Day 4 | Finalists decided in front of record crowd
Published Sun 16 Mar 2025
Teen squash sensation Amina Orfi took another step towards the summit of the game as the 17-year-old knocked out World No.5 Tinne Gilis in front a record crowd of more than 1000 fans at Brisbane's South Bank Piazza to set up an Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open final against top seed Olivia Weaver of the USA.
The men's final, meanwhile, will be contested by New Zealand's Paul Coll and Egypt's Karim Abdel Gawad after the Kiwi top seed came back from a game down to beat Marwan ElShorbagy and 2016 world champion Gawad ended the run of tournament surprise package Auguste Dussourd.
Orfi is regarded as one of squash’s most exciting young talents in a generation, with the Egyptian already reaching World No.6, winning seven PSA titles as well as becoming the first player in history to win three consecutive World Squash Junior Championships.
The teen’s threat was on clear display tonight, with the Egyptian ice cold on a humid court as she edged into a 2-0 lead through 11-8, 11-9 wins.
Any hopes of a Gilis comeback were brutally snuffed out by Orfi in game three, with the Egyptian crushing the Belgian 11-3 to record a win that will see her leapfrog Gilis into World No.5 in next week's PSA rankings.
Afterwards, Orfi said: “She doesn’t give up, our last two matches were 3-2 and 3-2, with 11-9 in the fifth. I knew I had to use the court to my advantage. I can’t wait until tomorrow and hopefully I can win the title!”
Her opponent tomorrow will be US No.1 Olivia Weaver after the World No.4 fought back from a game down to beat Egyptian No.4 seed Rowan Elaraby 3-1.
Weaver wasn't the only top seed to come back from a game down, with New Zealand's Paul Coll also having to do things the hard way against English No.3 seed Marwan ElShorbagy.
Just one week ago, the pair squared off in Christchurch as Coll won the New Zealand Open on home court with a 3-1 win.
Tonight was another hard-fought clash, with ElShorbagy saving a game ball in the first game as he deservedly took the opener 13-11.
Coll, however, battled back, twisting ElShorbagy left and right on the sweat-covered court to fire back with 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 wins to wrap up mammoth 75-minute match.
Standing between Coll and a second title in a week is fellow former World No.1 and 2016 world champion Karim Abdel Gawad, after the Egyptian battled through an uneven performance to record a 3-1 victory over Auguste Dussourd, who was playing in a Gold-level semi-final for the first time after edging past Bernat Jaume yesterday.
The finals of the Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open take place on Sunday 16 March, with play beginning at 18:30 (GMT+10) at South Bank Piazza 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
Results: 2025 Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Women’s Semi-Finals
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [4] Rowan Elaraby (EGY)3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (52m)
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-3 (43m)
Results: 2025 Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Men’s Semi-Finals
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [3] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) 3-1: 11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (75m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 3-1: 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 (59m)
Draw: 2025 Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Women’s Final (To be played 16 March)
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) v [3] Amina Orfi (EGY)
Draw: 2025 Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Men’s Final (To be played 16 March)
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) v [2] Karim Gawad (EGY)
