Julian Illingworth will be inducted into the United States Squash Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 26, 2024. The ceremony will happen at a special luncheon preceding the finals of the 2024 U.S. Open at the Peggy & Leo Pierce U.S. Squash Hall of Fame at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia. Hall of Fame Induction ceremony registration is available here.
Julian Illingworth is the most highly decorated U.S. male singles player of all-time. The Portland, OR native won the National Singles a record nine times, in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. In January 2012 he reached world No.24, setting the mark for the highest-ranked American male ever. Since 2012 no man has surpassed him.
Illingworth was a brilliant shotmaker, with a world-class backhand straight drop. He was a top junior player. He captured three national titles, the Boys Under 17s in 2000 and the Boys Under 19 in 2001 and 2002 and finished fifth at the National Singles at age sixteen. He attended Yale and played No.1 on the Eli squad his entire four years and was a four-time All American.
As a pro, Illingworth captured twelve PSA titles. He beat top-ten players like Alex Gough and Hisham Ashour. He pulled off electrifying wins like when he toppled Dan Jenson 12-10 in the fifth in the first round at the 2007 Tournament of Champions in Grand Central Terminal and when he overcame Mohamed ElShorbagy on his home court in England in the qualifiers for the 2008 Saudi International, just a few days before ElShorbagy reached the quarters of the World Open. Illingworth was on Team USA at the World Teams in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 and at the Pan Am Games in 2007 and 2011, earning a silver and a bronze medal in 2011.
“Julian’s record speaks for itself – unmatched by any U.S. male,” said Kevin Klipstein, US Squash President & CEO. “True to all great professionals, for a full decade he made what is immensely difficult look easy, natural, even whimsical at times. Julian’s talent and athleticism made him stand out from his peers and set the bar extremely high for the next generation of players.”
