Naughton a headliner at Canadian Women's Open as top-flight squash returns to Toronto

Canada's Hollie Naughton was a young fan the last time a Professional Squash Association international tournament was played on an all-glass showcourt in downtown Toronto.

This time around she's one of the headliners.

Naughton, who grew up in nearby Oakville, Ont., is seeded fifth at the Canadian Women's Open starting Sunday at Brookfield Place. The field includes fellow top-20 players Salma Hany of Egypt and Americans Amanda Sobhy, Olivia Clyne and Sabrina Sobhy.

"I think anyone can beat anyone so it should be interesting," Naughton said. "I know that if I can stick to what I want to do, anything is possible. So hopefully it all comes together."

The 24-player women's tournament is a bronze-level stop on the PSA World Tour. Competition will continue through Thursday.

Naughton, who won Commonwealth Games silver last year, has fond memories from when the tour used to make regular stops in Toronto.

She met Egyptian squash great Amr Shabana — one of her idols and a fellow lefty — at the old PACE Canadian Classic in the mid-2000s. A preteen at the time, she still has a picture taken with former world No. 1 Ramy Ashour and his older brother Hisham.

"Having that experience at such a young age I think is what pushes kids to keep playing," Naughton said. "I think it was probably a big part of what helped me and pushed me to keep playing and wanting to go pro."

Toronto first hosted the YMG Capital Classic men's tournament in 2000 at Brookfield Place, a sprawling complex that's also home to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

With Canadian star Jonathon Power at the forefront, the event drew top PSA stars from the era like Peter Nicol, David Palmer and Lee Beachill. The tournament was later renamed as the Pace Canadian Classic and moved to a