Azman & Zakaria Crowned IQUW Bermuda Open Champions
IslandStats.com
The IQUW Bermuda Open Squash Championships reached a dramatic conclusion at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club, delivering two captivating finals that had spectators on the edge of their seats.
In the Ladies Final, the top seed, Aira Azman of Malaysia, faced a formidable challenge from Egypt's second seed, Hana Moataz. However, Azman ultimately proved too strong, claiming a straight-sets 3-0 victory in just 27 minutes. The Malaysian star secured the title with scores of 12-10, 11-3, and 11-6, showcasing her dominance throughout the contest.
The Men's Final provided a stark contrast, treating fans to an epic 110-minute marathon between the top seed, Miguel Rodriguez of Columbia, and Egypt's second seed, Mohamad Zakaria. After a grueling battle, it was Zakaria who emerged victorious, coming back from 2-1 down to defeat Rodriguez 3-2.
Zakaria started slowly, losing the first set 8-11. He responded in the second, levelling the match with an 11-7 win. Rodriguez then edged ahead by taking the third set 11-6. The fourth game proved to be a monumental struggle, lasting an incredible 40 minutes, with Zakaria eventually prevailing 15-13 to force a deciding fifth set. With momentum on his side, the Egyptian second seed clinched the championship, taking the final set 11-4.
The IQUW Bermuda Open has delivered a week of high-quality squash, culminating in two memorable finals that highlighted the skill, athleticism, and determination of the top players on the PSA tour. Azman's dominant performance and Zakaria's incredible comeback will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on the Bermuda squash community.
Friday, May 02, 2025
Seeds Battle Through Thrilling Semi-Finals at Bermuda Open
Miguel Rodriguez & Karim El Hammamy
IslandStats.com
Semi-Finals night at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club delivered a quartet of captivating encounters as the top seeds in both the Ladies' and Men's draws were pushed to their limits in the IQUW Bermuda Open Squash Championships.
Sibling Showdown Sees Aira Azman Advance
The opening match saw a fascinating sibling rivalry play out as Malaysian top seed Aira Azman faced her younger sister, the fourth-seeded Aifa Azman. In a highly anticipated clash, it was the elder Azman who emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline. After Aifa took the first set 11-4, Aira demonstrated her resilience, finding her rhythm to take the subsequent sets 11-4, 11-8, and 11-6 in a 31-minute encounter.
Moataz Survives Five-Set El Rihany Test
The second Ladies Semi-Final provided a gripping spectacle as Egypt's second seed, Hana Moataz, battled through a five-set epic against her compatriot, the eighth seed Amina El Rihany. In a see-saw affair lasting 58 minutes, Moataz twice had to come from a set down before finally clinching the victory 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9).
Rodriguez Battles Back to Reach Men's Final
The Men's top seed, Miguel Rodriguez of Columbia, also had to draw on all his experience to secure his place in the final. Facing Egypt's seventh seed, Karim El Hammamy, Rodriguez fought back from a set down to claim a 3-1 victory. El Hammamy took the opener 11-8, but Rodriguez responded emphatically, taking the next three sets 11-9, 11-8, and 11-3 in a 54-minute contest.
Zakaria Edges Chotrani in Five-Game Thriller
The second Men's semi-final saw another five-set nail-biter as Egypt's second seed, Mohamad Zakaria, overcame a resilient Veer Chotrani of India. Zakaria started strong, taking the first set 11-5, but Chotrani fought back to claim the next two 11-6 and 11-8. Zakaria showed his mental fortitude, winning the fourth 11-3 to force a decider, which he eventually clinched in a marathon 73 minutes with a score of 17-15.
The thrilling semi-finals have set the stage for an exciting final day at the IQUW Bermuda Open, with the top seeds in both draws having to overcome stern challenges to reach the ultimate showdown.
Thursday, May 01, 2025
Marathon Matches, Injury, & Upset Highlight Open Quarters
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club played host to a thrilling night of quarter-final action at the IQUW Bermuda Open Squash Championships, with four of the matches going the full distance in captivating encounters. However, the evening also saw a significant withdrawal due to injury.
England's Nick Wall, who battled through a five-set thriller in the previous round against Matias Knudsen, was unfortunately forced to withdraw from his quarter-final match due to injury. This meant a direct passage to the semi-finals for India's Veer Chotrani.
In the Women's draw, top seed Aira Azman from Malaysia survived a major scare against Egypt's fifth seed Nour Heikal. After falling two sets behind, Azman showed incredible resilience to claw her way back and clinch a 3-2 victory. The 42-minute contest saw Azman win 6-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-4 in a hard-fought battle.
The second-seeded Egyptian, Hana Moataz, also had to dig deep to secure her place in the semi-finals. She faced her compatriot, the sixth seed Haya Ali, in a tight 36-minute encounter that also went the distance. Moataz eventually prevailed 3-2 with scores of 11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4.
