Leonel Cardenas & Salma Hany crowned 2025 PSA Manchester Open Champions

Leonel Cardenas of Mexico & Egypt’s Salma Hany defeated top seeds Aly Abou Eleinen and Georgina Kennedy respectively to be crowned 2025 Manchester Squash Open Champions.

Second seed Leonel Cardenas produced a composed and powerful performance in the men’s final to defeat top seed Aly Abou Eleinen in a hard-fought five-game encounter.

The Mexican made a dominant start, using his strength in the middle to control the tempo and force errors, taking the opening game comfortably. Aly Abou Eleinen, however, responded well in the second, stepping up at the front of the court and executing his attacking game to level the match with an 11-5 win.

Leonel regained the initiative in the third game, staying composed in the longer rallies and capitalising on loose balls to edge it 11-9. The Egyptian top seed, ranked World No.13, produced a resilient fourth game, reverting to a more structured approach to frustrate Cardenas and set up a deciding fifth with an 11-6 win.

With the title on the line, both players tightened up as the fifth game developed into a mental battle. Leonel Cardenas edged ahead 9-6, but Abou Aly Eleinen dug deep to narrow the gap to 9-8. However, the Mexican No.1 held firm, converting his match ball with a clinical straight drive with a video review confirming a no let on the final rally to hand the Mexican the title.

The women’s final saw defending champion Georgina Kennedy, aiming to secure her third consecutive Manchester Open title, against Salma Hany who had been in scintillating form throughout the week.

The Egyptian raced through the opening game 11-2, quietening the home crowd with her precision and pace. The English top seed responded with determination in the second, finding her rhythm as she began to disrupt her rivals movement with her trademark quick boasts. The British No.1 edged the second game 11-9 to level the contest and raise hopes of a comeback.

But Salma Hany quickly reasserted control in the third, dominating the rallies to take the game 11-3. Georgina Kennedy surged to a 4-1 lead in the fourth game after opting to change of ball, and eventually forced a fifth game decider, winning the fourth game 11-5.

A tense final game saw both players trade points without either gaining a clear advantage, before at 7-7 Salma Hany surged ahead to a earn triple match ball. The English No.1 saved two, but Salma Hany clinched victory with a deft crosscourt drop to seal her first PSA World Squash Tour title of the season.

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Men's Final:
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [1] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 11-2, 5-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8 (71m)

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Women's Final:
[3] Salma Hany (EGY) bt [1] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-9 (63m)

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Men's Semi-Finals:
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [4] Declan James (ENG) 11-7, 11-6, 12-10 (49m)
[1] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [7] Jonah Bryant (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9 (60m)

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Women's Semi-Finals:
[1] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [7] Katie Malliff (ENG) 3-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (41m)
[3] Salma Hany (EGY) bt [5] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (36m)

Nick Wall of England, who stunned 3rd seed and fellow UNSQUASHABLE player Miguel Rodriguez in the second round, produced another impressive performance in the quarter-finals against compatriot Jonah Bryant before eventually being denied 11-8 13-11 11-4 in a highly competitive and entertaining contest.

The opening game saw Nick Wall make a strong start, racing to a 5-2 lead, before Bryant settled into his rhythm and applied consistent pressure that allowed him to eventually turn the tide in his favour to clinch the first game 11-8.

The second game proved an even tighter affair, with lengthy rallies and rising tension spilling over into frequent interactions with the referee. The stop-start nature of the contest disrupted the flow for both players, but it was the 19-year-old who held his nerve in the crucial moments, edging the game 13-11 to extend his lead.

Following impressive opening exchanges in the third game, unforced errors eventually crept into Nick Wall’s attacking game, allowing his opponent to close-out the match in 43 minutes.

