with comfortable wins against the USA’s Sabrina Sobhy and England’s Alison Waters, Gohar’s first real test came against English No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry. However, she dispatched the World No.7 in less than 40 minutes, winning her quarter final contest in straight games.

‘The Terminator’ then took on the tournament’s surprise package, in Olivia Fiechter, in the last four. Gohar dropped just ten points to set up a clash in the final with World No.3 Hania El Hammamy. She lost the first game 11-9, but fought back to win in four, and claim her second U.S. Open title.

She became the first woman since Nicol David to retain the U.S. Open title, and with it, she extended the gap at the top of the World Rankings in her favour as well.

Asal Becomes Youngest Ever U.S. Open Champion

Following on from his incredible victory over Paul Coll in the last eight of the tournament, in a match that lasted more than 100 minutes, Asal then went on an incredible run to become the tournament’s youngest winner.

The semi-finals saw the ‘Raging Bull’ take on Peru’s Diego Elias. After 104 minutes in the quarters, Asal and Elias did battle for 96 minutes in the last four, with the Egyptian taking the fifth 12-10 to book his place into the final.

In the final, Asal took on compatriot Tarek Momen, and once again, it went to five. The 20-year-old fought back from two games down, saving match ball in the third game, to go on and win the tournament after a 91-minute final. In doing so, he became the U.S Open’s youngest ever winner.