Gordon Anderson began playing squash in 1961 at the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club and became a franchise player of their junior program there, winning the Ontario Junior Championship, reaching the final of the 1968 US Junior Championship and representing Canada at the 1971 I.S.R.F. World Team Championship in New Zealand. In 1973, Gordon won the Canadian Singles and Doubles Championships, reached the final of the U.S. Men’s Singles Championship and the following year repeated those singles results as well as winning the inaugural Canadian Softball Championship.
He turned professional in 1975 and in the following decade won the 1975 Mexican Open Singles, the 1986 World Doubles and reached the final of the 1979 North American Open Singles. Gordon played with the rare combination of determination, humour and an unwavering respect for his opponent and the referee which made him one of the most popular players on the North American Hardball Tour. No one left the gallery during his matches, his crushing forehand and signature double-boasts at odds-defying moments kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
As a Masters player Gordon has won 23 Canadian, U.S. and World Doubles titles.
Beyond competition, Gordon had a hand in growing the sport. In the late 1970’s and 80’s he co-owned and operated the Bay Street Racquet Club and Squash Academy in Toronto before moving to Buffalo in 1987, starting a new career, building over 2,000 squash courts across North America. Anderson Courts made the rapid transition from North American hardball squash to the international game in the U.S. possible.
Gordon was inducted into the Ontario Squash Hall of Fame in 2013 and Squash Magazine named Gordon as one of the “50 Most Intriguing, Interesting and Influential People” in squash in 2015.
Gordon Anderson began playing squash in 1961 at the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club and became a franchise player of their junior program there, winning the Ontario Junior Championship, reaching the final of the 1968 US Junior Championship and representing Canada at the 1971 I.S.R.F. World Team Championship in New Zealand. In 1973, Gordon won the Canadian Singles and Doubles Championships, reached the final of the U.S. Men’s Singles Championship and the following year repeated those singles results as well as winning the inaugural Canadian Softball Championship.
