Photo credits:
Suzanne Camarata photography 2002
Nicol and Power set to
resume rivalry in Boston ...
Nicol v Power - the full head-to-head
To order tickets,
call toll free 877.524.5685
Tickets start at just $15 each
Sessions will be played:
Thursday, September 12 from 6:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. for the First Round;
Friday, September 13 from 6:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. for the Quarterfinals;
Saturday, September 14 from 7:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. for the Semifinals; and
Sunday, September 15 from 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. for the Exhibition & Finals.
Each session (four matches per session for the first round and quarter finals; two for the semifinals and one for the final, which will also feature an exciting exhibition by the eliminated players) will be played on the floor of Symphony Hall in a state-of-the-art 32'x21' four-walled, portable glass court.
For player visibility and focus, the court is designed with one-way viewing and features baked in ceramic color dots, a system similar to "wraps" seen on many of Boston's MBTA buses.
Slice 'n Dice ...
As an entree to the main event several top squash players
plus Golfer Brad Faxon and celebrity chef Ming Tsai will feature in an
exhibition on Wed 28th August.
SQUASH RACKETS NOT BATONS
will be raised during the first-ever sporting event to be held at Boston's
world-renowned Symphony Hall.
First ranked and 2001 U.S. Open defending champion, Peter Nicol of England (left) and second ranked, 2000 U.S. Open champion, Jonathon Power of Canada (right) are seeded to meet in the final on Sunday 15th September. Nicol moved 16-15 ahead in their series in the Hong Kong Open final on 1st Sep.
John Nimick, president of EventEngine, producers of the
tournament, quips, "Not surprisingly, the sound of sneakers squeaking on a
court floor has been likened to music before - but the Pops needn't fear, I
think their home at Symphony Hall is secure!"
Top world-ranked players competing in the 2002 U.S. Open include: Nicol and
Power, as well as David Palmer, ranked 3rd, and Stewart Boswell, 5th, both
of Australia; France's Thierry Lincou, ranked 4th; John White, 6th, and
Martin Heath, 9th, of Scotland; Mark Chaloner, Lee Beachill and Chris Walker
of England, ranked 7th, 10th and 12.
And don't count out England's Simon Parke, 1999's U.S.
Open champ who currently ranks 44th and is still battling back from injury,
as a possible contenders for this year's title.
This "top 10" Professional Squash Association-sanctioned event is the U.S.
national championship for world-ranking men's competition. It is the seventh
largest event on the International Pro Tour and features a purse totalling
$60,000.
Nimick explains, "The court will be surrounded by 550
custom built arena seats and up to 800 additional first and second balcony
seats are available in Symphony Hall. With ticket prices starting at just
$15, families are encouraged to join us for an evening of professional
squash and a great chance to see Symphony Hall in a whole new light!"
Cheryl Lopes, director of event services for the BSO points out, "John [Nimick]
first approached us with this idea quite some time ago. We considered what
would best complement our most popular tenants, the Boston Symphony
Orchestra and the Boston Pops, and determined that the U.S. Open Squash
Championship was the ideal sporting event to christen Symphony Hall."