Gilis and Crouin Claim Squash On Fire Open Titles
by Matt Coles
photos PSA
February 26, 2023--Belgium’s
Tinne Gilis and France’s Victor Crouin have won the Squash On Fire Open
titles in Washington, D.C., after beating Egypt’s Amina Orfi and
Mohamed ElSherbini respectively to lift the PSA World Tour Bronze level
crowns.
Gilis was featuring in her second PSA World
Tour final of the season, and looking for her first win after losing
out to older sister Nele in the final of the Open de France de Squash
in September. She took on wildcard Amina Orfi, who only got into the
competition after winning the PSA Satellite event last weekend, and
then came through the draw in incredible fashion, downing four
higher-ranked players.
From the off, the Belgian was on form, and
she won the opening six points of the contest with some sublime drops
into the front left corner. Some lovely boasts got the Egyptian up and
running on the scoreboard, but the World No.13 took the opening game
11-9.
From there, it was more comfortable for
Gilis, who was able to manoeuvre the ball and her opponent around the
court. Orfi showed glimpses of why she had reached the final, but the
Belgian was too strong in the end, winning in straight games to claim
her maiden PSA World Tour title.
“I still can’t believe it to be honest. I
played this tournament with no expectations, I just wanted to play well
and enjoy my squash again! I think that’s what I did today!” Gilis
explained.
“She has been playing unreal squash! She is
only 15-years-old, coming from the qualifying tournament to beat
everyone in the bottom half of the draw. It is very impressive for a
15-year-old! I knew I had to be on my toes today, and that this match
would be physical. I am happy with the way I played, and that I managed
to win in three.
“This is the first time I had ever seen her
play so I didn’t know what to expect. I watched her match with Sabrina
[Sobhy] which was very physical. It was a 70-minute match so I was
hoping she would be feeling it!
“Winning a Bronze tournament was really
something I wanted to achieve this season. I didn’t know when that was
going to happen because I was struggling with some injuries and stuff.
I am so happy that I managed to reset, keep on training because it has
been mentally hard. I made sure I could play this tournament because I
love this tournament, everyone around here, so it makes me extra happy
to win my first Bronze tournament here in Washington, D.C.”
The men’s title was won by Frenchman Victor
Crouin after he defeated Egypt’s Mohamed ElSherbini in a four-game
contest in Washington, D.C. The pair had met just 11 days previously in
a quarter final at the Oxford Properties Canadian Men’s Open, but this
time, silverware was on the line.
After a tight start to the opening game,
some crucial errors from ElSherbini allowed Crouin to take the win the
last four points, with the Frenchman taking the early lead in the
contest. The Egyptian came out fighting in the second game though, and
used his speed around the court to hold the advantage through the
middle part of the game. A couple of lovely winners from his racket
were enough to see him level the tie at one game apiece.
The third game was disrupted somewhat, with
the talks distract the Egyptian slightly. Crouin was able to run away
with the third game in the end, winning it 11-7. After an injury delay
in between games, the fourth got underway with the World No.10 in
control, and he never ceded that
The World No.10 then showed why he has been
one of the Tour’s most consistent players, as despite the lengthy
break, he was able to keep the momentum in his favour. He went on to
win the fourth game 11-5 to secure his third title of the campaign, and
his second Squash On Fire Open crown.
“I am very relieved, I would say! I am
happy, but mostly relieved. It has been a long four weeks, with the
French Championships, then playing in Calgary. That was bittersweet
because I lost in the final after playing some great squash all week, I
just couldn't convert that final,” Crouin said.
“I came here with the title in my mind. I
got off to a scrappy start with a five-game against Dimi [Steinmann],
and now I am standing here with the title. It is pretty amazing how
things can turn sometimes! I stayed confident, believed in myself and
seized the opportunity.
“I knew the French community was going to
come and support me today, so I thought about what it was like to play
in front of the French crowd at the Open de France. It was my biggest
title and probably one of the best memories of my life. That was what
was in my mind before I came on court and that paid off.
“All credit to Mohamed who played
tactically brilliantly today, but yeah… Super happy to have that
support here in Washington. I have won eight matches here in a row now,
two titles, so I will be back!”
The next tournament to be shown live on
SQUASHTV will be the PSA World Tour Gold level Black Ball Squash Open.
The event will take place at the Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo,
Egypt from March 2-7.
Men’s Final Result: Squash On Fire Open [1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 (69m)
Women’s Final Result: Squash On Fire Open [1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [WC] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 (43m)