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Men's Quarter-Finals:
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [8] George Parker (ENG) 13-11, 11-5, 11-6 (46m)
[4] Declan James (ENG) bt [9/16] Abhay Singh (IND) 11-4, 11-9, 11-2 (35m)
[7] Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [9/16] Nick Wall (ENG) 11-8, 13-11, 11-4 (43m)
[1] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [6] Juan Vargas (COL) 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (35m)

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Women's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [9/16] Grace Gear (ENG) 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (24m)
[7] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt [4] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 12-10 (55m)
[3] Salma Hany (EGY) bt [6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-5 (24m)
[5] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt [2] Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7 (34m)

UNSQUASHABLE players Nick Wall and Miguel Rodriguez produced the standout match on the second day of the 2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open with the younger Englishman eventually prevailing 11-4 6-11 11-5 11-9 in 53 minutes to progress to the quarter-finals at the English National Squash Centre.

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Men's 2nd Round:
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [9/16] Simon Herbert (ENG) 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (57m)
[8] George Parker (ENG) bt [9/16] Patrick Rooney (ENG) w/o
[9/16] Abhay Singh (IND) bt [5] Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-4, 2-11, 11-7, 11-8 (47m)
[4] Declan James (ENG) bt [9/16] Shahjahan Khan (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (42m)
[9/16] Nick Wall (ENG) bt [3] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9 (53m)
[7] Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [9/16] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (33m)
[6] Juan Vargas (COL) bt Emyr Evans (WAL) 11-7, 6-11, 8-7 ret. (35m)
[1] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt Edwin Clain (FRA) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (33m)

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Women's 2nd Round:
[1] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [9/16] Aifa Azman (MAS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-1 (21m)
[9/16] Grace Gear (ENG) bt [8] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (25m)
[7] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt [WC] Kiera Marshall (ENG) 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 (38m)
[4] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Marta Dominguez (ESP) 13-11, 12-10, 11-6 (26m)
[3] Salma Hany (EGY) bt [9/16] Haya Ali (EGY) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (26m)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [9/16] Alicia Mead (ENG) 7-11, 13-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-5 (62m)
[5] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt [9/16] Torrie Malik (ENG) 17-15, 11-7, 11-8 (32m)
[2] Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) bt [9/16] Nardine Garas (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (34m)

Nick Wall of England will face fellow UNSQUASHABLE player Miguel Rodriguez in the 2nd round of the 2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open following an impressive 40-minute 11-6 5-11 11-7 11-8 victory over compatriot Finnlay Withington at the English National Squash Centre.

Brazil No.1 Diego Gobbi, making his debut in a Professional Squash Association (PSA) Bronze World Squash Tour event, played well in a closely contesting 1st round match against England’s Simon Herbert before eventually being denied 7-11 11-6 11-8 11-5 on the all-glass show court.

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Men's 1st Round:
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bye
[9/16] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt Diego Gobbi (BRA) 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 (37m)
[9/16] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Aaron Allpress (IRL) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (32m)
[8] George Parker (ENG) bye
[5] Nathan Lake (ENG) bye
[9/16] Abhay Singh (IND) bt Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) 9-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-9 (43m)
[9/16] Shahjahan Khan (USA) bt Ben Smith (ENG) 10-12, 11-9, 1-0 ret. (29m)
[4] Declan James (ENG) bye
[3] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bye
[9/16] Nick Wall (ENG) bt [WC] Finnlay Withington (ENG) 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8 (40m)
[9/16] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) bt [WC] Bailey Malik (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 (34m)
[7] Jonah Bryant (ENG) bye
[6] Juan Vargas (COL) bye
Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [9/16] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3 (47m)
Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [9/16] Charlie Lee (ENG) 7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5 (68m)
[1] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bye

2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Women's 1st Round:
[1] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bye
[9/16] Aifa Azman (MAS) bt Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS) 11-2, 11-1, 11-8 (18m)
[9/16] Grace Gear (ENG) bt Asia Harris (ENG) 11-2, 11-7, 11-6 (26m)
[8] Mariam Metwally (EGY) bye
[7] Katie Malliff (ENG) bye
[WC] Kiera Marshall (ENG) bt [9/16] Emilia Soini (FIN) 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)
Marta Dominguez (ESP) bt [9/16] Saran Nghiem (ENG) 11-2, 11-3, 11-8 (24m)
[4] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bye
[3] Salma Hany (EGY) bye
[9/16] Haya Ali (EGY) bt Joelle King (NZL) 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 (27m)
[9/16] Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Rana Ismail (EGY) 8-11, 4-11, 11-1, 11-4, 14-12 (44m)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bye
[5] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bye
[9/16] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt [WC] Lowri Roberts (WAL) 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11 (47m)
[9/16] Nardine Garas (EGY) bt Saskia Beinhard (GER) 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3 (42m)
[2] Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) bye

