The North American Open is an annual international professional squash tournament. Started in 1966, this tournament was one of the most prestigious professional squash events behind the British Open and the World Open.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
After switching to a softball format in 1995, the North American Open halted in 1996, ending a thirty-year run of annual play. 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) Year Champion Runner-up Score in final City 2013 Ramy Ashour Nick Matthew 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7 Richmond 2012 James Willstrop Ramy Ashour 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 Richmond 2011 Nick Matthew Ramy Ashour 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6 Richmond 2010 Nick Matthew Ramy Ashour 11-9, 16-14, 5-4 retired Richmond 2009 Ramy Ashour Nick Matthew 11-8, 13-11, 10-12, 5-11, 11-8 Richmond 2008 James Willstrop Grégory Gaultier 11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4 Richmond 2007 Anthony Ricketts Lee Beachill 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 Richmond 2006 John White Adrian Grant 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 San Francisco 2005 Shahid Zaman Bradley Ball 11-5, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9 San Francisco 2004 Rodney Durbach Jan Koukal 15-8, 15-10, 15-11 San Francisco
Men's champions (1966–1995) Year Champion Runner-up City 1995 Rodney Eyles Denver 1994 Marcos Mendez Detroit 1993 Gary Waite Detroit 1992 Mark Talbott Detroit 1991 Mark Talbott Detroit 1990 John Nimick Toledo 1989 Mark Talbott Toledo 1988 John Nimick Toledo 1987 Edward C.P. Edwards Toledo 1986 Mark Talbott Minneapolis 1985 Jahangir Khan New York 1984 Jahangir Khan Mark Talbott New York 1983 Mark Talbott John Nimick Cleveland 1982 Michael Desaulniers Sharif Khan Cleveland 1981 Sharif Khan Aziz Khan Toronto 1980 Sharif Khan Michael Desaulniers Salt Lake City 1979 Sharif Khan Gordon Anderson New York 1978 Sharif Khan Clive Caldwell Toronto 1977 Sharif Khan Geoff Hunt Philadelphia 1976 Sharif Khan Victor Niederhoffer New York 1975 Victor Niederhoffer Sharif Khan Mexico City 1974 Sharif Khan Rainer Ratinac Toronto 1973 Sharif Khan Mo Khan Pittsburgh 1972 Sharif Khan Victor Niederhoffer Louisville 1971 Sharif Khan Ken Binns Toronto 1970 Sharif Khan Mo Khan Chicago 1969 Sharif Khan Mo Khan Cincinnati 1968 Mo Khan Sharif Khan Indianapolis 1967 Ralph E. Howe Sam Howe Montreal 1966 Mo Khan Victor Niederhoffer Detroit
See also United States Open (squash)
References