Sean Choi, of the Rally Report Podcast, looks at state of play in the US across players, competitions and clubs
Hurricane Start for Team USA (Top Results):
A fierce start to Team USA’s campaign caught the attention of many in the community, and some results that slid under the radar.
Notable recognition must start with the Sobhy sisters results in the season’s first two platinum events that saw them knock out the Women’s Pro Tour version of the big three (Nouran Gohar, Nour El Sherbini, Hania El Hammamy). While these past three seasons have established the three Egyptian superstars as a ‘level above,’ with their consistency and results of snatching platinum events from the rest of the field, the Sobhy sisters did not waste any time to let the Big Three know that there were chinks in the armor to be found.
Sabrina Sobhy launched her season campaign in the Platinum division at the Paris Open against one of the next-generation Egyptian players, 17-year-old Fayrouz Abouelkheir. She secured a convincing 3-0 victory, advancing to face a familiar foe, Hania El Hammamy.
Sabrina had previously defeated Hania in last season’s US Open, with the support of a home crowd. In Paris, Sabrina delivered an even more impressive performance, winning in straight sets against the world number 3. She attributed her victory to her composure, which may have been influenced by the calm and artistic atmosphere of Paris.
With her reaching a career-high ranking of 13 and being featured in her first art show, Waffles & Wine Art Show, there is much to look forward to from Sabrina.
While her younger sister stole headlines in Paris, Amanda, has been quietly making a statement this season. Her goal is to break through not only in terms of results but also in the rankings, challenging the big three. Despite a challenging draw, Amanda had a stellar start in Paris, securing two convincing victories over Nadine Shahin and Lucy Beecroft, and engaging in a thrilling 5-game match against the world number 4, Joelle King. This performance led her to the season’s first semifinal before bowing out to Nouran Gohar.
Starting the season ranked 5th in the world, Amanda continues to face tough draws in platinum events. However, she approaches her matches with determination and without complaints. At the return of the Qatar Classic on the women’s tour, Amanda seized the opportunity with two victories over Egyptians before facing Nouran Gohar again, this time in the quarterfinals.
Gohar has built a strong reputation in recent years, not only with her trophy cabinet but also as a formidable opponent seemingly immune to upsets outside the big three. Amanda, however, had different plans. She eagerly embraced the rematch and fearlessly defeated her in straight sets in just 32 minutes with her powerful and clean hitting.
Timmy Brownell has been on the move since the last season, known for his quirky flair, as pointed out by Nick Matthew, who labeled him as one of the players to watch. Ending the previous season with numerous highs has positioned Timmy favorably, making it increasingly likely for him to consistently secure spots in the platinum draws.
His campaign, although flying somewhat under the radar, started strong with a four-game victory over England’s Patrick Rooney, who is ranked 26th in the world. This early success serves as a telling sign of what’s to come for the rest of the season as he gains more confidence heading into the next platinum events.
Challenger Tour:
The Challenger Tour has served as a strong stomping ground for many upcoming USA players on both the men’s and women’s sides.
While Marina Stefanoni kicked off success for August’s notable performance, it was America’s Faraz Khan who has been making significant strides for the month of September. He reached back-to-back finals in the 20k events at the Nash Cup in Canada and immediately followed up with the Louisville Open just two days later. Faraz outperformed his seeding in both events, despite the 20k events attracting both established players and ambitious young talents aiming to climb the rankings.
Notable victories against Europeans such as Edwin Clain, Daniel Mekbib, and Bernat Jaume have put Faraz in a favorable position in both events. However, it was Faraz’s win over compatriot Timmy Brownell in the Louisville Open that was most noteworthy, as he was able to avenge his own loss in the Charlottesville Open earlier in September. With momentum building for Faraz, we hope to see him replicate his success on the Challenger Tour.
US Squash Community Tribute to David Talbott
The US Squash community was met with shock earlier this month with the sudden passing of Yale University’s former Head Coach and leader, David Talbott. He stacked up quite the reputation amongst the US Squash community, and in the college squash space with his National Championship pedigree. Beyond his championship successes with Yale, under Talbott’s guidance, ten of his players were able to capture the Senior Sportsmanship.
Members of the squash community took time to share anecdotes that showcased what made David so special. His kindness was echoed by his former players, Spencer Lovejoy and Lucy Beecroft.
Spencer Lovejoy: “As a kid who came into college obsessed with squash, Dave taught me there was so much more to life. There are so many memories and Dave was truly a second father to me. We used to have a feeding session every Friday morning. Dave would show up 15-20 mins late because he was chatting up the janitors or a friend he saw on the street. He always had time for everyone he saw, which could have been a double edged sword but was something I always thought was an amazing quality to have. When he turned up for the session we would always start off with drop, drive. The drill very quickly morphed into a pressure session where dave was spraying the ball around the court uncontrollably and I was scrambling to hit it back to him in one corner. During water breaks he’d sip his iconic trader joes lime flavored sparkling water in the liter bottle.
“When I had to get an emergency appendectomy in November of my sophomore year, Dave was the first one to meet me at the hospital before my own family could even get there (they live 15 min from campus) and spent hours with me there. In February of 2020, I received the Skillman award, named for John Skillman, the legendary Yale coach of 41 years, who compiled a 451-77 record and 16 national titles. This award is given to the college squash player who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship during his entire college career while maintaining a high level of play.
“You are the sum of the people you surround yourself with and I would not be the person I am today without Dave. He taught me countless lessons in humility, kindness, and gratitude, to only name a few. Grateful for everything Dave has done over the years and to have been included in this legacy that he built. Counting my blessings just like Dave always did religiously. I would like to dedicate this season on the professional squash tour in his honor. Love you DT”
Lucy Beecroft: Dave, I feel so lucky to have known you. From our first email and Skype call in 2014 to our last conversation a little over 2 weeks ago, you have had such an impact on my life. You were always so positive, so optimistic, everything was going to be great and you reminded me to always be grateful for the journey. It’s tough to know I won’t see or hear from you again, but the memories are so clear and I will hold onto them forever. I am so thankful you made me a part of the Yale squash family that you nurtured and loved so dearly, it is so unique and special. You will be missed so much. Love you always, DT ❤️
Houston, we have a problem (Community growth)
While US Squash has traditionally held geographical dominance in the New England area, Houston has quietly been on the rise under the leadership of Jahanzeb Khan. The Houston Squash Club has evolved into a versatile facility, serving as a hub for US junior players, hosting major US Junior Events, Challenger Events, and Platinum Events. Khan’s passion for squash and coaching is well-documented over the years, and he also has a knack for organizing significant and unique events.
Notably, the exhibition series between Pakistan and Egypt in 2016 featured quality players such as Karim Gawad and Mazen Hesham. His transition to Houston and his ability to leverage his network to attract top-quality players have been instrumental in fostering the growth of squash beyond the typical East Coast squash community.
With already significant success, it is only fitting that the recent announcement of the 2024 World Junior Championship has been awarded to US Squash and will be hosted in Houston. With individuals like Jahanzeb helping increase the global exposure of US Squash, we hope his blueprint for success can be replicated elsewhere as well.
Sean Choi is host of the Rally Report Podcast
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