World No.12 Satomi Watanabe produced a fine performance to overcome 17-year-old sensation Amina Orfi in a five-game thriller at the Silicon Valley Open 2024, progressing to her maiden Gold-level final on the PSA Squash Tour.
In an enthralling 81-minute battle, the Japanese No.1 fought back from 2-1 down to claim victory over Orfi by an 11-9, 10-12, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9 scoreline.
Watanabe came out strong in the first game with a clear game plan to keep Orfi guessing with low, twisting cross-court shots, while also using her hold to great effect. The No.6 seed took the opener 11-9, but saw her lead turn into a deficit after two tight games where Orfi’s resilience shone through. The Egyptian teenager battled back from a 10-7 deficit in the second game and delivered some gutsy squash to win a third-game tie-break.
The momentum swung back in Watanabe’s favour after a change of ball in the fourth game, with the 25-year-old forcing a fifth game, and moving to 8-8 in what proved to be a tense decider. A sublime backhand flick brought the Japanese player two match balls, and at the second time of asking, Watanabe sealed the win, advancing to the biggest final of her career to date.
After the match, Watanabe said: “I’m still half in the zone right now. I’m still not sure that I actually won! But I think as I cool down it will sink in for me.
“I was just telling myself not to rush. I know some players, like Nouran Gohar, when they hit the ball hard, it forces you to rush as early as possible.
“This ball was quite bouncy, so I was just telling myself to calm down, watch the ball and know that I have the skill to return those balls now.”
In the other women’s semi-final, American No.1 Olivia Weaver advanced to the second Gold-level final of her career, treating the sell-out crowd within Squash Zone to a gutsy five-game comeback against Sivasangari Subramaniam.
Weaver, the World No.4, clawed her way back from 2-1 down to triumph over the Malaysian No.1, by an 11-7, 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-4 scoreline. The top seed struggled to deal with Sivasangari’s wealth of attacking weapons in the first half of the match, but saw her superior physicality come to her aid in what eventually proved to be a one-sided fifth game.
“I’m really happy,” Weaver said after the match. “I though Siva played awesome, we always have really good battles, whether they’re three games or whether they’re five. I felt I was edgy at some points and wasn’t quite feeling my short game, but I was just able to rely on my physicality and really just try to make it as physically tough at possible at the end of the match.”
Meanwhile in the men’s event Welsh No.1 Joel Makin delivered a near-flawless performance to dispatch England’s Marwan ElShorbagy in straight games. Makin’s relentless pressure and clinical shot-making saw him wear down the England No.2 after a tight first game and secure an 11-9, 11-4, 11-1 win in just 34 minutes.
No.5 seed Makin will face Egypt’s Youssef Soliman in the title decider, after the No.8 seed defeated compatriot Aly About Eleinen in straight games.
The World No.11 booked his spot in his first Gold-level final since March 2023 with an assured 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 victory, which saw him combine his renowned athleticism with impressive attacking finesse into the front two corners.
Results: Silicon Valley Open 2024 – Men’s Semi-Finals
[5] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-1 (34m)
[8] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 (45m)
Results: Silicon Valley Open 2024 – Women’s Semi-Finals
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [3] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 3-2: 11-6, 8-11, 12-14, 11-9, 11-5 (68m)
[6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [5] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 10-12, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9 (81m)
Draw: Men’s Final – To Be Played October 16
[5] Joel Makin (WAL) v [8] Youssef Toliman (EGY)
Draw: Women’s Final – To Be Played October 16
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) v [6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN)