[2] David Bernet (Sui) 3-2 [1] Toufik Mekhalfi (Fra) 3-2 9-11, 16-14, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7 (99m)
Jana Swaify (Egy) 3-2 Menna Walid (Egy) 2-11, 14-12, 4-11, 13-11, 11-7 (49m)
David Bernet beats top seed to retain the men’s title as Swaify wins unseeded all-Egyptian women’s final …
Photos by Walter Kupfer
Swaify wins all-Egyptian women’s final
It was an all-Egyptian showdown in the women’s final of the Bern Squash Open 2025, a PSA Challenger 12 event, with both Menna Walid and Jana Swaify reaching the title match as unseeded players after impressive runs through the draw.
Walid produced one of the tournament’s standout performances earlier in the week, defeating the No. 2 seed in the second round before knocking out last year’s champion, Nour Megahed, in the quarterfinals. Swaify, meanwhile, showed her own consistency and composure, eliminating the top seed and dropping just two games on her way to the final.
The final began at a blistering pace. Walid came out firing, dictating play with fast, attacking squash and raced to a 6–0 lead, closing out the first game 11–2 in dominant fashion.
Swaify regrouped in the second, starting strongly and taking an early 3–0 advantage. The rallies grew longer and more tactical as both players settled in. Walid had three game balls, but Swaify saved them all and edged the game 14–12, leveling the match at one game apiece.
In the third, Walid reasserted her dominance, quickly building a 7–1 lead with aggressive shot-making. Though Swaify clawed back a few points, Walid remained composed to take the game 11–4 and regain control of the match.
The fourth game turned into a thriller. Walid led for most of the way and even held match balls, but a determined Swaify refused to give in. Showing tremendous grit, she saved the match points and completed a brilliant comeback to win 13–11, forcing a deciding fifth game.
With momentum now on her side, Swaify carried her confidence into the decider. She established an early lead and kept her composure throughout, closing out the match 11–7 to claim the Bern Squash Open 2025 title — her biggest PSA victory to date.
Bernet beats top seed to retain men’s title
The men’s final featured the dream matchup between the tournament’s top two seeds: France’s Toufik Mekhalfi and Switzerland’s defending champion and home favorite David Bernet.
In front of a packed Bern crowd, both players delivered an intense, high-quality contest that lasted an exhausting 98 minutes, showcasing long rallies, relentless retrieving, and world-class shot-making.
The opening game was evenly matched from the start. Mekhalfi applied early pressure with precise attacking play and managed to edge ahead in the crucial points to take it 11–9.
The second game was a thriller and proved pivotal in the match. With both players trading long, physical rallies, tension ran high — especially after a few disputed pickups that Mekhalfi felt were double bounces. Bernet’s trademark determination and retrieving ability turned the tide, and he held his nerve to claim the marathon game 16–14, leveling the match at one-all.
That second game seemed to shift the momentum. Mekhalfi struggled to regain focus, while Bernet capitalized, dominating the third game from the outset. Despite some late resistance from the Frenchman, Bernet closed it out 11–7, taking a 2–1 lead.
Mekhalfi regrouped impressively in the fourth, rediscovering his attacking rhythm and producing a series of stunning winners to control the game from start to finish. He took it 11–6, setting up a decisive fifth game.
The decider was a fitting end to a dramatic final — tight, physical, and full of quality. Both players gave everything, but buoyed by the home support and his exceptional court coverage, David Bernet found the extra gear when it mattered most, clinching the final game 11–7 to successfully defend his Bern Squash Open title.
