French Open Back Again

SquashNow News Desk

The French Open, one of the great events on the international squash circuit in the 80s and early 90s, will make a welcome return this autumn. This another feather in the cap of WISPA director Andrew Shelley and the latest event on the fast-growing women's WISPA World Tour.

The French Open will be part of the WISPA Grand Prix, with a prize fund of $37,500. The event will take place from 9-15th September, with the early stages played at the Antibes Squash Club and the final stages played on an all-glass outdoor court, erected at Pinede Gould, a beachside location at the Côte D'Azur resort of Juan Les Pins.

The subject of a revived French Open was first discussed by Shelley with French Officials at the Women's World Team Championships in Sheffield in 2000 and details were firmed up in Monte Carlo last November.

The championship will be run by Ligue Paca Squash, the French squash regional association, and staged under the auspices of Federation Francaise de Squash.

"The French Open was a byword for quality and flair," commented Shelley."Following meetings with Patrick Fribourg and his team, and having seen the venue, I am absolutely certain that they will revive the championship with these same values. Certainly, the setting for television coverage will be superb," Shelley added.

At one time there was a possibility of a Men's tournament but the dates conflicted with John Nimick's US Open scheduled for Boston from 9 -15 September. Venue availability in Juan Les Pins was inflexible so the Men's tournament was abandonned.

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