Windy City Open 2024 draws large crowds, intense squash games

CHICAGO - In the world of professional squash, all eyes are on Chicago as the best male and female players from around the globe meet for the 2024 Windy City Open.

The tournament racks up millions of views online, but the real thrill comes from being there in-person.

Held at the University Club of Chicago, the eight-day tournament is one of the Professional Squash Association's (PSA) largest events of the season – second only to the PSA’s World Squash Championships.

On Opening Match Day, 32 matches were played with 78 more to go through Wednesday, Feb. 28.

"We have 48 men and women in the tournament so 96 total," said Yoni Ellous, squash director at the University Club of Chicago. "It’s a long-standing tradition."

Adding to the excitement this year, players and spectators are celebrating both the 50th anniversary of the Professional Squash Association and the 40th anniversary of the Windy City Open.

"Good competition, good fun, good rallies," said Justin Mensah, a spectator.

Making the event unlike any other is the tournament’s ‘main stage.’

"The fact that we have this glass court in Cathedral Hall makes it so special, and Chicago is great -- probably one of my favorite cities in the U.S.," said Lucas Serme, professional squash player.

In the University Club’s Cathedral Hall, a glass court was constructed over two days in preparation for the tournament.

"The difficulty is that we’re on the ninth floor of a hundred-year-old-plus building," said Ellous. "But we have an amazing team and an amazing crew, as well as the court construction crew, that every year brings the court up very carefully piece by piece."

For the players, the pieces have been coming together for years.

The sport has been a lifelong commitment for Lucas Serme, of France, who first picked up a racket at the age of seven.

"It’s great, seeing a new generation coming up. Everyone is pretty inspiring, everyone has their own style and their stories," said Serme.

Those stories will soon stand on a bigger stage, at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where squash will make its debut as an Olympic sport.

"It’s the most exciting news in years," said Ellous.

"We were hoping many years ago, Paris, London before that, never quite made it so to finally be recognized that way is huge," said Serme.

The Windy City Open is accessible to the public and tickets are available online, by clicking HERE. 

A $500,000 prize purse is up for grabs between the top male and female players.