Eleinen Striving for World’s Top 10 after Reaching Top 20 Milestone

It took Aly Abou Eleinen just 82 matches to move from tour novice to the world’s top 20, but the Egyptian believes that there is still room for improvement as his knowledge and experience of the game expands. 

Eleinen, 23, enjoyed a breakthrough 2022-23 campaign, making his mark on tour with high-profile wins over the likes of French No.1 Victor Crouin at the PSA World Championships and Youssef Soliman at the Oracle NetSuite Open. 

In his first full season on tour, Eleinen scooped up two PSA titles, winning the Bremer Schlussel in Germany and the London Open, as well as reaching the last 16 of three Platinum events. 

And his 2023-24 season has got off to another strong start, with the Egyptian making the last 16 of the Qatar Classic and subsequently reaching No.20 in the latest world rankings.

On reaching this milestone, Eleinen said: “It puts a huge smile on my face to break into the top 20 in the world! 

“As a kid, I’d sit on the floor, watching top 20 players in awe, dreaming of being like them someday. So, achieving this milestone means the world to me, my family, and my coaching team. 

“We decided to celebrate for just one day and we all agreed that after that, it’s just a number on a screen that will change every week. This approach will help me stay grounded and focused on what’s coming next. 

“I’m fully aware that it’s only going to get tougher from here, but I’m excited to embrace that and keep pushing myself to work harder and achieve more.”

Just two summers ago, Eleinen was graduating from Penn University in Philadelphia, and since then, he has steadily risen in the rankings from outside the world’s top 175 all the way to the world’s top 20.

And although the young Egyptian’s lessons in the classroom may now have finished, he is still insistent on soaking up as much information as possible from every match he plays on tour. 

He said: “I feel that I’m still on the young side in my career and still have so much more to figure out. That’s why I’m doing my best to be process-oriented, and my coaching team does a fantastic job of holding me accountable for that. 

“I believe that the more matches I play, the more I will learn about myself and gain more experience. I watch myself a lot, study my opponents, and try to learn from every match. Why do I win, why do I lose? That’s what I’m constantly trying to figure out. 

“Squash is a complex game, and the top players make it look so effortless. But trust me, it really is easier said than done. I’m trying to soak up new lessons week in and week out, knowing that there is still so much that I can learn.”

Although Eleinen has barely had a moment to look back since breaking onto the scene last year, he is still full steam ahead as he looks to propel himself into the world’s top 10. 

“Absolutely, I’m always aiming higher,” he said when asked about turning his sights to becoming a top 10 player.

“Breaking into the top 20 was a great moment, but I’m not stopping there. When I look at the players ahead of me, I see some world-class players, and I understand that closing the gap between me and the top players doesn’t just happen overnight, but I truly believe I’m on the right track. 

“I’ll keep pushing myself to climb those rankings, and the top 10 is definitely one of the milestones I’m striving for. But for now, I have to stay grounded and concentrate on what I need to do on a daily basis to grow as a player and as a person. 

“I have faith that if I put in this effort consistently, the results and rankings will naturally follow.”

Eleinen has played a more traditional style of squash throughout his college years and the early stages of his career – something which is unique to the shot-making style of play that many of his Egyptian compatriots have adopted on tour. 

However, the 23-year-old believes there is a happy medium to be had between the two and that bringing his Egyptian style of play to the fore could unlock a new level in his game. 

He said: “Back when I was younger, I used to play with more of that Egyptian-style flair. I would go for shots from the back, attempt nicks in crucial moments, and play flashy-entertaining squash. While that led to amazing moments, it wasn’t easy to maintain consistency with that style of play. 

“Then came my time at Penn, where we played with a 19-inch tin instead of the usual 17-inch one. That nudged me toward a more careful, traditional style of play, and surprisingly, it had its own perks! 

“It helped me maintain a solid record throughout my four college years and it got me into a pretty good physical shape, which boosted my confidence. 

“But I genuinely believe that deep down, there’s more of that Egyptian style waiting to burst out, and I’m sure that with more matches and more experience, I’ll be able to find the right balance between the two styles. Because when I do, that’s when I play my best squash on court!”