Tough draws with all-star line-ups at Drexel
By SEAN REUTHE
The 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open looks set to be one of the most competitive events on the PSA World Tour this season after the official tournament draws released today (September 15) saw a host of top stars pitted against each other from the off in a mouthwatering line-up.
Philadelphia’s Drexel University will play host to the 10-day event – the second stop on the 2016-17 Road To Dubai – which gets under way on October 8 and will see defending champion Gregory Gaultier begin his campaign with a tough opening round fixture against England’s top 20 ranked Daryl Selby.
Gaultier will be relieved to see title rivals Mohamed ElShorbagy, the World No.1, and Omar Mosaad given the unenviable tasks of facing World No.11 Tarek Momen and former World No.1 James Willstrop in the first round, respectively, while former Harvard student star Ali Farag, the World No.10, faces World No.9 Mathieu Castagnet in what could be the match of the round.
The women’s tournament looks set to be equally enthralling and could see all of the world’s top eight clash at the quarter-final stage in what will surely be two highly competitive days of play to send ripples through the PSA Road To Dubai Standings.
All the action will be shown live on SQUASHTV and Eurosport Player while action from the semi-finals and finals will be shown on mainstream broadcast channels around the world, including the likes of BT Sport, Ten Sport, beIN Sport and Fox Sport Australia.
2016 U.S. Open, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA.
Women’s First Round Draw:
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [13] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[16] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [Qualifier]
[WC] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) v [8] Alison Waters (ENG)
[5] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [10] Joelle King (NZL)
[11] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Line Hansen (DEN) v [3] Nicol David (MAS)
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [14] Emily Whitlock (ENG)
[15] Victoria Lust (ENG) v Donna Urquhart (AUS)
Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) v [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[6] Camille Serme (FRA) v Delia Arnold (MAS)
Joey Chan (HKG) v [12] Annie Au (HKG)
[9] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Heba El Torky (EGY)
[Qualifier] v [2] Laura Massaro (ENG)
Men’s First Round Draw:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Tarek Momen (EGY)
Chris Simpson (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Mazen Hesham (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
[7] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [Qualifier]
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Qualifier]
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [Qualifier]
James Willstrop (ENG) v [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [WC] Christopher Gordon (USA)
Simon Rösner (GER) v [Qualifier]
Leo Au (HKG) v Fares Dessouky (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY) v [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Tom Richards (ENG)
Max Lee (HKG) v [Qualifier]
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Qualifier]
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Tickets for the 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open are now available to buy online by visiting http://www.usopensquash.com/tickets/ with tickets priced from $25 – $250. For further information on the U.S. Open go to http://www.usopensquash.com
Picture courtesy of PSA