The upsets continued in the Women's division as eighth seed Amina El Rihany of Egypt stunned her higher-ranked compatriot, the third seed Salma Eltayeb. Their 45-minute battle was a rollercoaster, eventually seeing El Rihany emerge victorious 3-2 with scores of 5-11, 11-7, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6.
The Men's draw also witnessed an upset as seventh seed Karim El Hammamy of Egypt overcame the third seed Timothy Brownell from the USA in a marathon 69-minute clash. Hammamy battled back after losing the first game convincingly to secure a 3-2 victory with scores of 3-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6.
With several seeds falling and thrilling five-set matches dominating the quarter-finals, the stage is now set for an exciting semi-final day at the IQUW Bermuda Open.
Men’s Division Quarter-Finals
07 11 11 11 Miguel Rodriguez (COL) defeated 11 08 09 08 Simon Herbert (ENG)
Five-Set Epics and an Upset Thrill Bermuda Open Crowd
IslandStats.com
Squash fans at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club were treated to another day of compelling action at the IQUW Bermuda Open Squash Championships. The second round delivered five thrilling matches that went the distance, requiring the full five sets to separate the players, and also produced one notable upset in the men's draw.
The Men's Division saw a captivating encounter between Egypt's Moustafa Elsirty and his compatriot, the sixth seed Omar Mosaad. In a gruelling 72-minute battle, Elsirty emerged victorious 3-2. The match saw momentum swing between the two Egyptians, with the scores reading 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 in favour of Elsirty, who caused the first major upset of the tournament.
England's fifth seed, Nick Wall, endured a gruelling 60-minute battle against Columbia's Matias Knudsen, ultimately emerging victorious with a 3-2 scoreline. Wall started strongly, taking the first two games 11-5 and 11-9, putting himself in a commanding position. However, Knudsen demonstrated his resilience, fighting back to claim the next two games 8-11 and 5-11, forcing a decisive fifth set. In a tense final game, both players traded points fiercely, but Wall managed to regain the momentum and hold his nerve to clinch the victory 11-9.
The Women's Division also provided its fair share of drama, with three of the four matches extending to five sets. Second seed Hana Moataz of Egypt faced a stern test from Norway's Madeleine Hylland. After 49 minutes of intense rallies, Moataz managed to secure a 3-2 victory with the scoreline reading 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8.
Another Egyptian player, the fifth seed Nour Heikal, was pushed to her limit by Barbados' Margot Prow. Their 61-minute encounter saw both players battling fiercely, but Heikal ultimately prevailed 3-2 with scores of 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5.
The final five-set thriller in the women's draw saw sixth seed Haya Ali, also from Egypt, take on India's Joshna Chinappa. In a hard-fought 56-minute match, Ali managed to edge out the win 3-2, with the scores finishing 11-8, 10-12, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8.
The second round's captivating matches have set the stage for an exciting quarter-final lineup, with upsets and tight battles highlighting the high level of competition on display at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club.
Thrilling Five-Setters Highlight Opening Day of Bermuda Open
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club was buzzing with action as the first round of the IQUW Bermuda Open Squash Championships got underway, with two captivating matches going the distance and requiring the full five sets to determine a victor.
In the Women’s Division, spectators were treated to a tense and closely fought encounter between Wai Yhann Au Yeong of Singapore and Risa Sugimoto of Japan. The match ebbed and flowed over 44 minutes, eventually seeing Au Yeong emerge victorious with a 3-2 scoreline. The Singaporean player took the initial two games 11-7, 11-6, but Sugimoto fought back with resilience, claiming the next two 6-11, 9-11 to force a deciding fifth set. In a nail-biting final game, Au Yeong held her nerve to clinch the win 12-10.
The Men’s Division also witnessed a gruelling five-set battle as Moustafa Elsirty from Egypt faced off against Jorge Gomez Dominguez from Mexico. This captivating contest stretched to 66 minutes, with both players showcasing their determination and skill. Dominguez took the opener 7-11, but Elsirty responded in the second 11-6. The Mexican regained the lead in the third 8-11, only for Elsirty to level the match once more with an 11-6 victory in the fourth. The Egyptian ultimately prevailed in the deciding fifth set, taking it 11-6 to advance to the next round.
Unfortunately for the home crowd, Bermuda’s sole competitor in the tournament, Taylor Carrick, faced a tough challenge against Veer Chotrani from India. Chotrani proved too strong on the day, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory in just 24 minutes. The Indian player won in straight games with scores of 11-5, 11-3, 11-6, ending Carrick’s participation in the opening round.
Despite Carrick’s exit, the opening day of the IQUW Bermuda Open has already delivered some thrilling squash action, with the two five-set encounters setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament ahead. Squash fans in Bermuda will be eagerly anticipating the upcoming matches as the competition intensifies.