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) have announced the draws for the 2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open to be staged at the National Squash Center in Manchester, England from the 2nd to 6th April.

World No.11 Youssef Soliman of Egypt has been confirmed as the men’s top seed whilst British No.1 Georgina Kennedy will return to Manchester as top seed to defend her women’s title.

Egypt’s Youssef Soliman enters the tournament as the No.1 seed, building on a strong 2024/25 squash season that has already seen him reach the finals of the Silicon Valley Squash Open and ACE Malaysia Squash Cup. However, Youssef will face strong opposition from compatriot Aly Abou Eleinen, the second seed and World No.13.

South American challengers Leonel Cardenas (No.3 seed) and Miguel Rodriguez (No.4 seed) will be looking to upset the Egyptian dominance. Leonel Cardenas, currently at a career-high World No.16, comes into the event with momentum, having reached the final of the PSA Motor City Squash Open final having claimed a PSA title earlier this season at the Cambridge Group of Clubs Classic.

The men’s draw also features ten English players, including No.5 seed Declan James, No.7 seed Nathan Lake, and rising star Jonah Bryant. The 19-year-old Jonah Bryant, who celebrated his maiden PSA World Squash Tour victory at last year’s Manchester Squash Open, has since climbed to a career-best World No.36 and will be aiming to make further strides.

World No.6 Kennedy enters the tournament as the top seed, looking to claim back-to-back Manchester Squash Open titles. Last year, the 27-year-old overcame Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb to secure her 13th PSA World Squash Tour title. This time, she faces stiff competition from Belgium’s Nele Gilis-Coll (World No.10) and Egypt’s Salma Hany (World No.13), who are seeded second and third, respectively.

UNSQUASHABLE will be represented at the 2025 PSA Manchester Squash Open by Miguel Rodriguez, Iker Pajares Bernabeu and Nick Wall.

PSA 2025 Manchester Squash Open Men's Draw:
[1] Youssef Soliman (EGY) [bye]
Patrick Rooney (ENG) v Simon Herbert (ENG)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) v Sanjay Jeeva [MAS]
[5] Declan James (ENG) [bye]
[8] Nathan Lake (ENG) [bye]
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) v Abhay Singh (IND)
Juan Vargas (COL) v Shahjahan Khan (USA)
[3] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) [bye]
[4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) [bye]
[WC] Finnlay Withington (ENG) v Nick Wall (ENG)
George Parker (ENG) v [WC] Bailey Malik (ENG
[6] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) [bye]
[7] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) [bye]
Emyr Evans (WAL) v Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK)
Bernat Jaume (ESP) v Charlie Lee (ENG)
[2] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) [bye]

PSA 2025 Manchester Squash Open Women's Draw:
[1] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) [bye]
Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) v Aifa Azman (MAS)
Grace Gear (ENG) v Haya Ali (EGY)
[6] Tesni Murphy (WAL) [bye]
[8] Katie Malliff (ENG) [bye]
[WC] Kiera Marshall (ENG) v Emilia Soini (FIN)
Saran Nghiem (ENG) v Marta Dominguez (ESP)
[4] Farida Mohamed (EGY) [bye]
[3] Salma Hany (EGY) [bye]
Joelle King (NZL) v Mariam Metwally (EGY)
Alicia Mead (ENG) v Rana Ismail (EGY)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [bye]
[5] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) [bye]
[WC] Lowri Roberts (WAL) v Torrie Malik (ENG)
Nardine Garas (EGY) v Saskia Beinhard (GER)
[2] Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) [bye]