North American Open

The North American Open is an annual international professional squash tournament. Started in 1966, this tournament was one of the most prestigious professional events behind the British Open and the World Open.

North American Open
Details
Event nameNorth American Open
Location Richmond, Virginia United States
VenueWestwood Club
Website
naosquash.com
Men's PSA World Tour
CategoryWorld Series Gold
Prize money$115,000
Most recent champion(s) Ramy Ashour
CurrentNorth American Open 2013

The 2014 North American Open is looking to move to Washington D.C. and would use George Washington University as the tournament’s backdrop. The 2014 event looks to add a women’s draw to the historic event. Additionally it hopes to provide equal prize money for both men and women, becoming one of two major professional squash events to do so.

History

The North American Open is a key tournament in the history of squash in the United States and was home to many of the sport’s watershed moments.[1]

The 1967 final of the North American Open saw two brothers face off as Sam and Ralph Howe took the court. The match stretched into a five-game battle with the younger brother, Ralph, coming out on top, taking the last game 15-13.[2]

American Victor Niederhoffer captured the classic 1975 final with his four-game victory over the six-time North American Open champions, Sharif Khan. Niederhoffer is the last amateur to have won the North American Open title.[3]

In 1982, Canadian squash sensation Mike Desaulniers topped Sharif Khan in the final securing the North American Open title and the No. 1 ranking on the North American hardball tour, ending Khan’s unprecedented thirteen-year reign at No.1.[4]

The quarterfinal of the 1985 North American Open is arguably one of the best squash matches ever played, as American Tom Page took on the legendary Jahangir Khan at New York City’s Town Hall. Page took an early 2-1 lead against the world’s best squash player, eventually going down in five games.[5]

After switching to a softball format in 1995, the North American Open halted in 1996, ending a thirty-year run of annual play.[6] The tournament was resumed again in 2006 in San Francisco, where it was hosted for two years. The North American Open was then held in Richmond, Virginia from 2009-2013.

Past Results

Men's finals (since 2004)
YearChampionRunner-upScore in finalCity
2013 Ramy Ashour Nick Matthew11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7Richmond
2012 James Willstrop Ramy Ashour11-7, 11-8, 11-7Richmond
2011 Nick Matthew Ramy Ashour11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6Richmond
2010 Nick Matthew Ramy Ashour11-9, 16-14, 5-4 retiredRichmond
2009 Ramy Ashour Nick Matthew11-8, 13-11, 10-12, 5-11, 11-8Richmond
2008 James Willstrop Grégory Gaultier11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4Richmond
2007 Anthony Ricketts Lee Beachill11-8, 11-7, 12-10Richmond
2006 John White Adrian Grant11-9, 11-6, 11-9San Francisco
2005 Shahid Zaman Bradley Ball11-5, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9San Francisco
2004 Rodney Durbach Jan Koukal15-8, 15-10, 15-11San Francisco

Men's champions (before 1995)
YearChampionCity
1995Rodney EylesDenver
1994Marcos MendezDetroit
1993Gary WaiteDetroit
1992Mark TalbottDetroit
1991Mark TalbottDetroit
1990John NimickToledo
1989Mark TalbottToledo
1988John NimickToledo
1987Edward C.P. EdwardsToledo
1986Mark TalbottMinneapolis
1985Jahangir KhanNew York
1984Jahangir KhanNew York
1983Mark TalbottCleveland
1982Michael DesaulniersCleveland
1981Sharif KhanToronto
1980Sharif KhanSalt Lake City
1979Sharif KhanNew York
1978Sharif KhanToronto
1977Sharif KhanPhiladelphia
1976Sharif KhanNew York
1975Victor NiederhofferMexico City
1974Sharif KhanToronto
1973Sharif KhanPittsburgh
1972Sharif KhanLouisville
1971Sharif KhanToronto
1970Sharif KhanChicago
1969Sharif KhanCincinnati
1968Mohibullah KhanIndianapolis
1967Ralph E. HoweMontreal
1966Mohibullah KhanDetroit
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References
  1. Zug, James (2003). Squash: A History of the Game. New York: Schribner. p. 134. ISBN 0-7432-2990-8.
  2. Zug, James (2003). Squash: A History of the Game. New York: Scribner. p. 104. ISBN 0-7432-2990-8.
  3. Zug, James (2003). Squash: A History of the Game. New York: Scribner. p. 135. ISBN 0-7432-2990-8.
  4. Zug, James (2003). Squash: A History of the Game. New York: Scribner. pp. 205–206. ISBN 0-7432-2990-8.
  5. Zug, James (2003). Squash: A History of the Game. New York: Scribner. pp. 214–215. ISBN 0-7432-2990-8.
  6. Zug, James (2003). Squash: A History of the Game. New York: Scribner. pp. 275–276. ISBN 0-7432-2990-8.
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