Year in Review: Matches of the Year

32 PSA World Tour events were played throughout 2023, with 23 different players capturing the titles. We saw many top quality battles with all sorts of drama unfolding as the players showcased their skills, physical abilities and determination all at the same time. Despite so many amazing matches to choose from, we’ve identified five mens and women’s matches that we think are the best from 2023.

If you missed any of the matches listed or simply want to watch them again, visit the replay section on SQUASHTV.

Qatar Classic RD3 – Mohamed ElShorbagy v Youssef Ibrahim

Egypt’s Youssef Ibrahim held a 3-1 head-to-head lead over Mohamed ElShorbagy heading into their round three clash at this years QTerminals Qatar Classic. ‘The Beast’ had to dig extremely deep to fight back several times to beat Ibrahim in the 81-minute contest. A match full of unbelievable retrievals, amazing shots and non-stop drama.

Singapore Open – Nele Gilis v Tinne Gilis

Meeting in a third final on the PSA World Tour, Belgian sisters Nele and Tinne Gilis took to the court at the VITAGEN Singapore Open, both in their maiden Gold event finals looking to claim another World Tour event title. The sisters have been improving year after year, which is reflected in their world rankings. In a momentum-swinging final, Nele had to see off the advances of Tinne to win in a five game thriller to lift her biggest title.

PSA World Tour Finals Final – Nouran Gohar v Hania El Hammamy

This match literally had it all. In the longest women’s match ever on the PSA Tour, Nouran Gohar and Hania El Hammamy took their rivalry to a new level as they battled for the PSA World Tour Finals trophy, both not willing to give an inch to each other as they played out a fiery, quality match. Nouran Gohar came out on top in a staggering 130 minutes, winning the match in a drama-filled tiebreak.

PSA World Championships SF – Nouran Gohar v Hania El Hammamy

Incredible matches between Gohar and El Hammamy were a theme throughout 2023 and their clash in the biggest event in squash – the PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family – was no exception. At 105 minutes, the match equalled the record for the longest women’s World Championship match and, at the time, was the joint fifth longest match in the history of the women’s game. At least until they surpassed it at the aforementioned PSA World Tour Finals.

Black Ball Squash Open SF – Mohamed Elshorbagy v Diego Elias

Diego Elias had been in great from at the start of 2023, claiming three titles in a row before heading to the Black Ball Squash Open where he gave himself the chance to become the World No.1 for the first time in his career. All he needed to do was overcome former World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy…not an easy task. The Peruvian held a match ball in the fifth game at 10-9 but was forced into a tiebreak by Elshorbagy, who went on to spoil Elias’ party.

Canadian Men’s Open SF – Victor Crouin v Miguel Rodriguez

‘Colombian Cannonball’ Miguel Rodriguez rarely disappoints the crowd when he takes to the court. On this occasion, he faced France’s Victor Crouin in Calgary in the semi-finals of the Canadian Men’s Open. The match was quality throughout, with hardly any refereeing decisions allowing Rodriguez to do Rodriguez things and Crouin to showcase his class and elegance. It was the Frenchman who came out on top in a match worth watching again and again.

Canary Wharf Classic SF – Paul Coll v Ali Farag

The Canary Wharf Classic was regarded as a favourite event of many players, including Paul Coll and Ali Farag, who lined up this year in the semi-finals. Farag was still coming back from injury but, fuelled by the Canary Wharf crowd, brought his ‘A’ game to London’s East Wintergarden against the physically phenomenal Coll. The Kiwi had to battle extremely hard but managed to find a way past the World Champion to reach the final.

Paris Squash SF – Paul Coll v Ali Farag

A brand new event was the first Platinum tournament of the 2023-24 season as players headed to France for the Paris Squash. Paul Coll and Ali Farag met in the semi-finals, both looking to start the season in great style and claim the first major event of the new season. The pair played out a 96-minute thriller, much to the delight of the adoring Parisian crowd, who couldn’t get enough. It was World No.1 Farag, who had ended the previous season in scintillating form, who scraped through 12-10 in the fifth game.

Black Ball Squash Open QF – Amanda Sobhy v Nour El Sherbini

USA’s Amanda Sobhy produced a terrific performance at the Black Ball Squash Open back in March as she defeated World Champion Nour El Sherbini in an entertaining and hard fought five-set clash. Sobhy is always capable of scoring upsets against the top three and showcased her undoubted quality to down the No.2 seed and silence the Egyptian crowd.

Qatar Classic Final – Hania El Hammamy v Nour El Sherbini

For the first time since 2015, the Qatar Classic featured a women’s event in the second Platinum event of the season. The iconic Khalifa Squash Arena played host to another quality clash between Nour El Sherbini and Hania El Hammamy. The momentum ebbed and flowed with both players having periods of dominance. The first four games couldn’t have been closer as they all ended 11-9, with both players scoring two each. El Sherbini managed to pull away in the fifth game to earn another Platinum title and her second of the season.