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
LocationUnited States 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)Egypt 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

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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

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Men's finals (since 2004)

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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)

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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

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References

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  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.