City Tattersalls Group Australian Open 2024 – Final: Soliman Overcomes Top Seed Crouin

No.2 seed Youssef Soliman is the men’s Australian Open champion after dispatching top seed Victor Crouin 3-1.

It’s Soliman’s second Bronze-level title in as many months after the World No.12 triumphed at the Squash on Fire Open last month in Washington D.C.

Soliman and Crouin were going head-to-head for the fifth time on the PSA World Tour, their second encounter of the season after the French No.1 came out on top in a five-game battle at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York City.

It didn’t go the distance this time, though, as Soliman executed his game plan superbly – timing his moments to attack incredibly well which he had done so well all week in Sydney.

In a scrappy, absorbing opening game with plenty of decisions, it was Soliman who was victorious in 19 minutes with an 11-8 success over Crouin.

Too many errors flowed from the racket of Crouin, which were punished by Soliman as he continued to move smoothly on court with an 11-4 win to make it a two-game lead.

The response from Crouin was just what was required from the Frenchman, tidying up the errors that had been costly in the first two games as he halved the deficit.

But the errors crept back in for Crouin, who was struggling to find his range as Soliman remained composed despite losing the third to get back on top and seal the match with an 11-6 victory in the fourth.

“I’m over the moon to have this title,” he said.

“It’s been a very tough week, the conditions have been very tough and to play Victor [Crouin] in the final for a Bronze event – he’s World No.11 and I’m No.12 – and we both came here to win the title.

“He was coming back when I was 2-0 up and I’m glad with the way that I managed it in the fourth. It’s been a tough week and I’m feeling relieved.”

Result
[2] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [1] Victor Crouin (FRA) 3-1: 11-8, 11-4, 4-11, 11-6 (61m)