Draws confirmed for Squash Australian Open

World No.4s Paul Coll and Olivia Weaver have been named as top seeds for the Easy Times Brewing Co. Squash Australian Open 2025 after the draws were revealed on Australia Day.

The event will run from 11-16 March with the tournament's centrepiece being an all-glass court at Brisbane's South Bank Piazza

Both courts will be streamed live on SQUASHTV whilst tickets are available to purchase here.

Men’s top seed Paul Coll will be featuring in his third Australian Open, aiming to claim his second title. The win in 2015 was a breakthrough victory for the Kiwi, beating Aussie legend Cameron Pilley in the final.

He’s since gone on to claim five major event titles and a Commonwealth Games Gold medal. He’s endured a staggered start to the 24/25 season but will be looking to turn his fortunes around closer to home. 

Egyptian duo Mazen Hesham and Karim Abdel Gawad are the No.2 and 3 seeds for the Gold level event. Hesham has found a consistency to his game which had been lacking for a number of years. The incredible shot-making abilities partnered with a patient approach makes him extremely dangerous for any player.

Gawad possesses similar attacking ability and will be looking to harness that skill to make a run towards a 27th PSA title. The pair have been drawn in the same half and would set up a mouth-watering match up if they both come through their first two matches.

Recent Squash in the Land 2025 champion Marwan Elshorbagy completes the top four seeding positions as he heads to Australia for the first time in his career. He’s been drawn in the same quarter as fellow Brit and No.7 seed Greg Lobban. The Scotsman has become an honorary Aussie after wedding former World No.13 Donna Urquhart back in 2018 and will have a mound of support in his corner throughout the event. 

USA’s Olivia Weaver tops the women’s draw as she looks to claim her fifth title in the last 12 months and second Gold-level event. The 29-year-old has established herself as the leading candidate to challenge the world’s top three and isn’t far away from World No.3 El Hammamy.

Weaver is another who will be heading to Australia for the first time and will take on either Malaysia’s Ainaa Amani or compatriot Marina Stefanoni in round two after a first round bye.

Belgium’s No.2 seed Tinne Gilis is currently sitting at her highest ranking of World No.5 after a series of strong performances during 2024. The 27-year-old claimed the Canadian Open title in October and will be determined to score another title this season. She finds herself in the same half of the draw as No.3 seed Amina Orfi. The Egyptian teenager has stormed into the world’s top eight and is showing no signs of slowing down. 

Danger lurks further down the seedings as the remaining five seeds all sit inside the world’s top 12. The likes of Rowan Elaraby, Nele Gilis-Coll and Sivasangari Subramaniam will all be looking to cause upsets whilst recent Squash in the Land champion Satomi Watanabe and another young Egyptian sensation Fayrouz Aboelkheir are always a threat to anyone on their day. 

Both draws have two wildcard spots, with Joseph White and Dylan Molinaro receiving the men’s spots whilst Jess van der Walt and Alex Haydon occupy the women’s positions. All four players will be hoping to draw on the home advantage in their respective round one matches but know that they will need to produce stellar performances in their first Gold level event appearances. 

MEN'S DRAW
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) v Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 
Alex Lau (HKG) v Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)
[8] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bye
[7] Greg Lobban (SCO) bye
[WC] Joseph White (AUS) v Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
Ramit Tandon (IND) v Abhay Singh (IND)
[4] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bye
[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bye
Rui Soares (POR) v Bernat Jaume (ESP) 
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[5] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bye
[6] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bye
[WC] Dylan Molinaro (AUS) v Mohamad Zakaria (EGY)
Iker Pajares (ESP) v Henry Leung (HKG) 
[2] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye

WOMEN'S DRAW
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bye
Ainaa Amani (MAS) v Marina Stefanoni (USA)
Aira Azman (MAS) v Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 
[5] Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) bye
[6] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bye
Aifa Azman (MAS) v Ka Yi Lee (HKG)
Rachel Arnold (MAS) v Nour Heikal (EGY) 
[4] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bye
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bye
Cindy Merlo (SUI) v Hana Moataz (EGY) 
Tomato Ho (HKG) v Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) 
[7] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bye
[8] Fayoruz Aboelkheir (EGY) bye
[WC] Alex Haydon (AUS) v Salma Hany (EGY) 
Georgia Adderley (SCO) v [WC] Jess Van der Walt (AUS) 
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bye