Salma Hany & Youssef Soliman Celebrate Australian Open Success

Egyptian pair Salma Hany and Youssef Soliman have been crowned the 2024 City Tattersalls Group Australian Open champions after defeating Amina Orfi and Victor Crouin, respectively, in the finals of the PSA World Tour Bronze event at the University of Sydney.

Top seed Hany clinched her maiden piece of silverware on the PSA World Tour with her success in Sydney with her 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 victory over No.2 seed Orfi.

The world No.11, a runner up on four occasions previously, produced a clinical display while also being able to contain Orfi.

After managing the first two games, Hany did well to absorb plenty of pressure applied by her Egyptian compatriot to have six match balls and, despite Orfi saving five of them, Hany converted at the sixth attempt to land her first-ever World Tour title.

"Very happy, obviously," said Hany. "I'm very proud of myself this week, I produced some good squash and today's opponent Amina is such a strong player, she's been pushing all of the top players and to play the final with her was great.

"I'm glad I stayed solid and kept my calm, managed to stick to the plan and I enjoyed my time out there," added the Cairo-based 27-year-old

"I was 10-4, match ball in the third and I dropped my focus a little bit and she was coming back strong and I managed to win it 11-9. I was able to keep my focus and calm throughout the match and that was the key today.

"My head was clear and I was able to think and react to everything she did on court. I'm really happy with the week and to win the title."

In the men's final, No.2 seed Soliman dispatched favourite Crouin 3/1 to secure his second Bronze-level title in as many months having triumphed at the Squash on Fire Open in Washington DC in February.

It was the pair's fifth PSA World Tour clash, and their second this season having played out a five-game battle at the Tournament of Champions in New York City in January, when Crouin was victorious.

It didn't go the distance this time, though, as Soliman executed his game plan superbly - timing his moments to attack and remained solid throughout even when Crouin halved the deficit when he won the third 11-4. But Soliman remained composed in the fourth, winning 11-6 to secure the 11th title of his career.

"I'm over the moon to have this title," he said. "It's been a very tough week, the conditions have been very tough and to play Victor in the final for a Bronze event - he's world No.11 and I'm No.12 - and we both came here to win the title.

"He was coming back when I was 2/0 up and I'm glad with the way that I managed it in the fourth. It's been a tough week and I'm feeling relieved."