Big guns head for Philadelphia as US Open parades world’s best
By Squash Mad Reporter
The 2015 Delaware Investments U.S Open looks certain to be one of the toughest and most enthralling World Series events ever seen on the PSA World Tour with a plethora of world class stars, including eight current and former World No.1s, set to descend on Philadelphia’s Drexel University from October 10 – October 17.
The top eight ranked players on both the men’s and women’s tours will be on show in what is a truly stellar field, that also includes five World Champions, with the likes of Egyptian World No.1s Mohamed Elshorbagy and Raneem El Welily leading the cast and holding the number one seedings and favourite tags.
Elshorbagy will be aiming to retain the title he won in 2014, a victory that elevated him to No.1 for the first time in his career, but will face a difficult task with the likes of three-time World Champion Nick Matthew, winner of 30 PSA title Gregory Gaultier and the enigmatic 2014 World Champion Ramy Ashour amongst the challengers.
Ashour, who beat Elshorbagy 3-2 to seal the 2014 World crown in dramatic fashion, will be making his first appearance at the US Open since winning the title in 2012 and he’ll be aiming to pick up where he left off in what makes for a mouth-watering competition.
In the women’s draw El Welily’s toughest challenge is likely to come from the player she dethroned atop the world rankings, Nicol David – the 2014 US Open champion – who will be hoping to reclaim her ranking and retain her title.
2013 World Champion Laura Massaro and 2014 British Open champion Camille Serme will be other standout names to watch along with World Junior champion Nouran Gohar and American starlets Amanda and Sabrina Sobhy – a duo with the potential to stun the best on their day.
The action gets underway on Saturday October 10 with every match being played inside the walls of Philadelphia’s Drexel University with tickets priced from $19 and available to purchase via: http://www.usopensquash.com/ticket-overview/
Men’s Entry List (Seed, Name, Nationality, Ranking)
1) Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) [1]
2) Nick Matthew (ENG) [2]
3) Gregory Gaultier (FRA) [3]
4) Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) [4]
5) Ramy Ashour (EGY) [5]
6) Omar Mosaad (EGY) [6]
7) Simon Rösner (GER) [7]
8) Peter Barker (ENG) [8]
9) Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) [9]
10) Tarek Momen (EGY) [10]
11) Stephen Coppinger (RSA) [14]
12) Saurav Ghosal (IND) [15]
13) Cameron Pilley (AUS) [16]
14) Daryl Selby (ENG) [17]
15) Max Lee (HKG) [18]
16) Mazen Hesham (EGY) [20]
17) Fares Dessouki (EGY) [21]
18) Chris Simpson (ENG) [22]
19) Alister Walker (BOT) [23]
20) Tom Richards (ENG) [24]
21) Cesar Salazar (MEX) [25]
22) Adrian Waller (ENG) [26]
23) Nicolas Mueller (SUI) [27]
WC) Christopher Gordon (USA) [59]
Women’s – Entry List
1) Raneem El Welily (EGY) [1]
2) Nicol David (MAS) [2]
3) Camille Serme (FRA) [3]
4) Alison Waters (ENG) [4]
5) Laura Massaro (ENG) [5]
6) Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) [6]
7) Nour El Sherbini (EGY) [7]
8) Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [8]
9) Annie Au (HKG) [10]
10) Emma Beddoes (ENG) [11]
11) Delia Arnold (MAS) [12]
12) Nouran Gohar (EGY) [13]
13) Rachael Grinham (AUS) [14]
14) Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [15]
15) Jenny Duncalf (ENG) [16]
16) Dipika Pallikal (IND) [17]
17) Emilay Whitlock (ENG) [18]
18) Amanda Sobhy (USA) [19]
19) Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) [20]
20) Victoria Lust (ENG) [21]
21) Heba El Torky (EGY) [22]
22) Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) [23]
23) Joshana Chinappa (IND) [24]
WC) Sabrina Sobhy (USA) [49]