Welcome to the 20th annual Rochester Pro-Am Squash Tournament, presented by the Rochester Squash Racquets Association. A $6K Challenger event on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) world tour calendar, the Rochester ProAm will boast a 16 man qualifying draw and a 16 man main draw. In the past we have had players rated from No. 68 to No. 200 in the world hailing from USA, Australia, Egypt, Pakistan, Canada, Colombia, Austria, South Africa, Mexico, Botswana, Zambia, Japan, Argentina, Wales, England, France, Switzerland, Finland, New Zealand and Brazil.
Past Rochester Pro events: 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
Past SquashSite features: 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
Past coverage on SquashTalk: 2008, 2004
Past Rochester ProAm champions:
2020 & 2021 – NO TOURNAMENT (Covid)
2019 – Mario Yanez Tapia (MEX)
2018 – Mario Yanez Tapia (MEX)
2017 – NO TOURNAMENT 🙁
2016 – Martin Knight (NZL)
2015 – Eric Galvez (MEX)
2014 – Zac Alexander (AUS)
2013 – Lucas Serme (FRA)
2012 – Ali Farag (EGY)
2011 – Alfredo Avila (MEX)
2010 – Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
2009 – Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
2008 – Ahmed Maged Hamza (EGY)
2007 – Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX)
2006 – Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
2005 – Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND)
2004 – Karim Yehia (EGY)
2003 – Rafael F. Alarcon (BRA)
2002 – Shawn Delierre (CAN)
A little history about the event from Eric Hernady (in 2006):
Our event started six years ago when I met John Power at his camp at Dartmouth College. He was coordinating the North American PSA circuit, and tried to convince me to start a tournament of my own with his help. I was very enthusiastic about bringing pro squash to Rochester which had seen a tournament like that in many years. The following year (2002) I along with John’s help had our first challenger event with a 13-man draw. The players were predominantly US-based teaching and touring pros ranging from #120-#300 in the world.
Each of the first three years we had an amateur event along with the PSA tournament. After the third year we elevated the tournament to full PSA Tour status by hosting a satelliteevent sans the amateur component.
Last year we had a full qualifying draw and main draw with a total of 28 players ranging from #70-#250 in the world. This year’s event will have 15 countries represented and players now make the trip from many parts of the globe.
The tournament has become a springboard for a number of players to reach higher rankings and higher status tournaments. Our past champions include Shawn DeLierre, Rafael F. Alarcon, Karim Yehia, and last year Ritwik Bhattacharya. Although I had originally envisioned US-born players using this event as a way to earn points closer to home, I still consider our event successful. That original goal may in fact be realized in the coming years with the recent successes of young American players like Christopher Gordon and Julian Illingworth and our strong finish in the Pan Am games.
The unexpected reward has been meeting and watching so many incredible athletes from around the world. They are enthusiastic, interesting young players that are respectful and a joy to have here in our city. I hope the word continues to spread about the hospitality of Rochester and its squash community.
