The Diamond State Open closed out the 2025 calendar year at the Wilmington Country Club, marking the midway point of the SDA season with a $40,000 men’s event that brought together previous champions, rising contenders, and one of the most vocal, energetic crowds on tour. The final featured the predicted showdown between top seeds James Stout and Scott Arnold and the second seeded duo of Zac Alexander and Chris Callis, with Alexander and Callis ultimately taking the title in what proved to be a statement win for the partnership and a landmark moment for Callis.
The event opened with a notable return: Bobby Burns, now Director of Squash at the Hotchkiss School, rejoined the tour after a few years away. Partnering with fellow Round Hill product and new SDA recruit Dana Santry, their appearance added an early spark to the draw and set the tone for a weekend full of fresh combinations.
The quarter-finals delivered some of the best drama of the event. New pairing Dave Letourneau and Jaymie Haycocks upset the fourth seeds, John Russell and Kyle Martino, with a composed 3–1 win. On the other side of the draw, Matt Jenson and Clinton Leeuw ( now playing the right) pushed third seeds Josh Hughes and Matt Henderson far harder than the 3–1 scoreline suggested. One of the standout performances came from rising talent Adham Madi, who continues to show real promise heading into 2026. Madi and partner Kush Kumar claimed the first game against Alexander and Callis and held an 8–5 lead in the third before dropping ten straight points in a heartbreaking swing that cost them the game and ultimately the match.
The final itself stretched over an hour and a half, with the third game alone lasting an astonishing 27 minutes, a testament to the patience, discipline, and tactical clarity of both teams. Alexander and Callis were exceptionally steady, a trademark for Callis. The pairs shot selection was clinical as was their ability to absorb pressure and counterattack. The victory maintained Callis’s undefeated record this season and officially elevated him to World No. 1. For Alexander, it marked a second consecutive title, coming off his win at the Sleepy Hollow Open.
For Stout and Arnold, who finished last season as the top team after a slow start, the loss will likely reignite the spark that fueled their remarkable run last year, when they captured Boston, the NAO, and the Johnson in back-to-back-to-back fashion. With the second half of the season still to come, the veteran pairing will no doubt look to build momentum and reassert their dominance.
But for now, the tour belongs to Chris Callis, the player to beat heading into 2026, and the Diamond State Open leaves us with a renewed sense of anticipation. With the season resuming after the holidays, all eyes turn next to the MFS Boston ProAm.