Squash players under TV microscope at US Open

Squash will be under the microscope when the US Open is streamed live for the first time on NBC’s subscription channel Peacock.

At the 2024 Tournament of Champions in New York, NBC executives were in attendance where they told PSA bosses to cut out player misbehaviour and stoppages if the sport harboured dreams to be broadcast in the US. 

US broadcaster NBC holds Olympic broadcasting rights. Subscription service Peacock is owned and operated by Comcast through its entertainment division NBCUniversal. 

The semi-final and final rounds at the US Open will be streamed for the first time on October 24 and 25.

Following the ToC, missives were sent out an updated referees directive. “Although this decision may seem strict, it’s necessary for the future success and appeal of the sport,” World Squash Officiating (WSO) said at the time.

The US Open, played at Philadelphia’s Arlen Specter US Squash Center between Oct 19 and 25, will be the first major Platinum-level championship of the season in the US on the PSA Squash Tour. A tournament record total of $452,000 in player compensation will be up for grabs.

SquashTV will also expand its broadcast production coverage, with more camera angles and new technology elevating the overall presentation.

“As squash makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028, showcasing major events like this helps build excitement and momentum ahead of the sport’s biggest stage,” said Molly Solomon, Executive Producer, NBC Olympics and Paralympics. 

Women’s World No.1 Nouran Gohar will defend the title she won against world champion Nour El Sherbini last October. World No.1 Mostafa Asal and British Open champion Diego Elias lead the competition in the men’s event in the absence of defending champion Ali Farag, the former World No.1 from Egypt, who announced his shock retirement in May of this year.

Meanwhile, US Open title sponsors Comcast have been granted naming rights to the squash venue for the sport’s debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The venue will now be called the Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios.

“With record prize money, top-class athletes, and enhanced global coverage, including live semi-finals and finals on Peacock, we’re showcasing squash at its very best to more fans than ever before,” said PSA chief executive Alex Gough.

“This is a testament to the vision of US Squash, who are committed to taking the tournament to even greater heights in the coming years as we build towards squash’s debut at LA28. In the meantime, we look forward to working with them closely in the coming months as we bring the world’s leading squash players to Philadelphia for the first major event in the United States this season.”