FINALS : Hamammy and Farag lift ToC titles in NY
Hania El Hammamy and Ali Farag have captured the prestigious J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions Platinum-level titles after defeating current World Champions Nouran Gohar and Diego Elias on finals night in New York.
Third seed El Hammamy overturned a seven-match losing streak against Gohar to win 8-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8 , claiming her first ToC title and her first title on the PSA Squash Tour since December 2023.
“It’s amazing, I’m so pleased,” El Hammamy said after the match. “I have finally got wins over the World #1 and World#2 in a row – I haven’t had that for so long. There’s no better place for me to win a title in the U.S. than here in New York in Grand Central Station.”
In the men’s final, top seed Farag claimed his fourth ToC title, defeating Elias 9-11, 12-10, 14-12, 11-.
Farag said: “This title means so much to me. This is one of the most iconic, if not the most iconic, tournaments that we have on the calendar year because of the location of this incredible crowd.
“Obviously, I thought we played an incredible first three games. Diego and I have been pushing each other so hard. He’s an incredible athlete and an incredible squash player.”
SEMIS : Elias and Hammamy down second seeds Asal and Sherbini
Third seed Hania El Hammamy progressed to the ToC final for the first time in her career after a sensational performance saw her defeat five-time champion Nour El Sherbini at the PSA Squash Tour Platinum-level event.
El Hammamy, who had lost her last seven PSA encounters against El Sherbini, ripped up the form book with a stunning 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9 victory under the iconic chandeliers inside Grand Central Terminal in New York.
“I’m out of words,” El Hammamy said. “I always know that I’m capable of beating Nour [El Sherbini], and for some reason, she has always given me lessons over the last year-and-a-half, especially on this court last year. I had to really accept those losses, and it was really hard to do that at the beginning. But now, here I am, getting my first win over her since Qatar [Classic] 2023. So yeah, I’m just so pleased.
El Hammamy will face fierce rival and World #1 Nouran Gohar in the final after she held off a stern challenge from U.S. #1 Olivia Weaver to advance in four games.
In the men’s event, third seed Diego Elias delivered a scintillating performance to defeat second seed Mostafa Asal in four games and progress to his fourth consecutive ToC final.
Elias, who will now face top seed Ali Farag for the title, backed up his quarter-final victory over Joel Makin with an equally impressive display, overcoming ‘The Raging Bull’ by an 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 scoreline.
“I’m just so happy,” Elias said after the match. “Mostafa [Asal] has been playing some of the best squash over the last few months. It’s a great win for me – I didn’t think I was playing that well this week, but I managed to win this really important match. “I’m just so happy to be in the final here again. I love playing here, I love being in New York, so I’m just super happy.”
Farag in the final after the Egyptian delivered a flawless performance to defeat fourth seed Paul Coll in straight games. Farag, who lifted the ToC title in 2019, 2022, and 2024, delivered a performance worthy of his World #1 ranking, sealing his spot in the title decider with an 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 victory.
Day SIX : Elias holds off Makin as Quarters conclude in NY
Diego Elias completed the semi-final line-up at the after a hard-fought four-game victory over fifth seed Joel Makin in the Grand Central Terminal.
“I had to stay very focussed right until the end,” Elias said. “Joel is such a fighter right until the end, but he had a very long match a couple of days ago, so I knew he might be a bit tired. I knew that I had to fight until the last point.”
Elias’ opponent in the last four will be second seed Mostafa Asal, who continued his blemish-free campaign with a powerful victory over seventh seed Tarek Momen. Asal, who can go to World No.1 this week if results go the right way, was made to work hard tbut ultimately had too much for 36-year-old Momen.
In the women’s event second and third seeds Nour El Sherbini and Hania El Hammamy set-up a semi-final clash after coming through their quarter-finals with Rowan Elaraby and Jasmine Hutton.
Five-time champion El Sherbini survived a second-game wobble to record an 11th straight win over good friend Elaraby, moving through to a 31st straight Platinum semi-final appearance on the PSA Squash Tour.
“I’m just happy that I won to be honest,” El Sherbini said. “I’m happy that at the crucial times, I held myself together, played the crucial points in a good way and maybe that’s what made the difference today.
El Hammamy, who is on the hunt for her first PSA title since December 2023, put down a marker of intent with a flawless display on the all-glass court in New York, wrapping up the win in just under half an hour of play.
Day FIVE : Farag battles back as Quarters begin in NY
Top seed Ali Farag continued his quest for a ToC title with a titanic victory over long-term rival Mohamed ElShorbagy, coming from two games down to beat eighth seeded ElShorbagy 11-9 in the fifth.
“I’ve got nothing but the utmost respect for Mohamed,” Farag said. “He is the player I’ve got the most respect for, and he still inspires me now. He was so smart and so tactical today. I think he deserves to give the interview more than I do today, he just fought so hard.”
Farag will face another rival in the semi-finals in Paul Coll, who defeated France’s Gregoire Marche in an entertaining three-game encounter.
In the women’s draw Nouran Gohar and Olivia Weaver both put in flawless displays to Amina Orfi and Tinne Gilis in straight games.
