Gaultier and David top history-making draws in Philadelphia
...
 France's
world No2 Gregory Gaultier will be hoping to make
amends for a runner-up finish last year by winning the men's
title in the 2013 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash
Championships, while Nicol David will be aiming to
retain her women's title in the first PSA/WSA World
Series event to offer equal prize money for men and women.
The $230,000 ($115k each) championships, from 09-18
October, will make history by being the first major
event in the sport to provide equal prize money for both the
women's and men's events, with Malaysia's Nicol David aiming
to retain the title she claimed last year in Philly.
Former world No1 Gaultier heads a star-studded men's field
which includes four further world number ones.
The 2006 champion from Aix-en-Provence will take on US
wildcard Christopher Gordon in the opening round. New
York-born Gordon, ranked 45 in the world, made a significant
breakthrough in March when he won the US National title for
the first time - against expectations.
Top seed Gaultier is expected to meet English rival James
Willstrop in the final. The second seed from Harrogate
in Yorkshire has been a semi-finalist in his last three
appearances in the championships - but reached the final in
2007.
It was his England team-mate and fellow former world No1
Nick Matthew who emerged triumphant in the 2007 final.
The world No4 from Sheffield, who opens his 2013 campaign
against a qualifier, is expected to meet Willstrop in the
semi-finals. Willstrop plays fellow countryman Chris
Simpson in the first round.
Fourth seed Karim Darwish, also a former world No1,
will be hoping to maintain Egypt's stranglehold on the title
since 2009. He is supported by fifth-seeded compatriot
Mohamed Elshorbagy.
But it is Egypt's seventh seed Amr Shabana who is the
only two-time champion in the draw. A number one for 33
months in a row from April 2006, Shabana won the title in
2009 and 2011 and first reached the final in 2006.
World No35 Julian Illingworth leads US interest in
the event. The eight-time national champion from New York
faces top-ranked German Simon Rosner in the opening
round.
Strong Women's lineup
 David's
rivals for the women's title include England's Laura
Massaro, the 2011 U.S. Open Champion who beat the
Malaysian to claim the British Open title in May, and faces
American youngster Amanda Sobhy, who has just won
three WSA events in a row, in the first round.
Massaro's predicted semi-final opponent is Egypt's world
number three Raneem El Weleily, lasy year's
runner-up, while David, who opens against a qualifier, is
expected to meet Alison Waters, who beat
Massaro to claim the British National title in February, in
the semi-finals.
Ashour Absent
Men's World No1 Ramy Ashour will not be returning to
defend his title, citing personal reasons. Ashour has been
travelling nonstop promoting the sport in an effort to
secure a bid in the 2020 Olympics.
"It very much saddens me not to take part in the amazing,
prestigious U.S. Open event and not to be able to defend my
title," said the Egyptian. "I am sure the event will be a
great success as it has always been and will keep growing
with the support of the passionate sponsors and U.S.
Squash."
U.S. Squash CEO Kevin Klipstein said: "We are going
to miss having Ramy at the 2013 U.S. Open. We're proud to
have him as our 2012 champion, and the sport should be very
proud and appreciative to have our world No. 1's put so much
into the 2020 Olympic bid campaign and be willing to serve
as the face of the sport to promote squash and our chances
to be included in the Olympic Games. We look forward to
welcoming him back next year."
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Men's Draw
Women's Draw
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