Hyder Trophy SF: Unseeded Ali Advances To Finals Day

Egypt’s Haya Ali, unseeded for the competition, is through to the finals of the Hyder Trophy in New York City.

The Egyptian came into the women’s draw at the Challenger 10 level competition unseeded, and after three wins, she is now into the final, which will be held at Equinox.

On semi-finals day, Ali took on American Lucie Stefanoni, also unseeded in the event. The Egyptian, who won her maiden Tour title last month, took victory in straight games, winning 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 to make the final.

She will now take on No.2 seed Akanksha Salunkhe after the Indian defeated Mexico’s Diana Garcia. The Mexican, the No.5 seed for the tournament, went 2-1 up, but Salunkhe fought back to win the match in five, to make her first final since March 2022.

In the men’s event, Egypt’s Yassin Elshafei is into a third final in four tournaments. The draw’s top seed came from a game down to defeat Pakistan’s Muhammad Ashab Irfan in the last four. He lost the opening game 11-9, but came back strongly, before winning the third on a tie-break to keep the momentum in his favour.

The Egyptian will now face Israeli No.1 Daniel Poleshchuk on Sunday afternoon in New York. The tournament’s No.5 seed got the better of Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva in the semis, winning 11-3, 11-9, 11-6. He moves through to his first final since winning back-to-back events in Poland last year.

The finals of the Hyder Trophy will take place on Sunday, May 7, with the action being streamed live on the NYC Squash YouTube channel. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s Semi-Final Results: Hyder Trophy
[5] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt [8] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) 3-0: 11-3, 11-9, 11-6
[1] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) bt Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) 3-1: 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, May 7
[5] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) v [1] Yassin Elshafei (EGY)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: Hyder Trophy
Haya Ali (EGY) bt Lucie Stefanoni (USA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-6
[2] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt [5] Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-2: 10-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, May 7
Haya Ali (EGY) v [2] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND)