US Open moves to new home in 2021
By MATT COLES – Squash Mad Correspondent
US Squash and the Professional Squash Association (PSA) have announced that the 2020 U.S. Open Squash Championships, scheduled for November 14-21 in Philadelphia, has been cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision has been made to prioritise the safety of athletes, fans, staff and partners and in consideration of current local, state, and federal guidelines.
The US Open, a PSA World Tour Platinum event, will celebrate its tenth staging in Philadelphia in partnership with Drexel University at the state-of-the-art Arlen Specter US Squash Center in 2021. Building work and fitting out is set to be completed by December 2020.
Located across 33rd street from Drexel’s Daskalakis Athletic Center, where the event has been held for the past nine years, the Specter Center will showcase the world’s best squash players at the 2021 US Open on 18 singles courts, including two all-glass show courts.
US Squash President and CEO Kevin Klipstein said: “Cancelling our flagship event is of course deeply disappointing. However, the pandemic has left nothing unscathed in the world of sports and live entertainment, and it is clear that running a major international competition this fall is not prudent or possible.
“We are already making plans to welcome the squash community and the world’s best athletes for the 2021 US Open at the Specter Center, and we can’t wait to showcase this amazing facility.”
Drexel University President John Fry added: “Since 2011, US Squash’s partnership with Drexel has brought international attention to Philadelphia and made the US Open one of the world’s premiere squash events.
“We look forward to celebrating the 10th edition of our partnership on the championship in 2021 in the US Open’s new home at the Specter Center in the heart of Drexel’s campus.”
Pictures courtesy of PSA and US Squash
The COVID-19 Pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus surges whenever there is the slightest relaxation of constraints. In the Health and General communities there is an even greater appreciation of the magnitude, breadth, scope and depth of the virus and the Pandemic caused by it.
With this awareness there arrives greater success in rescuing victims, preventing reinfections and dispelling misconceptions. Already there are good candidates for vaccines that are effective and new developments in vaccine design that may be even more promising against this virus. However, in the meantime the virus continues to mutate and acquire resistance to some vaccines and so spreads globally.
This is not the time to relax – anywhere or in anyway on the planet! As painful as it is for the Squash Community we are confident that in keeping with their traditions, our Players will retain their acute sense of civic responsibility. We are confident that they will heed the results communicating its maximal levels of risk. And with it desisting from elevating the burdens on Essential Services and Health Personnel as well as responsible Citizenry.
Those who have risen to meet the challenges so magnificently since the magnitude of the threat of the Pandemic became inescapable will eventually prevail!