Seattle Sisters Making A Racket In Squash

WITH THEIR GREAT skills on the court, passion for the game, and support of their father, Shabana and Latasha Khan of Seattle are ranked in the top 30 in the world in squash.

This may sound like a familiar story line:

Two sisters, each equipped with sensational racquet skills. One is ranked No. 2 in the United States, the other No. 3. Both are among the world's top 30 players, and credit their supportive father for laying the foundation for their success.

Just don't expect Shabana and Latasha Khan to arrive with matching beads in their hair.

The factors that have made the sister combo of Venus and Serena Williams one of the biggest draws in tennis are also evident in the play of Shabana and Latasha, two Seattle residents and University of Washington grads who excel in their chosen (and lower-profile) court game, squash.

"I wouldn't mind competing for one of their purses," Shabana Khan said with a wistful laugh, noting that Serena Williams earned $750,000 while winning this year's singles title at the U.S. Open. "That must be an incredible feeling."

The 31-year-old Shabana, ranked No. 3 in the U.S. and No. 27 in the world, and her 26-year-old sister Latasha (No. 2 in the U.S., 19th in the world) are the lone American qualifiers to take part in this week's five-day Women's World Squash Championships at the downtown Seattle Athletic Club. The winner takes home $14,000 of the tournament's $70,000 purse.

Last night both U.S. players dropped first-round matches in the 32-woman main draw. Shabana fell to 14th-seeded Liz Irving of Australia, 9-2, 9-2, 9-6. Latasha, supported by a vocal hometown gathering, pushed eighth-seeded Sabine Schoene of Germany to five sets before bowing out, 9-1, 5-9, 9-3, 4-9, 9-4.

Top-ranked Michelle Martin of Australia cruised in her opening match, defeating Melanie Jans of Canada, 9-0, 9-1, 9-1. The night's only upset occurred when South Africa's Claire Nitch, seeded 13th, lost to former world junior champion Tania Bailey of England. The top-rated U.S. player, Demer Holeran, did not have enough international points to qualify for this tournament, which continues through Sunday.

Shabana acknowledges she has devoted more energy to this tournament as an organizer than a competitor. She and her brother, 36-year-old Ayub Khan, are assistant pros at the Seattle Athletic Club, serving under their father, Yusuf.

The elder Khan has been the club's head pro since 1986. Nine months ago, after hearing scheduling conflicts had abruptly left the 1999 Worlds without a home, he volunteered SAC. He then enlisted his daughter as its chief organizer.

"I don't know how she's handled it," Latasha said prior to the tournament's start. "I've only been helping out for five days and I'm already tired. I can imagine how Shabana feels."

Shabana is the fifth of Yusuf Khan's eight children, Latasha the sixth. A native of Pakistan, Khan married and moved to India, then was invited to become a teaching pro at the Seattle Tennis Club in 1968.

Shabana and Latasha sent some tremors through the squash community when they both won an assortment of national championships as teenagers. Shabana became interested in the game at age 13, Latasha at 9.

Shabana's skills earned her scholarship offers from Harvard, Yale and Princeton, but the Ivy League circuit, America's squash hotbed, emphasized a "hardball" game at the time, unlike the "softball" style that prevails today. She elected to stay close to home and attend UW, though it had no squash program.

NOTES

-- Second-round competition continues today starting at 5 p.m. Single-day tickets through tomorrow are $50; Saturday's semifinals (4 p.m.) and Sunday's finals (3:30 p.m.) are $75 per day. Multiple-day passes are also available. Proceeds benefit the Seattle-based non-profit group Cancer Lifeline.

-- This is the first world championship squash event ever played in the U.S.; Seattle hosted the U.S. Nationals in 1989 and '95.

-- Three-time defending world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald of Australia is sidelined with a knee injury. She is attending in the role of president of the Women's International Squash Players Association.