Published: April 25, 2026 at 11:00 am
Top seed Amina Orfi opened quarterfinals day with a come-from-behind victory against Salma Hany to advance to the semifinals of the Grasshopper Cup 2026 in Zurich on Friday.
Orfi, who was meeting Hany for the third time on the PSA Squash Tour, overturned a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 against the World No.15 and become the first player to reach the last four.
Hany, who defeated Orfi in the final of the Australian Open two years ago, started the game on the front foot, playing at a high tempo and taking the ball in short. Despite Orfi clawing back a few points at the midway stage of the first, Hany was able to get over the line to clinch the opener 11-8.
Amina steps up her game
World No.15 Hany applied the same approach in the second as she utilised the hold and drove the ball into the back corners. However, Orfi stepped up by sending her opponent deep into the corners as she equalised by winning 11-6.
Having made a positive start to the first two games, errors crept into Hany’s game in the decider as a three-point gap opened up for Orfi at 7-4 up, while the top seed cranked up her quality of striking to close out the third 11-4.
What helped me come back was the crowd and the amazing venue. It’s full as well so that gave me the energy to keep going,” Amina Orfi said. Pics: PSA Squash Tour
“I thought I played well,” Orfi said. “It’s been a year since we last played and she’s been playing well in the last few tournaments, she has great hands and I was excited to get on court. What helped me come back was the crowd and the amazing venue. It’s full as well so that gave me the energy to keep going,” she added.
“I’m really enjoying it (playing in Zurich). It’s my first time playing this tournament and I think everything about it is so nice. I’m enjoying my time here in Zurich,” Orfi said.
Sivasangari sails into semis
Last year’s runner-up Sivasangari Subramaniam comprehensively sailed into the semifinals following a dominant display against Nadda Abbas. Sivasangari, who lost out to Nouran Gohar in last year’s title decider, only required 16 minutes to defeat the Egyptian.
The pair met as recently as a few weeks ago at the El Gouna International, and the Malaysian prevailed on that occasion too with a 3-1 victory. Sivasangari’s attacking style of squash was too much to handle for Abbas, as the World No.6 charged into a 6-0. Despite Abbas clawing a few points back, Sivasangari won the first 11-5.
The error count started to stack up for Abbas in the second, as the onslaught of attacks from Sivasangari continued. The Malaysian won the second 11-4 to wrap up a comfortable victory.
Last year’s runner-up Sivasangari Subramaniam comprehensively sailed into the semifinals following a dominant display against Nadda Abbas. The Malaysian needed just 16 minutes to defeat the Egyptian
“I think I played well today. I played Nada recently in Egypt a couple weeks back and it was a tight 3-1,” she said. “She’s a great player, challenging the top players and has been up there but I’m happy with the way I’m playing and controlling my emotions, especially with the best of three format. I’m happy to make it through.”
Satomi stretches unbeaten run over Jasmine
Japanese No.1 Satomi Watanabe stretched her unbeaten run over Jasmine Hutton to five matches on the PSA Squash Tour with a 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals. Watanabe last got the better of the Englishwoman in the semifinals of the Steel City Open back in February, which the Japanese No.1 went on to win.
The World No.7 comprehensively clinched the first, using the hold to great effect to finish nicely in the front corners. After taking the first 11-5, Watanabe continued to dictate most of the play in the second but a number of unforced errors from the Japanese No.1’s racket opened the door for Hutton.
Japanese No.1 Satomi Watanabe stretched her unbeaten run over Jasmine Hutton to five matches on the PSA Squash Tour with a 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals
However, Watanabe managed assume control, edging a closely-fought second 11-9 for a semifinal berth. “We play each other so many times, we train together and we played recently at the Steel City Open in Pittsburgh,” she said post-match.
“We know each other really well, so it’s hard to play against someone like that but I’m pleased to get through today. This venue is incredible, it’s 9 pm and the whole crowd is still here and I love this venue,” Watanabe said.
Gina comes from behind to pip Fayrouz
England No.1 Gina Kennedy is through to her fourth Gold-level semifinal of the season following her comeback victory against Fayrouz Aboelkheir.
Kennedy, who’s reached the last four of the Optasia Championships, the Texas Open and the Silicon Valley Open, made it a fourth straight appearance at this stage of a Gold event after battling back from 1-0 down against the Egyptian.
It’s been nearly two years since they last faced off on the PSA Squash Tour, with the last encounter coming at the US Open 2024 where Aboelkheir prevailed in round one.
Aboelkheir looked to be on her way to a third straight success over Kennedy on Tour when she won the first 11-9, using the hold to great effect and keeping Kennedy at bay.
However, the second game was a stark contrast to the opener, as a much-improved performance from Kennedy resulted in one-way traffic for the Englishwoman to level the match with a 11-1 win.
It was to be Gina Kennedy’s day, weathering the storm and sealing the quarterfinal match against fourth seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir
The confidence was flowing from Kennedy after she emphatically equalised, opening up a 7-3 lead in the decider before Aboelkheir surged back to get to within touching distance. But it was to be Kennedy’s day, weathering the storm and sealing the third 11-8.
“It’s always so tough against Fayrouz. I haven’t played her in a couple of years, but I’ve been watching her race up the rankings and I knew what to expect today. I was kind of nervous about the conditions, I think a best of three on a cold court against Fayrouz is very difficult,” Gina said.
“She started how I anticipated, chopping everything in so well and it took me a while to adapt to it, I tried to go with and I’m glad it paid off,” she added.
Results (quarterfinals): 1-Amina Orfi (EGY) beat 6-Salma Hany (EGY) 2-1 (8-11, 11-6, 11-4); 2-Satomi Watanabe (JPN) beat 8-Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 2-0 (11-5, 11-9); 3-Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) beat 7-Nada Abbas (EGY) 2-0 (11-5, 11-4); 5-Georgina Kennedy (ENG) beat 4-Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 2-1 (9-11, 11-1, 11-8).
