U.S. Open: A History

#Road2Dubai

The 2016 edition of the Delaware Investments U.S. Open begins on Saturday October 8 at Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletics Center in Philadelphia as the world’s leading players get set to battle it out for vital points on the second stage on the PSA Road to Dubai.

The U.S. Open is one of the most pioneering and innovative events on the PSA World Tour tour calendar, becoming the first PSA World Series tournament to offer equal prize money across both the Men’s and Women’s events in 2013 – and they have remained committed to this ever since.

The tournament started back in 1954 on New Year’s Day in a hardball format, before changing to the more familiar softball format that modern fans will be accustomed to in 1985.

The legendary Pakistani player Jahangir Khan was the first winner in the modern format, beating former World Champion Ross Norman, while Egyptian ‘Maestro’ Amr Shabana (twice), Australia’s David Palmer, England’s Peter Nicol and Canada’s Jonathon Power have all got their hands on the illustrious title.

After being held in various renowned locations such as Chicago and Boston, the tournament moved to Philadelphia in 2011, where it has stayed ever since, after securing a ten-year agreement with Drexel University – a significant moment in history of the event and in US Squash.

The U.S. Open has a reputation as one of the marquee events on the North American squash calendar and saw World Champion Gregory Gaultier triumph at last year’s event after beating World No.3 Omar Mosaad in a final that acted as a prelude to their World Championship bout the following month.

World No.2 Laura Massaro, meanwhile, is the Women’s defending champion after she defeated Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb in a thrilling five-game battle during the showpiece finale of the 2015 instalment – and that win was crucial in her eventual rise to the summit of the World Rankings three months later.

Previous Winners – Men
2015 Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
2014 Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY)
2013 Grégory Gaultier (FRA)
2012 Ramy Ashour (EGY)
2011 Amr Shabana (EGY)
2010 Wael El Hindi (EGY)
2009 Amr Shabana (EGY)
2008 No Event
2007 Nick Matthew (ENG)
2006 Grégory Gaultier (FRA)
2005 Lee Beachill (ENG)
2004 Lee Beachill (ENG)
2003 Peter Nicol (ENG)
2002 David Palmer (AUS)
2001 Peter Nicol (ENG)
2000 Jonathon Power (CAN)
1999 Simon Parke (ENG)
1998 Peter Nicol (SCO)
1997 Jonathon Power (CAN)
1996 Rodney Eyles (AUS)
1995 Jansher Khan (PAK)
1994 Peter Nicol (SCO)
1993 Rodney Eyles (AUS)
1992 No Event
1991 Rodney Martin (AUS)
1990 Jansher Khan (PAK)
1989 Rodney Martin (AUS)
1988 Jahangir Khan (PAK)
1987 Jansher Khan (PAK)
1986 Stuart Davenport (NZL)
1985 Jahangir Khan (PAK)

Previous Winners – Women
2015 Laura Massaro (ENG)
2014 Nicol David (MAS)
2013 Nicol David (MAS)
2012 Nicol David (MAS)
2011 Laura Massaro (ENG)
2010 Vanessa Atkinson (NED)
2009 Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
2008 No Event
2007 No Event
2006 No Event
2005 Natalie Grinham (AUS)
2004 Natalie Grainger (USA)
2003 Cassie Jackman (ENG)
2002 Carol Owens (NZL)
2001 No Event
2000 No Event
1999 Cassie Jackman (ENG)
1998 Michelle Martin (AUS)
1997 Cassie Jackman (ENG)
1996 No Event
1995 No Event
1994 Suzanne Horner (ENG)
1993 Cassie Jackman (ENG)

Egyptian duo Ramy Ashour and Nouran Gohar currently lead the Men’s and Women’s PSA Road to Dubai Standings, respectively, where only the top eight players will qualify for a coveted spot at the Dubai PSA World Series Finals.

World No.4 Karim Abdel Gawad sits at second place on the Men’s standings after losing out in his Hong Kong Open final clash with Ashour, while United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy bowed out at the same stage to Gohar to leave her in second on the Women’s standings.

The likes of Men’s World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, Gaultier and Women’s World No.4 Raneem El Welily all languish outside of the top eight after disappointing second round exits in Hong Kong – which means the U.S. Open represents a huge opportunity for them to claw some points back.

Tickets for the 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open are now available to buy online by visiting the event website with tickets priced from $25 – $250.