The
Women's Squash Association (WSA) will be celebrating a historic
first in Los Angeles next week when the Women's L.A. Open
will feature both a WSA World Tour 10 singles championship and a
$10,000 Women's Doubles Squash Association (WDSA) event under one
roof.
The
L.A. Open, sponsored by Harrow Sports and hosted by the
Jonathan Club, will take place from 13-17 November and will feature
the top singles and doubles players from around the world, led by the
best ever American player Amanda Sobhy, who is only twenty years
of age and currently ranked 20 in the world.
Suzie
Pierrepont,
Acting WSA Tour Director and WSA Director of North America, could not be
happier to see the women's tour back in Los Angeles: "The WSA is
thrilled to be returning to L.A. and the newly renovated squash pavilion
at the Jonathan Club, whose brand new facility highlights the growth of
squash on the West Coast. It's fantastic to see the club supporting both
the women's singles and doubles tours."
Victoria Simmonds
is the event's tournament director.
"We
hope the model Victoria has developed will be used by other clubs in the
future," Pierrepont continued. "It is sure to be a great event for all
involved."
Since
inception in 2007, the WDSA has now grown for the 2013/2014 season to
nine sanctioned events throughout North America, as well as three
exhibition events and two local charity events. Narelle Krizek is
the Founder and Tour Director and expressed how proud she is of the
association with all nine tournaments being linked to local charities.
"The
WDSA is not only developing the incredible game of hardball doubles but
we're empowering women and helping those less fortunate at the same
time," said the former Australian WSA Tour player. "We're thrilled to
have the L.A. Open back on our tour calendar for this season and even
more excited to be linking the event with Angel Squash."
Angel
Squash
has been selected as the beneficiary of the 2013 L.A. Open. Angel Squash
is L.A.'s first urban youth squash program whose mission is to enrich
the children, families and schools of Los Angeles. Through engagement in
squash, Angel Squash aims to support each child realise their academic
and personal potential.
Jonathan Club
is one of the most prominent private clubs in the country with a rich
and progressive history. Founded in 1895, the Club's diverse member base
enjoys relationships and memories forged around the many opportunities
of fine dining, social events and award shows, community outreach
programs and state-of-the-art athletics and wellness facilities -
including urban and beach spa retreats and a newly renovated squash
pavilion and pro shop.
General Manager Matthew Allnatt is looking forward to hosting
such a unique event: "This Tournament showcases not only the Club's
commitment over 118 years to sports, but also an opportunity to embrace
a world class event at a world class facility. We welcome the top
players, amateurs and supporters to this showcase for the game of
Squash."
Victoria Simmonds
concluded: "With both the WSA and WDSA tours competing at the same event
for the first time in history, the L.A. Open promises to be a
spectacular display of professional women's squash and a monumental
event for squash in Southern California."
