- With the US Open and Fashion Week in the rearview and back-to-school in full swing, PALMER catches up with two standout parents: Palm Beach dad Peter Spizzirri and co-parent Amory Armstrong. Their 23-year-old twins keep the calendar sprinting: while Eliot Spizzirri, a former University of Texas tennis standout, celebrated a first-round win at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, his brother, Nick Spizzirri, a former University of Pennsylvania squash star, was in Rio de Janeiro winning the gold with Team USA at the Pan American Championships. “It was one thing running from match to match when they were younger, growing up in Greenwich,” says Armstrong, daughter of the late Tom Armstrong, director of the Whitney Museum of American Art. “It’s not so easy getting from a match in New York to another in Brazil. Unfortunately, I had to miss one of them.”
Eliot Spizzirri competing in the 2025 US Open in August. Photo: CK Schott.
But, there will be more. During the US Open, Eliot was asked to hit with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic; afterward, “The Goat” pulled him aside: “You’ve got what it takes to be a top player, but if you want to get into the Top 10, you’ve got to be meticulous about your health and fitness.” This week, Eliot heads to China to continue on the ATP Tour, while Nick is eyeing a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its debut. It’s an exciting moment for these two young American hopefuls.
Nick Spizzirri competing in the PSA World Championship in May 2025. Photo via Instagram.
PALMER chatted with both Spizzirri and Armstrong about co-parenting two of the hottest young athletes on the American sports scene.
Where did your sons go to highschool? College?
Eliot went to private school and then completed an online program while traveling to Grand Slam Junior tournaments with his coach Patrick Hirscht. He was then recruited by UT (University of Texas), where he was named 2023 ITA National Player of the Year.
Nick went to Brunswick and graduated magna cum laude from Wharton undergrad program at Penn (University of Pennsylvania).
What sports did the boys play growing up?
“They played flag football and soccer, which I coached them both in,” says Peter. “They also played tennis, squash, and golf and often faced one another in local club championships.”
What was it like when they played each other in a match?
Disastrous, tears every time.
How did they become such great players? Did you have to push them or were they self-motivated?
They are twins and always sparring, so they pushed each other every day
How did they decide on tennis and squash?
When they were about 8 or 9, Nick tried squash. He loved our assistant pro and 18 months later he was ranked #1 in the country.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
Not likely. At 17, they were both ranked #1 nationally and had all the top schools recruiting them.
Are they close? What do they do when they are not playing racquet sports? Are they interested in Art or Literature?
Best friends, have always been. They both graduated top of their respective business undergrad programs. If you go to UTs tennis website, you can see what Eliot accomplished. Most decorated player in school’s history.
What do they like to do when they come to Palm Beach?
They are both avid golfers and very good. They were fortunate to have had great instruction growing up at Round Hill. (The Round Hill Club in Greenwich, CT).
How are they similar? How are they different?
“They are complete opposites, but both are academic,” says Peter.
“While one leaves their room a mess, the other neatly folds his laundry,” Amory adds.
What was it like for you to have one son playing the US Open and the other participating in the Pan Am Games?
Surreal.