Day FOUR : Hutton downs Kennedy to reach maiden Platinum Quarter-Final
Jasmine Hutton progressed to a career-first Platinum quarter-final on the PSA Squash Tour after defeating England teammate Georgina Kennedy in five games.
Playing her first-ever match on the iconic all-glass court at Grand Central Terminal, Hutton delivered a power-packed performance to overcome the British #1 10-12, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 11-8, wrapping up victory after 58 minutes and setting up a quarter-final tie with third seed Hania El Hammamy, who beat fellow Egyptian Nada Abbas in straight games.
After the match, Hutton said: “I’d say it’s up there as probably one of my biggest career highlights to date. I’ve never played on the glass here before, so it’s even more special to get a first win on it, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Second seed Nour El Sherbini beat Scotland’s Georgia Adderley to set up an all-Egyptian quarter-final with Rowan Elaraby, who beat Malak Khagafy, both winning in straight games.
In the men’s draw sixth seed Joel Makin saved a match ball on his way to a dramatic swin over Youssef Ibrahim, winning a fifth-game tie-break 12-10 after almost an hour-and-a-half of action.
Makin now faces world champion Diego Elias, who beat Mohamed Abouelghar in four games, with Mostafa Asal and Tarek Momen completing the quarter-final lineups.
Day THREE : Gilis holds off Murphy Charge as Round Two begins in NY
Fifth seed Tinne Gilis held off a stirring fightback from Tesni Murphy to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in her career, winning 3-2 in 70 minutes at Grand Central Terminal in New York.
Gilis looked well set for a straight-games victory after taking two well-contested opening games, but the momentum switched early in the third after Gilis rolled her ankle when lunging towards the front, with the physio called onto the court. Murphy took full advantage to take the match onto a decider but it would ultimately be Gilis who progressed to the last eight of the Platinum-level event, moving away from 7-6 in the fifth to take the victory.
Gilis now meets USA’s fourth seed Olivia Weaver, who beat Sana Ibrahim in straight games. Top seed Nouran Gohar denied a US double as she beat Amanda Sobhy in straight games, and she’ll meet eighth seed Amina Orfi in an all-Egyptian quarter-final.
In the men’s draw fourth seed Paul Coll avenged his shock defeat to Victor Crouin at last year’s ToC, delivering a high-quality performance to battle past the Frenchman in three games, setting up a last-eight tie with another Frenchman in Gregoire Marche, who beat compatriot Baptiste Masotti to reach this stage of a Platinum event for the first time since 2021.
Top seed Ali Farag and eighth seed Mohamed ElShorbagy both won in four games, against Abdulla Al-Tamimi and Mohamed ElSherbini, to set up the latest chapter in their long-running rivalry.
Day Four will see eight more round two matches, from the bottom half of the draws.
Day TWO : Former Champions Elias & El Sherbini Begin Title Quests
Past champions Diego Elias and Nour El Sherbini kickstarted their quests for silverware at the Tournament of Champions in successful style, defeating Mohamad Zakaria and Hollie Naughton on day two in New York City.
The matchup between Elias and Zakaria pitted the reigning world champion against the current world junior champion inside the spectacular Grand Central Terminal, with 17-year-old Zakaria targeting a first top-10 win of his young career.
Elias cut a frustrated figure throughout an intense 21-minute opening game, with Zakaria taking a surprise lead after the third seed was penalised with a conduct stroke for dissent at 12-11 down.
However, after returning to court, Elias began to find his range and take control of the middle of the court, managing to navigate his way through the subsequent three games by 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 scorelines.
“He is such a good player,” Elias said after the match. “He’s only 17, so he’s going to keep getting better. He’s a great player and I know he’s going to be at the top soon. It’s the first match of the year and I haven’t played on the PSA Tour for a month and a half, so there were a lot of nerves, and even more when you’re playing a 17-year-old.”
A potential semi-final meeting with World \2 Mostafa Asal remains on the cards for Elias after the Egyptian claimed an impressive straight games win over Aly Abou Eleinen, overturning his defeat to the 25-year-old earlier this season at the U.S. Open.
Elsewhere, defending champion and second seed Nour El Sherbini began her quest for a sixth Tournament of Champions title with a crushing 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 victory over Canada’s Hollie Naughton.
Day One : Marche & Sobhy Score Standout Wins
France’s Gregoire Marche and USA’s Amanda Sobhy claimed highlight wins on day one of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York, Marche edging past eighth seed Karim Abdel Gawad and Sobhy oustingt Siva Subramaniam in thrilling five-game battles.
“It’s a huge win for me,” said Marche. “I had a tough week last week. I was sick and I didn’t know how I was going to be physically. I’m just happy with the way I fought physically in the fifth game so it’s a super good performance for me today and I’m really happy to be through.”
In a match that saw multiple swings in momentum, it was Sobhy who delivered two superbly executed points from 9-9 in the fifth game to seal victory in front of her home crowd.
Elsewhere on day one, World number nines Nele Gilis-Coll and Mohamed ElShorbagy survived scares as they both battled from behind to claim five-game wins over Rachel Arnold and Raphael Kandra.
Action continues on Day Two with bottom-half round one matches at Grand Central and at clubs across New York.