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City Tattersalls Group Australian Open 2024 – Quarter Finals: Player Reaction
It’s quarter finals time at the University of Sydney as eight players in the men’s and women’s competitions battle it out for a place in the final four of the City Tattersalls Group Australian Open 2024.
We’ll be bringing you reports and reaction from today’s winners below, and you can watch the action live and for free on SQUASHTV. Live scores can also be viewed here.
Order of Play
Ibrahim Reaches Maiden PSA World Tour Semi Final
Sana Ibrahim has secured her place in a semi final of the PSA World Tour event for the first time in her career following her 3-1 victory over Rachel Arnold.
The 21-year-old Egyptian, who’s been a quarter finalist at best at Bronze and Silver-level tournaments, richly deserved her spot in the last four of the Australian Open with aggressive play throughout.
Ibrahim had the upperhand over Arnold coming into today’s quarter final clash, winning at the Squash on Fire Open in 2023, and the Egyptian edged a close first game after pulling away at the business end to convert three game balls at the first time of asking.
Arnold landed the perfect response, holding off a fightback from Ibrahim to give herself four game balls, which she claimed in style with a trickle boast.
After two lengthy opening games, Ibrahim regained her lead as she swooped on too many loose shots from Arnold, taking the third 11-3.
Ibrahim’s aggressiveness was unrelenting throughout all four games, forcing errors from Arnold’s racket and capitalising on her opportunities. The Egyptian wrapped up the match with an 11-5 success in the fourth game.
“I feel so happy about this [reaching a semi final of a PSA World Tour event for the first time],â she said.
âI was thinking about whether I was going to win today or not and reach the semi finals as itâs something big for me. Iâve played Rachel before at the Squash on Fire, but I lost in the quarters there.
âIt wasnât going to be easy today as I knew she would play better today and I wanted to reach the semi finals. When I was 2-1 up and leading I was thinking about it, but I told myself itâs 0-0 and just focus on each point. Iâm so happy about this.â
Result:
[5] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bt [3] Rachel Arnold (MAS)Â 3-1: 11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 11-5 (45m)
Steinmann Cruises Into Last Four
Swiss No.2 Dimitri Steinmann cruised into the semi finals of the Australian Open with a comprehensive win against Japanese No.1 Ryunosuke Tsukue.
Steinmann dispatched Tsukue 3-0 in 27 minutes in what was a solid performance from the No.4 seed.
In their first meeting on the World Tour, Steinmann converted his opportunities when they were presented to him as he dominated the first 11-2.
His lead was doubled with ease with another accomplished display in the second, which he took 11-4, but Tsukue responded well in a crucial third game as he kept pace with the World No.35.
However Steinmann held off Tsukue to become the first male player to advance to the semi finals.
âI felt realty good out there. Ryunosuke was probably struggling a little bit after his match yesterday, but overall I feel really good and Iâm happy to make it through to the semis,” he said.
âI like being here in Sydney, I feel really comfortable, I feel comfortable on the court, I move well and I was relaxed and I played some of my best squash. Iâm happy with that.
âIâve always loved coming to Australia â the people are so friendly and the tournament is always well organised and I really enjoy my time and I think that shows on court.â
Result:
[4] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt [8] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN)Â 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-5 (27m)
Top Seed Hany Continues Excellent Form
Top seed in the women’s event Salma Hany maintained her perfect run in Sydney as she advanced to the semi finals at the expense of Aira Azman.
Hany was in excellent form in round two yesterday, and the World No.11 picked up where she left off against Azman to secure her spot in the last four.
Azman, who ousted her sister Aifa in the second round for a quarter final berth, went point for point with the No.1 seed in the first game before Hany’s experience came to the fore as she went one game up.
Hany’s accuracy paid dividends to help her increase her lead to two games, while also being able to hold off Azman once again.
The shot selection of Hany was once again of the highest order in the third, in particular the backhand drop from the Egyptian a go to as she closed out the match in half an hour.
âIâm very happy with the performance today,â she said.
âAira is a very strong opponent, she had a good win last night and sheâs been pushing the top players. Iâm glad I was able to stick to the game plan, stay solid and win in three.
âI was expecting a fight today and I didnât underestimate her. I know sheâs a great player and she made me work hard to get the win in three.
âShe had a lead in the first and the second and Iâm glad I managed to win those games.â
Result:
[1] Salma Hany (EGY) bt Aira Azman (MAS)Â 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (30m)
Crouin Downs Lau in Straight Games
The men’s No.1 seed Victor Crouin delivered another confident performance to book a semi final place in Sydney.
The World No.11 notched a 3-0 victory over Tsz Kwan Lau in 35 minutes, with Dimitri Steinmann awaiting him in the last four tomorrow evening.
The French No.1 found his targets well in each of the three games, as he drove the ball deep into the back corners which left Lau short of answers.
Having taken the first 11-5, Crouin diffused a resurgent Lau in the second with the Frenchman’s accuracy seeing him press on to another 11-5 success.
Crouin was forcing the errors from Lau, who tried everything to gain a foothold back in the contest but came up short as the former champion of this event prevailed.
âIâm happy to win in three games pretty convincingly,â he said.
âIt was definitely tough out there even though the scoreboard doesnât show it. I think I played the important rallies well enough to win them and made sure he didnât have the hope to win the games. Iâm happy with my game.
âIt can be a hit or miss and today he missed more than he found his targets, but also credit to myself for putting enough pressure on to make sure he feels like he has to hit the ball lower and lower.
