Massaro, David, Sobhy, El Tayeb Headline Most Lucrative Women's NetSuite Open by Nathan Clarke
photos squashpics.com
August 11, 2016
- Eight-time World Champion Nicol David and 2013 World Champion Laura
Massaro will be the star attractions at the 2016 NetSuite Open when the
tournament, which has doubled prize money year-on-year, gets underway
in front of San Francisco's Oakland Bay bridge and Ferry Terminal on
Tuesday September 27.
David and Massaro, two of the most successful female players of all
time, will be joined by the likes of New Zealand's Commonwealth Games
Medalist Joelle King and home favourite Amanda Sobhy, the Boston-based
21-year-old Harvard-gradute and defending champion ranked No.8 in the
world, at the event which takes place in a specially constructed
outdoor arena on Justin Herman Plaza.
Massaro, who held the World No.1 ranking from January to April this
year, will face American number two Olivia Blatchford in the first
round while David, who topped the World Rankings for an unprecedented
nine years from 2006-2015, will open her campaign against local
wildcard Reyna Pacheco - a Mexican immigrant who discovered the sport
via an Urban Squash programme in San Diego.
"Having committed to doubling the prize money available at this year's
Women's tournament we are pleased to see that some of the biggest names
in women's squash will make their debuts in San Francisco next month,"
said Tournament promoter John Nimick.
"The likes of Nicol David and Laura Massaro are up there with the most
successful female players of all time and have lit up squash courts all
over the world with their exploits. Their presence at the tournament
will serve to help inspire everyone involved in the local squash
community.
"With seven of the world's top 20 players in action I believe we’re in for a special tournament in September."
A total of 28 players from 14 countries will compete across the
tournament, with qualification starting on Sunday September 25 at the
Olympic Club and the Bay Club San Francisco.
2016 NetSuite Open - Women's First Round Draw
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Olivia Blatchford (USA)
[Qualifier] v [5] Victoria Lust (ENG)
[8] Heba El Torky (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Line Hansen (DEN) v [4] Joelle King (NZL)
[3] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [Qualifier]
Coline Aumard (FRA) v [7] Joey Chan (HKG)
[6] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [Qualifier]
[WC] Reyna Pacheco (USA) v [2] Nicol David (MAS)
Tickets for the 2016 NetSuite Open are priced from $20 and can be purchased by visiting http://netsuiteopensquash.tix.com
