Karim Abdel Gawad of Egypt and Olivia Weaver of the USA have been crowned the Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open champions after both players launched thrilling comebacks to down top seed Paul Coll of New Zealand and Egyptian No.3 seed Amina Orfi on a gripping finals night at Brisbane’s South Bank Piazza.
Just over one week ago, there were serious fears that this year’s Australian Open – the biggest professional squash tournament ever to be held in Australia – would not go ahead as Tropical Cyclone Alfred barrelled towards Brisbane.
Those worries seemed a distant memory tonight, with the four athletes treating the crowd of almost 1,000 squash fans to a spectacular show in keeping with high-quality action seen during the preceding days of the championship.
Despite World No.4 Coll’s superior ranking and 7-5 head-to-head record, Gawad went into tonight’s clash confident after winning the last match the pair contested, with the World No.8 overcoming the Kiwi 3-0 in the quarter-final of last season’s El Gouna International.
Tonight’s match appeared to be going to seedings, though, when Coll edged through the first game 11-9.
Gawad responded in game two, with ‘the Baby-Faced Assassin’ dominating the T and scoring quickly with some wonderfully casual touches as he stuck back 11-6.
Game three was stop-start, with the lack of fluidity better suiting Gawad – who took a number of knocks to the jaw during the lively contest – as the Egyptian fired in winners and capitalised on some poor errors from Coll to earn four game balls at 10-6.
Coll saved all four of them, finding his accuracy when he needed it most to go game ball up 11-10, only for Gawad to turn on the style again to take the tie break 13-11.
The match appeared to be heading into a fifth game as Gawad trailed 3-7 in the fourth, only for a brilliant late burst from the 2016 world champion to snatch back the momentum as the Egyptian completed a gripping comeback 11-9.
“It’s a huge honour to add my name to all these Australian legends on this trophy. I’ve learnt so much from them and thanks to everyone for coming and supporting us,” Gawad said afterwards.
Weaver, too was forced to fight back as the top seeded American got the better of 17-year-old Orfi.
World No.6 Orfi had sliced through her opponents this week in Brisbane, with the teenager sublime in a complete dismantling of No.2 seed Tinne Gilis yesterday.
World No.4 Weaver, meanwhile, had shown moments of real quality after recovering from slow starts in all three of her previous matches this week, with the US No.1 fighting back from a game down to beat No.4 seed Rowan Elaraby yesterday.
Orfi made the best possible start today, dragging Weaver around court and punishing her in the corners to take game one 11-4.
The American stepped up the court in game two, volleying more in an attempt to disrupt Orfi’s relentless rhythm as she drew level with an 11-9 win.
Weaver found another gear in game four, crushing Orfi 11-1 in a brilliant exhibition of positive squash.
The Egyptian appeared to be dragging herself back into the contest as she took a 7-2 lead in game four, only for Weaver to calmly chip away at her lead, finally pulling level at 8-8 and then, roared on by her coach – Australian squash legend Rodney Martin – ending things with a spectacular attacking boast at 10-9.
“It’s going to take a long time to sink in,” Weaver admitted afterwards.
“Amina was so tough. It’s unbelievable that she’s doing this at 17.
“It wasn’t easy and it’s been a tough week and there are so many moments as an athlete that you doubt yourself and question what you’ve been doing, so just to get through this match and win this event means everything.”
Result: Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open – Women’s Final
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [3] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-1: 4-11, 11-9, 11-1, 11-9 (53m)
Result: Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open Men’s Final
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt [1] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-9 (83m)