US Open 2002

SquashTalk > US Open Website >Chris Walker in Boston

EventEngine Pro Squash 2002

Info
Latest US Open
2002 Reports
Draw/Results
Qualifier
Schedule
Contenders
Tickets online
Ticket info
Seating Chart

Daily Reports
Qualifying report 1
Qualifying report 2
First
Quarters
Semis
Finals

Photos
1st Round
Quarters
Semis
Finals

Background
Players
Historical results
Memorial US Open
The 2000 US Open
The 1999 USOpen

Also
Web advertise
2001 YMG Classic
2002 TOC NY

Last updated 09/18/2002

The Best US Open Yet
by Chris Walker, Sept 14 2002, Boston © 2002 SquashTalk

SQUASHTALK TODAY
World Jrs 03 Cairo
English Open 03
PanAm Games
Spanish Open
Qatar PSA & WISPA
Hyder Trophy

RECENT EVENTS
Super Series
Atlanta PSA
SLC WISPA
Kellner Doubles
Irish Open

CURRENT CONTENT
Hall of Fame
News Index
Club Links
Gear Links
E-boast Newsletter
(sign up now free)

It’s wonderful to see how far the U.S. Open has come in the last 8 years: from Brown University to the Harvard Club and now to Symphony Hall in Boston. I would have expected the organization of such an event to be quite a challenge. Tickets, prize money, corporate boxes, player demands, erection of the glass court, co-ordination of the Squash team and of course Squashbusters activities for the kids to name but a few. All the first round players even managed to get on 16 courts with over a hundred kids at the University Club the day before the event. There was also a very moving commemoration for 9-11 with an armed procession and the American Anthem sung and coming to life in the perfect setting of the Symphony Hall itself.

NIMICK
So where’s the organizer? I have seen him several times; he’s relaxing having a chat with the players or the corporate sponsors. You may even catch him having a coffee nearby with his friends and family. Not a gray hair on him, John Nimick of Event Engine, seems to have cracked it! His experience from the Tournament of Champions, the YMG Canadian Open and the past few years in Boston have given him the opportunity to run his engine most efficiently. He is probably the least stressed person involved and a valued asset to our Association the PSA (professional Squash Association).

US SQUASH BUZZ
It’s been interesting this year to have spent a lot of time on the East Coast in the run up to this event. There is a definite buzz about the game here. The kids are starting to come through at junior level and, with more exposure to the top overseas players at all levels, their goals are raised and their motivation is heightened.

There will no doubt be a challenge at the top of the professional game soon enough but the biggest challenge in my eyes is to get a core group of quality players, who have come through the U.S. junior ranks, to then get stuck in to the world circuit and gain the experience necessary to break through to the top of the world game. Squash is still mainly a route through college for a lot of the potential American world-beaters and that means that the strength of the squad gets diluted when some head for jobs in the city or other areas of business. Just when those players need each other to push to the next level they have to disperse and find the players and experience overseas. Not always the ideal option to focus initially as a new kid on the block, and obviously not afforded by every budding squash player.

Squash is growing and the juniors are getting the opportunity to see some great squash through these, and other, events across the U.S.A. This can only be good in the long run.

Enjoy the rest of the tournament,
In Squash,
Chris Walker

Chris Walker is supported on tour by Black Knight, Squash Design, and Squash Magazine