Pajares Stuns Bryant On Day Of Upsets At New Zealand Open

Spain's world No.34 Iker Pajares produced a near-faultless display to surge into the quarter-finals of the 2026 New Zealand Open, stunning world No.11 Jonah Bryant in four games at Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch.

On a day of upsets in which three unseeded players progressed to the last eight stage of the Silver-level event, it was Spanish National Champion Pajares who delivered the pick of the performances by overturning the No.4 seed by a 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4 scoreline.

After a brutal 31-minute first game went the way of Bryant in a tie-break, Pajares responded in terrific fashion, hitting with immaculate accuracy and forcing Bryant into continuously tough movements.

The 29-year-old saved two game balls in a high-quality third game win, before moving through a largely one-sided fourth game to seal the victory after 85 minutes of play.

After the match, Pajares said: "I've been struggling with some performances with my body lately - I don't know what happened today, I just felt so good. I felt very strong, I wasn't getting tired, and I was very confident in myself.

"I had crazy matches last year with Jonah and I always lost them in five. After the 2/1 lead today, I just knew I had to push very hard.

"I have a massive opportunity against my friend Matias [Knudsen] tomorrow. We're staying together and we said this morning, 'let's meet tomorrow [in the quarter-finals]'"

Elsewhere in the men's draw, two-time defending champion Paul Coll got his hat-trick hopes underway in somewhat nervy style, eventually getting the better of the powerful Moustafa Elsirty in four games.

World No.2 Coll by no means had it his own way throughout the 65-minute encounter, notably battling back from 8-6 down in the fourth game when a decider looked to be on the cards.

In the women's draw, England's world No.45 Torrie Malik claimed one of the biggest wins of her career after twice coming from behind to upset world No.12 Salma Hany in five games.

Awaiting Malik in the quarter-finals is another unseeded player, Nour Heikal, who overcame No.8 seed Tomato Ho in four games. The pair will both go into tomorrow's match eying a spot in a maiden Silver-level semi-final on the PSA Squash Tour.

The other two winners in the women's draw were Nele Gilis and Aifa Azman, who claimed comfortable three-game wins over Haya Ali and Marie Stephan.

Matias Knudsen and Eain Yow Ng rounded out the men's quarter-final line-up after coming through tough tests with Auguste Dussourd and Melvil Scianimanico, respectively.