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Day 1 | Tong fights back as home hopes extinguished

Published Wed 12 Mar 2025

Courtesy PSA

Hong Kong, China’s Tsz-Wing Tong was forced into a desperate rearguard by Australia’s Jess van der Walt as the World No.49 edged past the World No.73 in a see-saw five game fight on day one of the Easy Times Brewing Co. Squash Australian Open.
 
On the beautiful all-glass show court at Brisbane's South Bank Piazza, Tong took the opener 11-8 before being pegged back 9-11 and then stunned 1-11 as Queensland local van der Walt drew upon the home crowd's energy.
 
Unfortunately for Brisbane crowd, Tong regained her footing, dragging herself into a fifth game with an 11-4 win and then edging the nervy decider 11-8 as van der Walt joined the rest of the five-strong Australian contingent in exiting in the first round.
 
Speaking after the match, Tong paid tribute to her opponent and the tournament hosts, with the start of the event rapidly reorganised due to the impact of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
 
"It's always tough playing Jess," Tong said. "I think it's always special to play at home, but there's also pressure on the home player. On the glass, you always feel motivated and excited and I was trying to imagine that they are my crowd too. But the crowd is fair and they clapped on my good shots as well.
 
"It's amazing how quickly Squash Australia and the PSA responded [to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred]. They did amazing work trying to accommodate the players. I had a last minute draw change and I got to play on the glass at this amazing venue!"
 
Among the players joining Tong and the seeded players in round two are her compatriot Henry Leung, who played out a five-game thriller with Abhay Singh, and Canadian World No.52 Nicole Bunyan, who came back to upset Malaysian World No.29 Aira Azman at Sandgate Squash Club.
 
Round Two of the Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open takes place tomorrow, 13 March, with play beginning at 14:00 (GMT+10) at South Bank Piazza and Sandgate Squash Club, live on SQUASHTV, SBS Australia (Australia only) and select partner channels of the PSA.
 
Secure tickets for the Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open at squashausopen.au
 
For more updates on the PSA Squash Tour, follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, WhatsApp or LinkedIn.
 
Results: 2025 Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Women's Round One
Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt. Ainaa Amani (MAS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (28m)
Nicole Bunyan (CAN) bt. Aira Azman (MAS) 3-2: 11-9, 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8 (47m)
Ka Yi Lee (HKG) bt. Marta Dominguez (ESP) 3-2: 9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 11-1 (51m)
Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt. Nour Heikal (EGY) 3-2: 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (51m)
Hana Moataz (EGY) bt. Cindy Merlo (SUI) 3-0: 18-16, 11-4, 11-6 (26m)
Tomato Ho (HKG) bt. Madison Lyon (AUS) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 (21m)
Aifa Azman (MAS) bt. Alex Haydon (AUS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (23m)
Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) bt. Jessica van der Walt (AUS)3-2: 11-8, 9-11, 1-11, 11-4, 11-8 (62m)
 
Results: 2025 Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Men's Round One
Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) bt. Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (27m)
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt. Alex Lau (HKG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 (34m)
Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt. Joseph White (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-4 (37m)
Henry Leung (HKG) bt. Abhay Singh (IND) 3-2: 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3 (73m)
Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt. Rui Soares (POR) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (48m)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt. Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (41m)
Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) bt. Dylan Molinaro (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 (31m)
Iker Pajares (ESP) bt. Bryan Lim (MAS) 3-1: 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8 (51m)
 
Draw: 2025 Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Women's Round Two (To be played 13 March)
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) v Marina Stefanoni (USA)
Nicole Bunyan (CAN) v [8] Salma Hany (EGY)
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) v Ka Yi Lee (HKG)
Rachel Arnold (MAS) v [4] Rowan Elaraby (EGY)
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) v Hana Moataz (EGY)
Tomato Ho (HKG) v [6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN)
[7] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) v Aifa Azman (MAS)
Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) v [2] Tinne Gilis (BEL)

Draw: 2025 Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Men's Round Two (To be played 13 March)
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) v Abdulla Mohd Al-Tamimi (QAT)
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) v [7] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA)
[6] Greg Lobban (SCO) v Velavan Senthilkumar (IND)
Henry Leung (HKG) v [3] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG)
[4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v Bernat Jaume (ESP)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v [8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
[5] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v Mohamad Zakaria (EGY)
Iker Pajares (ESP) v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
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