They have played in some of the world's most spectacular locations, from the Egyptian pyramids to New York's Grand Central station.
Now, beneath the swaying palm trees overlooking the crashing surf of Bermuda's south shore, the best squash players on the planet will do battle for the title of world champion.
The stage is set at the Fairmont Southampton. And the breathtaking venue - a purpose built 1,400 seat stadium under a glass roof at Turtle Hill - threatens to steal the limelight from the athletes who will grace its glass court over the next week.
Defending World Champion David Palmer, a some-time resident in Bermuda, was awe-struck as he surveyed the auditorium yesterday afternoon.
"I thought the stadium would be good but I didn't think it would be anything like this.
"It's going to be a great seven or eight days and it would be nice to be here next Saturday in-front of a full house for the final."
Thierry Lincou, the 2004 champion, was similarly impressed.
"Its just amazing. It's absolutely idyllic. When you think of the amount of people that can fit in here. It's going to be some atmosphere."
For Lincou and Palmer this is their fourth year playing on the island. They were in on the ground floor of the ambitious 'Bermuda project', which started with an eight-player exhibition tournament in 2003 and culminates this week with the biggest event in the sport - the $175,000 World Open.
So how has a country of Bermuda's size, where squash is still viewed as something of a fringe sport, managed to pull off a deal to host it's biggest tournament.
Bermuda's director of squash Ross Triffitt said the temporary stadium had taken just three weeks to erect, but the tournament had been three years in the making.
An estimated $2 million has been spent to put on the event, though it is ultimately expected, through sponsorship and gate receipts, to turn a profit.
It will be broadcast to a potential television audience of two billion with the key markets of Egypt and the Asian sub continent, where the sport thrives, expected to lap up the coverage.
Triffitt, who is expecting a sell-out crowd for the opening night, semi-final and final at least, said the professional set up at the Bermuda squash association and the exotic location of Bermuda where the key ingredients in securing the deal for the World Open and the two PSA Masters tournaments which preceded it.
"At the Masters, the international camera crews were talking about how beautiful Bermuda was and how it was a shame that we had to hold it in a school gym.
"The venue we had was fantastic but it was not really Bermuda. It could have been anywhere in the world.
"By doing an outdoor event with a glass court and South Shore in the background - that's what Bermuda is all about. The event is built around the location.
"It's a portable sport. They have been able to set up in some amazing locations and this is another one."
Unlike the PGA Grand Slam of Golf held here in October, the event is organized and run by a local team - testament, says Triffitt, to the enthusiasm of the squash community and the desire of everyone connected with Bermuda to host an international event.
"There's a great sense of community in Bermuda. People love the fact that we are hosting a world event. Everyone's working together to show Bermuda off."
And he is convinced that the squash will live up to the grandeur of the location.
"From the quarter-finals right through to the finals it's going to be extremely competitive. With the calibre of players we have here you are going to see great squash throughout the week."
