Panel Predictions: Paris Squash 2023

The opening Platinum event of the new season is just two days away with all 96 players now either in Paris or arriving very shortly to get their 2023/24 season’s underway.

The quality of the squash at the tournaments is so strong and a multiple of different players could capture the titles on both the men’s and women’s sides. For this season, we’ve decided to enlist the help of a few recognisable names from squash to predict who they think will triumph and wh o they will be keeping their eye on to do better than their seeding.

Here is what our panel think about the Paris Squash 2023:

Daryl Selby

Men’s Winner: Diego Elias
Women’s Winner: Nouran Gohar

Men’s One to Watch: Mohamed Abouelghar
Women’s One to Watch: Amina Orfi

Men’s winner: “I think Diego will come out of the off season firing and keen to try and wrestle the World No.1 spot back from Ali [Farag],” says Selby.

“He will have learnt a lot going through all the different emotions of last season and I always feel he plays his best when he’s fresh. This week he should be mentally ready and calm, I feel he loses that slightly when it’s tournament after tournament. Asal not being there will help him to relax as well. 

Women’s winner: “It might be boring to go for the No.1 seed but it’s hard to look past [Nouran] Gohar. I feel [Nour] El Sherbini’s draw is potentially tougher and if it goes to seeding then Gohar might appear in the final a lot fresher than her opponent. Plus she still has momentum after winning the World Tour Finals not too long ago.”

Men’s Surprise player : ” It was great to see [Mohamed]Abouelghar back on court after a long injury break last season and I really expect him to have a great season upcoming. His draw would be tough if he can get through against Kandra then an in form Tarek would be waiting but if he puts it together and has had a solid off season then I think he has big potential to cause some upsets.” 

Women’s surprise player: “It was hard to pick between [Amina] Orfi and [Satomi] Wantanbe as I’m a big fan of both of their games and I think they will do well in Paris and this season in general. But I’m going to go with Orfi, crazily good for her age and already proving she can mix it with the top players last season. None of the seeds will want to face her and with no pressure on her shoulders I think she’ll perform well.”

Vanessa Atkinson 

Men’s Winner: Ali Farag
Women’s Winner: Nouran Gohar

Men’s One to Watch: Karim Abdel Gawad
Women’s One to Watch: Rowan Elaraby

“I think the Women’s winner will be Gohar. I’m really going out on a limb and going with the World No.1 and top seed.”

“She’s definitely got the weaker side of the draw and I can see her getting a slightly easier run through. I don’t think there will be any big surprises in the womens draw other than Elaraby potentially giving El Sherbini a run for her money in RD 2 and I think Amanda Sohby will make the semi-final although that’s not much of a stretch. El Sherbini can be sometimes unpredictable with her form so could be vulnerable in first tournament back and Elaraby has shown that she can beat top players when she’s on.” 

On the mens side I’ll go with Ali for the win. There’s a brutal section on the other side of the top half with Coll, Gawad, Dessouky and Yow all packed into one section. I think surprise player will be Gawad getting through that section and beating Momen in the quarters then losing to Ali in the semis. 

Cameron Pilley

Men’s Winner: Ali Farag
Women’s Winner: Nour El Sherbini

Men’s One to Watch: Joel Makin
Women’s One to Watch: Amanda Sobhy

“Being the first tournament of the season for most players, it’s always interesting to see what areas of their games players have focused on in the off-season. Quite often there will be a few upsets in the first tournament back after summer training so I wouldn’t be surprised to see my 2 ‘surprise picks’ go at least one round beyond their seedings.”

“Joel [Makin] is such a solid player and it looks like he is adding more and more variety to his game every year, while Amanda looks like she has put in a big off-season down in Florida and is ready to fire.

“Farag is all class and although he may take a few matches to find his rhythm, once he does he will be hard to stop. With Nour El Sherbini, I feel like she has a point to prove this season and will want to reclaim the No.1 spot. A tricky first round to get through but I think it will click her into gear for the rest of the tournament.”

Aisling Blake

Men’s Winner: Ali Farag
Women’s Winner: Nour El Sherbini

Men’s One to Watch: Karim Abdel Gawad
Women’s One to Watch: Amanda Sobhy

“I think this is one of the hardest events to call, with it being the first event of the season and you can see what some players have been up to on social media but the doesn’t tell the whole story. I’ve gone for the two world champions for the winners just with not knowing the form of other players.

As for the ones to watch, I think Amanda Sobhy is going to be looking for that first big win and I think she can get it. Karim Abdel Gawad is obviously someone to be feared and at No.10 seed he definitely has an outside chance.”

Borja Golan

Men’s winner: Diego Elías

Women’s winner: Nouran Gohar

Men’s One to Watch: Mohamed Abouelghar

Women’s One to Watch: Jasmine Hutton 

“I have 3 or 4 candidates to win the men’s event but I think if Diego [Elias] is well prepared and playing good squash, I’d put my money on him. In womens I would say Nouran Gohar because her draw is better than her opponents ones and she proved last year that she is very consistent!

“It is difficult to pick a ‘One to Watch’ in the men’s because the ones can make an upset have very tough draws. I’ve chosen Abouelghar because after a year coming back from a major injury he has the level and the experience so if he is still hungry then it’s only a matter of time before he makes a big result. He would deserve it for sure!

“In the women’s, I’d put my money on Jasmine Hutton. I think she is improving so fast and she proved also her consistency winning the British Nationals for for second time. If she’s recovered well from that victory (physically and emotionally) she can do well in Paris. 

“Big congratulations for Camile and all the team to make this great event possible in Paris. All the best for everyone!”

Paul Johnson

Mens winner: Ali Farag
Women’s winner: Nour El Sherbini

Men’s One to Watch: Karim Abdel Gawad
Women’s One to Watch: Jasmine Hutton

“It’s the first event after the summer break, which always throws up some interesting results so a lot will depend on who’s put the hard yards in over recent months.

“Certain players have moved across to “new” coaches and they’ve now had a reasonable amount of time now for the impact of that work to come to fruition. French players also respond well to home support so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see one or two impressive performances from them throughout the event.”

Laura Massaro

Men’s Winner: Mohamed ElShorbagy

Men’s One to Watch: Karim Abdel Gawad

“Mohamed ElShorbagy showed great form at the British Nationals and will be hungry to start the season well after that win. Those extra matches before the start of the PSA season could be really valuable.
Gawad for the same reason, he won the invitational event in Seattle and looked to be in great form. Those matches will be really important for his confidence!”

Joey Barrington

Men’s winner: Ali Farag
Women’s winner: Nouran Gohar

Men’s One to Watch: Karim Abdel Gawad
Women’s One to Watch: Amina Orfi 

“I think Ali Farag will bounce back nicely from World Tour Finals. He’s never done brilliantly in the world tour finals and he’ll be chomping at the bit to put some daylight between himself and the rest of the pack at the top of the rankings. I think Gawad could go through and do really well, I’m antivpaying them to play eachother later in the event.

“You have to say Gohar for the women’s, she will navigate her half of the draw in ruthless fashion as she always does and have another go at a title. Amina Orfi is my One to Watch, she could really upset the apple cart with a few wins in this event. She looks as hungry as anyone when she’s played so far in big events so she is a definite danger.”