Irish Open SF: Azman Downs Adopted Home Hope Fuller

Malaysia’s Aira Azman is into the biggest final of her young career as she beat World No.30 Alexandra Fuller to reach the final of the Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open.

The Malaysian came into the Challenger 20 level competition unseeded, but has been in great form recently. She already has two titles to her name this season, and was one of the twelve players to secure a spot at the PSA World Championships via the Qualifying Event in Birmingham last week.

Azman had gone to five the previous day against Zeina Zein. That did not stop her from causing a big upset on Friday evening, as she got the better of Alexandra Fuller, who now resides in Dublin and calls the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club her home.

After winning the first game, the young Malaysian found herself 2-1 down. She fought through a fourth game tie-break, where she saved two match balls. Azman won that game 14-12, before then going on to take the deciding fifth game 11-6 to move through to the final.

She will now take on England’s Jasmine Hutton, the tournament’s top seed, on Saturday afternoon in Dublin. The Englishwoman had no issues in getting the better of Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir, winning 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 in under half an hour.

The men’s top seed also won in straight games in the semis. Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng downed US No.1 Shahjahan Khan comfortably. The Malaysian dropped just 11 points in his victory, winning 11-2, 11-4, 11-5 in 36 minutes.

He will now take on Egypt’s Aly Abou Eleinen in the final. The tournament’s No.4 seed came through a lengthy battle with compatriot Mohamed Abouelghar. The former World No.7 had to go through the World Championships qualifying process last week in Birmingham, and he then found himself two games down to Eleinen in the semis in Dublin.

However, he fought back brilliantly, dropping just six points across the next two games to level the last match of the day’s play. Eleinen regrouped and went on to win the fifth 11-7, to move through to the final of the Irish Open. 

The finals of the Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open will take place on Saturday, April 22. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Action from Dublin is being streamed throughout the week on the Irish Squash TV channel. You can also keep up to date with live scores which are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

Men’s Semi-Final Results: Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open
[1] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt [3] Shahjahan Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-5 (36m)
[4] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 11-7, 2-11, 4-11, 11-7 (84m)

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, April 22
[1] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [4] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open
[1] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt [4] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (29m)
Aira Azman (MAS) bt [3] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 3-2: 11-5, 9-11, 1-11, 14-12, 11-6 (52m)

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, April 22
[1] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) v Aira Azman (MAS)