Abhay sets Zurich on fire as he squashes seventh seed Eleinen on way to quarterfinals

Abhay Singh is setting Zurich on fire with his giant-killing act. The unseeded Indian squashed the hopes of seventh seed Egyptian Aly Abou Eleinen on way to the quarterfinals of a Gold-level event for the first time in his career.

In another match, Spaniard Iker Pajares also went through to the quarterfinals of a Gold-level event for the first time as he ousted No.6 seed Youssef Soliman at the Grasshopper Cup 2026 in Zurich.

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Abhay, who is playing at the Grasshopper Cup for the first time, came from behind to overcome Eleinen 2-0 and secure his maiden last eight spot.  The World No.24 trailed 8-5 in the opener before pegging the score back to 8-8 and saved both of Eleinen’s game balls before converting in the tiebreak.

Abhay withstands Eleinen comeback in the second game

Abhay, who defeated Eleinen 3-2 at the El Gouna International earlier this month, had to withstand an Eleinen comeback in the second when the Egyptian was 7-3 down before levelling, but the strength of Indian’s backhand helped him win 12-10, 11-9.

“What a match!” Abhay said afterwards. “In the deep end of both games I had to show some real fight to come back with the deficit in the first. I think that was deja vu with a similar situation,” he added.

Abhay Singh’s reward for the stupendous show is a quarterfinal clash against former World Champion Karim Gawad, who downed Auguste Dussourd 2-0. Pics: PSA Squash Tour

“I had it with him in El Gouna. Credit to Jimbo (James Willstrop) – he put together a good plan as I was going to be in a deficit in the first and that paid off,” Abhay said.

Abhay’s reward for the stupendous show is a quarterfinal clash against former World Champion Karim Gawad, who downed Auguste Dussourd 2-0.

Pajares, who’s reached the last eight of Platinum events previously, produced another impressive performance to down Soliman in straight games having taken out Swiss No.1 Dimitri Steinmann in round one.

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Home hopes were dashed after 14-time Swiss national champion Nicolas Mueller was defeated by Joel Makin. Mueller, the last Swiss player remaining following six exits from the host nation in round one, lost 2-0 to the World No.5.

Hutton overcomes Alves

In the women’s draw, World No.13 Jasmine Hutton overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Melissa Alves 2-1.

Hutton came into Zurich off the back of winning the biggest title of her career to date at the Sportwerk Hamburg Open 2026 last week, but the Englishwoman squandered five game balls in the first game as Alves capitalised to draw first blood.

However, Hutton rediscovered some of the excellent squash she played last week to land the Bronze-level title in Hamburg to complete the comeback with a 10-12, 11-7, 11-9 success.

Abhay Singh fights past wildcard David, Ramit thrashed by Egypt’s Fares in Grasshopper Cup

“I was feeling quite flat today and I didn’t really show up,” she said afterwards. “I didn’t really have that fire in my belly that I usually have, but I’m just really pleased I stuck in and dug deep and came through in three.”

The tournament’s No.2 seed Satomi Watanabe came through a tough encounter with Rowan Elaraby 2-0, Fayrouz Aboelkheir downed fellow Egyptian Nour Heikal by the same scoreline and England’s Gina Kennedy defeated her compatriot Grace Gear.

Results: Men’s round two: 4-Joel Makin (WAL) beat Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 2-0 (11-8, 11-5); Iker Pajares (ESP) beat 6-Youssef Soliman (EGY) 2-0 (11-6, 11-8); Abhay Singh (IND) beat 7-Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 2-0 (12-10, 11-9); 2-Karim Gawad (EGY) beat Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 2-0 (11-7, 11-8).

Women’s round two: 4-Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) beat Nour Heikal (EGY) 2-0 (11-9, 11-7); 5-Georgina Kennedy (ENG) beat Grace Gear (ENG) 2-0 (11-6, 11-5); 8-Jasmine Hutton (ENG) beat Melissa Alves (FRA) 2-1(10-12, 11-7, 11-9); 2-Satomi Watanabe (JPN) beat Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 2-0 (11-8, 11-9).