The Hong Kong Squash Open will use the city’s outdoor colour when the November event takes place. The 2024 tournament will be played beside the harbour on an outdoor court alongside the traditional home at Hong Kong Squash Centre.
West Kowloon Cultural District will be host to the 35th edition of the US$380,000 event on a glass court outside the Xiqu Centre between Nov 27 – Dec 3. The Hong Kong Squash Centre will stage the action prior to the semi-finals, with the final two days of the tournament moving over to the show court situated at Hong Kong’s picturesque Cultural Plaza.
“Squash in outdoor courts is an entirely different experience for both the fans and the players,” top Hong Kong player Tong Tsz-wing told South China Morning Post. “It is appealing to squash lovers as well as passers-by.
“It’s a different test but at the same time an interesting place for the players. Hosting the event in different locations can promote various spots of the city.”
Mostafa Asal and Hania El Hammamy will return to defend their titles at the TTI Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open.
In the men’s event, Ali Farag leads the way as the No.1 seed after a strong start to the season that has already seen him scoop the Paris Squash and Qatar Classic Platinum titles.
The Egyptian will play either Aly Abou Eleinen or Shahjahan Khan in the second round, before potential matches against Miguel Rodriguez, Mazen Hesham, and Asal if the event goes to seedings.
In the women’s draw, World No.1 Nour El Sherbini will look to continue her imperious start to the season, which has already seen her claim the Platinum-level Paris Squash and U.S. Open titles.
The Egyptian is set to play one of Mariam Metwally or Fayrouz Aboelkheir in the second round, while also finding herself in the same quarter as No.6 seed Nele Gilis.
World No.2 Nouran Gohar is set to return to Platinum action in Hong Kong after missing out on the US Open due to injury, with the Egyptian taking on America’s Sabrina Sobhy in the second round after both players received a first-round bye.
El Hammamy, who defeated El Sherbini in 89 minutes of gripping squash to capture the 2022 Hong Kong Open title, starts this year’s event as the No.3 seed, and will commence her defence against one of Sana Ibrahim or Tsz-Wing Tong. The Egyptian is seeded to play World No.9 Olivia Fiechter in the quarter-finals and Gohar in the last four.
There is plenty of Hong Kong representation across both draws, with World No.28 Tomato Ho, Ka Yi Lee, Tsz-Wing Tong as well as wildcards Chan Sin Yuk, and Cheng Nga Ching all competing for honours in the women’s event.
Meanwhile, World No.47 Tsz Kwan Lau, and wildcards Tang Ming Hong and Henry Leung will be looking to draw upon their home support in the men’s event.