Oracle NetSuite Open to Host Strongest Ever Draw in September

The 2017 Oracle NetSuite Open will host the world’s top four male players for the first time in the tournament’s history between September 26-30 when the PSA M100 and W50 tournament returns to San Francisco for its eighth instalment.   Held on a stunning all-glass showcourt on Justin Herman Plaza in the shadow of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the 2017 edition of the Oracle NetSuite Open promises to be one of the most competitive ever, with World No.1 Gregory Gaultier headlining a draw that also features four former-World No.1s in Karim Abdel Gawad, Mohamed ElShorbagy, Nick Matthew and James Willstrop.   Gaultier, the oldest World No.1 of all time, will look to draw on the form that saw him win his third NetSuite Open, the event's previous name, last year ahead of Willstrop in the final, while Matthew, a two-time runner-up, will be hoping to avoid a first round exit for the second year in succession after the three-time World Champion crashed out at the first hurdle last time out.   Defending champion Laura Massaro and eight-time World Champion Nicol David are the star names in the women’s draw, while the inclusion of British Open runner-up Sarah-Jane Perry, Emily Whitlock, Victoria Lust, Olivia Blatchford, Donna Urquhart and Salma Hany Ibrahim means that the women’s event will feature eight of the world’s top 20 players for the first time.   World No.122 Faraz Khan of the United States has been granted the wildcard position for the men’s tournament, while Ireland’s Aisling Blake - a former World No.21 - will appear in her first main draw since 2015 after being granted the wildcard spot for the women’s event.   "The Oracle NetSuite Open has been one of the premier tournaments on the PSA World Tour calendar for the last five years and we are delighted to welcome the world’s best players back to San Francisco in what looks set to be one of the most exciting and competitive editions of the tournament," said Tournament Promoter John Nimick.   "The popularity of squash continues to grow in California and we are sure that squash fans in attendance at the all-glass Oracle NetSuite Challenge court will be captivated by a world-class field next month.   "We are also delighted to bring Oracle on board as a title sponsor. Oracle are one of the leading software and technology companies in the world and we look forward to working with them during this year’s tournament."   The qualifying stages and first round of the Oracle NetSuite Open will be held at local clubs between September 24-26, with matches from the quarter-finals onwards lighting up the San Francisco waterfront between September 27-30.   Live action from the Oracle NetSuite Challenge court will be shown on SQUASHTV (Rest of World) and Eurosport Player (Europe Only), while tickets start from $20 and can be purchased at www.netsuiteopensquash.tix.com 2017 Men’s Oracle NetSuite Open - Entry List 1) Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 2) Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 3) Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) 4) Nick Matthew (ENG) 5) James Willstrop (ENG) 6) Tarek Momen (EGY) 7) Fares Dessouky (EGY) 8) Daryl Selby (ENG) 9) Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 10) Borja Golan (ESP) 11) Diego Elias (PER) Wildcard) Faraz Khan (USA)   2017 Women’s Oracle NetSuite Open - Entry List 1) Laura Massaro (ENG) 2) Nicol David (MAS) 3) Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 4) Emily Whitlock (ENG) 5) Victoria Lust (ENG) 6) Olivia Blatchford (USA) 7) Donna Urquhart (AUS) 8) Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) 9) Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) 10) Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 11) Heba El Torky (EGY) Wildcard) Aisling Blake (IRL)