“I think I had my game plan right from the get go and I found my targets in the back corners, but heâs a very dangerous player and over the past two seasons heâs showed he can play at a very high level and heâs out there to break into the top of the game which is good to see. But Iâm happy to keep him in the back at the moment.â Â
Result:
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [5] Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (35m)
Dominant Display From Orfi Earns Semi Final Spot
No.2 seed Amina Orfi earned a place in the semi finals with a clinical display against Marie Stephan.
The Egyptian starlet, who’s into the semi finals of a PSA World Tour event for the third time in her fledgling career, found her targets and dominated the middle of the court.
Orfi and Stephan went point for point in the opening game before Orfi pulled clear at six-all to register five points without reply to go 1-0 up.
The 16-year-old stuck to her game plan in the second, with her accuracy making life difficult for Stephan who continued to stand toe-to-toe with Orfi before she pushed on again.
Orfi was fully in control with her two-game lead, and her accurate play down both sides pinned Stephan into the back corners as the Egyptian sealed the match with another 11-6 win in the third.
âI think I played well today, even though it was pretty tense at times I managed to stay focused and win the game,â she said.
âIâve never played with her [Marie Stephan] â this was my first time playing her and when you play someone new youâre not used to their game so I tried to watch her to see what she does. I thought she played pretty good today.
âI know the court is hot and bouncy so I tried to keep my shots low and not bouncing all over the court because sheâs pretty tall and she could volley anything. That was my main game plan today.â
Result:
[2] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [8] Marie Stephan (FRA)Â 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (39m)
Solid Soliman Advances
A solid performance from Youssef Soliman helped him overcome David Baillargeon in straight sets for a semi final berth.
The No.2 seed absorbed everything the Canadian No.1 threw at him, with Soliman coming out on top in the majority of the lengthy rallies between the two players.
It was their first-ever encounter on the PSA World Tour, and Baillargeon was mixing the tempo in a bid to catch out Soliman, who was equal to most of the play.
After a closely-fought first game, where Soliman won 11-6, it was another edgy battle in the second as the lengthy exchanges continued to flow with Soliman winning 11-6 again.
Baillargeon needed to try something new to get back into the contest, but Soliman’s experience was too much for the Canadian to handle in the end as the Egyptian claimed an 11-5 win to wrap up the match in 39 minutes.
âIâm very happy with my performance,” Soliman said.
“I think David [Baillargeon] played very well. Itâs good to have these lengthy rallies, itâs a bouncy court, you have to keep the rally going until the ball softens and start to go in short. Itâs good to have this.
âYou know that most of the players play without any pressure, so you know this will happen. You have to start lobbing and giving him the messages he wonât go anywhere just throwing winners. Thatâs what you have to do â defend well and thatâs what I think I did very well today.â
Result:
[2] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [6] David Baillargeon (CAN)Â 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (39m)
Ho Fights Back To Clinch Semis Spot
Hong Kong No.1 Tomato Ho battled back from one game down to see off Yiwen Chan 3-1 to progress to the last four in Sydney.
In their first meeting on the World Tour in six years, it was Chan who made the brighter start – following up her big win yesterday in round two with another rampant triumph in the first game in the last eight.
Yiwen registered five points in succession to go 1-0 up, but Ho’s response was just what was required for the Hong Konger, steadying the ship having trailed early on in the second game to level the match.
Ho continued to hold her nerve in the third game, with her solid length hitting causing problems for Yiwen as Ho moved 2-1 up.
The World No.29 was full of confidence going into the fourth as she was dominating the ‘T’, and the match was sewn up with an 11-4 success.
âIâm happy that I won 3-1,” she said afterwards.
âSheâs a dangerous player because yesterday she caused an upset.
âI felt a bit nervous in the first and a bit messy, but luckily I could tidy up and find my game.
âI listened to my coach and I tried to find a better length, adjust the height and the pace of the ball. Iâm glad it worked well in the end.â
Result:
[4] Tomato Ho (HKG) bt Yiwen Chan (MAS)Â 3-1: 5-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (36m)
Bonmalais Reaches Maiden World Tour Semi Final
Sebastien Bonmalais will play in the semi finals of a PSA World Tour event for the first time as he downed Henry Leung in straight games.
The Frenchman’s patience against Leung was rewarded with a 3-0 triumph, which he had sewn up in 42 minutes, with long rallies contested between the two throughout.
Errors from Leung’s racket came as a result of Bonmalais extending the rallies to put work into his opponent’s legs, as he capitalised to win 11-6 in the opening game.
The long rallies continued to flow in the second as Bonmalais was starting to find success in the front corners, with his accurate play at the top of the court helping him double his lead.
Leung needed to a foothold back in the contest going into the third, and stood neck and neck with Bonmalais until the Frenchman’s ability at finding the back corners came to the fore to make it another victory for the World No.33.
“It sounds good [being in a semi final of a World Tour event for the first time],” he said afterwards.
“It’s been a long time since I started going up the rankings and playing the bigger tournaments, and I’m happy I managed to win 3-0 today and keep some energy for the rest of the tournament.
“I played well today. Henry [Leung] is a tough player and a fighter. Last time I played him I knew I had to have a lot of pace and move him around the court.
“That’s what I did today and I’m happy and I’m looking forward.”
Result:
[3] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt [7] Leung Chi Hin Henry (HKG)Â 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (42m)
