Squash On Fire Open Finals: Gilis Claims Maiden World Tour Title

Belgium’s Tinne Gilis secured the biggest title of her career as she defeated Egyptian wildcard Amina Orfi in straight games in the final of the Squash On Fire Open.

Gilis was on the front foot from the off, winning the first five points. Her short play, particularly into the front left corner was immaculate in the early exchanges. A couple of wicked trickle boasts got Orfi up and running, and she displayed the same level of confidence she has all week to get level at 7-7. Experience would prevail at the end of the first though, with the Belgian taking the first lead of the match.

The Belgian took an easy lead in the second as well, but once again, Orfi was able to fight back to make the scores almost level in the middle part of the game. However, Gilis showed her class, with some exquisite winners in the latter stages of the game, with the 15-year-old seeming to run out of ideas.

Orfi has been here since last Friday, when she started her run in the PSA Satellite event to determine who the wildcard would be. That started to show as the third game got underway, as Gilis was able to move her about the court with good lines and length. The Belgian dropped just three points in the last game, with a trademark front court drop shot being the winning shot.

Gilis joins older sister Nele in winning a PSA World Tour Bronze level title this season, and this is the Belgian’s first victory in 2022-2023.

“I still can’t believe it to be honest. I played this tournament with no expectations, I just wanted to play well and enjoy my squash again! I think that’s what I did today!” Gilis explained.

“She has been playing unreal squash! She is only 15-years-old, coming from the qualifying tournament to beat everyone in the bottom half of the draw. It is very impressive for a 15-year-old! I knew I had to be on my toes today, and that this match would be physical. I am happy with the way I played, and that I managed to win in three.

“This is the first time I had ever seen her play so I didn’t know what to expect. I watched her match with Sabrina [Sobhy] which was very physical. It was a 70-minute match so I was hoping she would be feeling it!

“Winning a Bronze tournament was really something I wanted to achieve this season. I didn’t know when that was going to happen because I was struggling with some injuries and stuff. I am so happy that I managed to reset, keep on training because it has been mentally hard. I made sure I could play this tournament because I love this tournament, everyone around here, so it makes me extra happy to win my first Bronze tournament here in Washington, D.C.”

Result:
[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [WC] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 (43m)