The Will Hartigan Memorial Big Apple Open recently renamed in honor of SDA player Will Hartigan, who tragically passed away earlier this year, brought top-tier squash talent to New York City. This year’s tournament saw a dynamic lineup of top players, thrilling matches, and new pairings that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The #1 seeds, James Stout and Scott Arnold, faced a shake-up when Stout withdrew from the event. He was replaced by Ryan Cuskelly, creating a new top-seeded pairing of Cuskelly/Arnold. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the draw, World #1 Sam Khalifa partnered with Kyle Martino in the absence of his usual partner, Chris Callis, who was attending former SDA player Manek Mathur’s wedding.
In the early rounds, Cuskelly/Arnold navigated a tough opening match against Elroy Leong and Chris Sachvie before facing the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) home team of Head Pro Clinton Leeuw and assistant Jaymie Haycocks. The longstanding pair put up an impressive fight, thrilling NYAC members with a nail-biting five-game match. Leeuw and Haycocks held match ball at 2-1 in the fourth game but ultimately fell in the fifth, with the top seeds emerging victorious. However, the intense battle took its toll, and Cuskelly/Arnold were defeated by #3 seeds Zac Alexander and Jim Bamber in the semi-finals.
In the bottom half of the draw, Khalifa/Martino showcased their strength, overcoming the newly formed team of Adam Bews and Cameron Pilley in the quarterfinals. They then took on surprise semifinalists Josh Hughes and Tor Christoffersen. Hughes and Christoffersen had earned their place with an impressive win over Canadian #4 seeds Matt Henderson and Colin West, marking Christoffersen’s first semifinal appearance in a 30K event and Hughes’ second. Despite their spirited play, Hughes and Christoffersen were ultimately bested in five games by Khalifa/Martino, who advanced to the finals.
The final match brought high-stakes excitement as Khalifa/Martino squared off against Alexander/Bamber. Khalifa and Martino started strong, taking the first game, but Alexander and Bamber quickly leveled the score in the second. Martino stepped up his game in the third, helping his team pull ahead, and a solid start in the fourth saw the pair reach a 12-7 lead. However, Alexander and Bamber raised the pace, closing the gap and putting the match on a knife’s edge. Khalifa remained composed under pressure and sealed the victory with a perfectly executed straight drop from the back left corner, securing the win.
The Will Hartigan Memorial Big Apple Open delivered everything fans could hope for—a testament to the strength and camaraderie of the squash community and a thrilling reminder of why this event is so highly regarded on the SDA tour.