Lessons from the US Open

By Brett Erasmus

Picture this early-fall scene: an all-glass court, surrounded by stadium seating overlooking Lake Michigan. Chicago got the treat of five days of world-class squash this September when the Professional Squash Association put the US Open on full display in front of the city.

Rising to the top of a draw of 16 was hot talent Ramy Ashour and his fellow Egyptian and longtime world champ Amr Shabana. It was a thrilling finals match; these guys are two of the finest shot-makers from a country that produces nothing but shot-makers, and in this game their abilities were on full display.

Shabana went up 2-0, after which Ashour made an incredible comeback to equalize at 2-2. Shabana took an early lead in the fifth, but at 5-9 down, Ashour dug deep and won the next two points. At 7-9 down in the fifth, Ashour played a drop that hit the tin but was called good. Ashour turned and conceded that the shot was, in fact, down – a gesture that all but handed his opponent the US Open title and the lion’s share of the tournaments’ total $52,500 purse.

Ashour is a great player and as the current world champion at 21 years he is mature beyond his years. In fact, current world number one Karim Darwish recently said of Ashour “When he is on, no one can touch him.” Isn’t it great that the world number one can admit that he respects the talent of this younger opponent? And is it not even better that a young man has such confidence that, even on the ultimate stage, he displays such incredible sportsmanship?

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-Brett