World Champions Asal & ElSherbini Win Windy City Open Silverware

World Champions Mostafa Asal and Nour ElSherbini claimed the Windy City Open titles in Chicago, beating Amina Orfi and Paul Coll in contrasting finals to win the sixth major event of the 25/26 PSA Squash Tour season.

The women's final at the University of Chicago opened the show on day seven of the Platinum level event as Nour ElSherbini and Amina Orfi squared off for the fifth time. Both players started the match strongly, but despite ElSherbini leading several times, Orfi reversed the momentum to take the first 11-9.

The second game followed a similar pattern. ElSherbini trying to find her rhythm and attack Orfi, but the teenager was finding more, moving ahead 10-7. ElSherbini fought her way back into the game and levelled at 10-10. The youngster regained her composure to take the next two points, giving herself a two-game advantage, a position she'd only lost from twice in her career.

Moving into the third, there was nothing to separate the two. Neither player was able to take a sizable lead. The score reached 9-9, but it was the world No.2 who earned a chance to seal the championship and claim her first major title. After squandering the first opportunity, Orfi earned another, but again was denied. The Warrior Princess was able to fight back, despite being struck by the ball, to win the third 13-11 and breathe more life into the contest.

After taking the fourth game comfortably 11-5, momentum was firmly with the two-time event champion ElSherbini. The deciding game of the contest saw the current World Champion use all of her experience against the current World Junior Champion, running out to a 6-1 lead.

The early lead was held by ElSherbini until the final stages of the game, before the world No.4 eventually sealed the game 11-8 to win a 20th major event title and 46th title of her career.

"I felt I was losing, and I felt that it was over, but when I was out and maybe after I sat down for a minute, I just felt relaxed," said ElSherbini afterwards.

"I felt tense in the beginning, but I was relaxed by the end.

"In the first two games, it wasn't that simple. Maybe, I need time to find my game, especially against an opponent like this. I think, maybe when I am freer or not thinking as much, the shots become better so maybe that's the reason."

The conclusion to the tournament in Chicago saw Paul Coll and Mostafa Asal meet for the 23rd time in their careers, with their last three meetings coming in a final. Asal, who had got the better of Coll 15 times, was able to take a commanding 4-1 lead in the first. Despite Coll's best efforts, bringing the game back to 4-4, Asal was able to reaffirm control of the contest, winning seven of the next eight points, to claim the first 11-5 after 21 minutes.

The second game seemed to follow a similar pattern to the opener, with Asal once again taking a 4-2 lead. However, unlike the first, the Kiwi was able to battle back against the world No.1 to take charge of the second, holding an 8-5 advantage.

With momentum in the New Zealand No.1's favour, his run would be cut short, with the second game taking a 15-minute pause, due to a contributed injury, following a collision between the two players. Asal returned to the court with renewed vigour and stormed through the points to win 12-10 and double his lead.

Despite his obvious frustration, Coll was able to regain his focus at the start of the third game, taking a 3-1 lead. However, the gap was quickly cut by Asal who was continuing to dominate the middle. The world No.1 rattled off the points to reach 10-7, and sealed the win at the first time of asking. The 3/0 win for Asal was a 20th consecutive straight games victory for the Egyptian and fifth title of the season.

"There was pressure on me in this match, especially, to be world No.1 and dominating the way that I am is really difficult and it's really hard," Asal admitted after the match.

"Credit to Paul, he played a good game and it is tough to play against him.

"I am really pleased with the performance today, and the key was the mentality. It is coming into the players' minds that they want to win a game, so I am really pleased with that. I am sure I am going to lose at some point, which was really close to happening today."

The PSA Squash Tour heads to Houston next for the Texas Open 2025 - a Gold level event - taking place between 12-16 February.