Squash Australia was dealt a blow after a last minute cancelation to move the entire Australian Open indoors after poor weather blighted construction of its outdoor location for the finals in Sydney.
All matches of the 2024 City Tattersall’s Group Squash Australian Open, scheduled for Martin Place, will now be played at Sydney University.
The tournament was set for its biggest profile showcase in its 96th year with the construction of the all-glass court in Sydney’s CBD commenced last Thursday.
“The all-glass court in Martin Place was generating fantastic interest through the squash and wider community, which makes this outcome incredibly disappointing,” said Robert Donaghue, Squash Australia CEO.
“Construction was on-schedule last Friday, however the rain and wind we have experienced since then, and a forecast of high winds over the next 24-48 hours, means there is now simply not enough time to safely construct the court and complete final venue bump in.”
Fans, however, lambasted the decision. One poster on Facebook commented: “This is embarrassing for the fans, the people who travelled for the event, the players and the sport. Hope there will be some serious reflection in the leadership team at Squash Australia for this significant failure.
Donaghue had said before the event: “Being able to put the sport on centre stage in the middle of Sydney will showcase the event to the public in a way we’ve never been able to achieve in this country before.
“Squash [being] admitted into the Olympic program for 2028 is further evidence that the sport is resurging in Australia and around the world.”
It was recently reported that the sport has added nearly 40,000 new players in the last five years. Males between 25 and 34 represent the biggest demographic of squash players in Australia, with women aged between 15 and 17 following.