Karim Gawad & Sivasangari Subramaniam Crowned 2026 Grasshopper Cup Champions

Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad and Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam were crowned champions at the 2026 Grasshopper Squash Cup after authoritative performances on finals day in Zürich, overcoming Victor Crouin and Satomi Watanabe respectively.

Gawad secured the men's Grasshopper title for the second time in his decorated career, adding to his 2023 triumph at the same event with a commanding straight-games victory. The World No.4 was in complete control throughout the week, surrendering just a single game en route to lifting his 32nd PSA World Squash Tour title.

The Egyptian produced another exhibition of precision and balance in the final, dictating play from the middle of the court and repeatedly exposing Crouin with accurate length and measured variation. The 11-8 11-4 11-5 scoreline, completed in just 30 minutes, reflected both the authority of his performance and the fluency of his movement on the all-glass show court.

The women’s final, by contrast, developed into a test of resilience and endurance. Sivasangari claimed the Grasshopper Cup for the first time after recovering from a 2-1 deficit to overcome Watanabe in a gripping five-game contest lasting 62 minutes.

Fresh from a dramatic semi-final comeback against top seed Amina Orfi, the Malaysian once again demonstrated her fighting qualities. After narrowly taking the opening game 15-13 she saw Watanabe respond to take the next two. Refusing to relent, Sivasangari raised the intensity in the fourth and fifth games, controlling the rallies with disciplined length and sharp counter-attacking to complete a 15-13 5-11 5-11 11-7 11-8 victory.

The title represents her second of the season and the 17th of her PSA career and propels her Sivasangari to a career-high World No.5 in the PSA Women's World Squash Rankings, making her the first Asian player in over eight years to break into the top five since Nicol David.

The 2026 (PSA) Grasshopper Squash Cup was staged at Zürich Hauptbahnhoffrom from the 21st to 26th April.

For details of how to watch match highlights, visit: psasquashtour.com

2026 (PSA) Grasshopper Squash Cup, Zurich Hauptbahnhof, Zürich, Switzerland
Men's Final:
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt [3] Victor Crouin (FRA) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (30m)

Women's Final:
[3] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [2] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 15-13, 5-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8 (62m)

Men's Semi-Finals:
[3] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [1] Diego Elias (PER) 4-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (53m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt [4] Joel Makin (WAL) 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 (53m)

Women's Semi-Finals:
[3] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [1] Amina Orfi (EGY) 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 (81m
[2] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [5] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (29m)

Men's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-7, 7-11, 11-3 (43m)
[3] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [9/16] Declan James (ENG) 10-12, 11-7, 11-7 (49m)
[4] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 8-11, 11-6, 11-9 (50m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt [9/16] Abhay Singh (IND) 12-10, 11-9 (31m)

Women's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [6] Salma Hany (EGY) 8-11, 11-6, 11-4 (46m)
[3] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [7] Nada Abbas (EGY) 11-5, 11-4 (16m)
[5] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [4] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 9-11, 11-1, 11-8 (28m)
[2] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [8] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 11-5, 11-9 (21m)

UNSQUASHABLE player Iker Pajares Bernabeu delivered a statement performance to progress into the quarter-finals of the Grasshopper Squash Cup, dispatching sixth seed Youssef Soliman in commanding straight games in Zürich.

From the outset, Iker imposed himself on the rallies with assured length and intelligent variation, denying Soliman the opportunity to settle into his trademark attacking rhythm. The Spaniard controlled the central area of the court with authority, repeatedly forcing the Egyptian into the back corners before capitalising on loose returns with clinical finishing at the front.

The opening game set the tone for the encounter. Iker’s accuracy and movement disrupted Soliman’s timing, allowing the UNSQUASHABLE player to build a steady advantage and close out the game 11-6 with composure.

Soliman attempted to raise the tempo in the second, looking to inject pace and take the ball earlier, but Iker responded with impressive tactical maturity. Absorbing pressure when required and choosing the right moments to accelerate play, he maintained control of the rallies and edged clear at the business end of the game to seal an 11-8 victory in 41 minutes.

The quality of Iker's performance stood out as the straight-games scoreline suggests. His discipline, court awareness and ability to dictate the pace against a seeded opponent underlined his growing confidence on the PSA World Squash Tour and marked one of his most accomplished displays of the tournament so far.

Men's 2nd Round:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) 11-5, 11-7 (26m)
[8] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [9/16] Juan Vargas (COL) 11-9, 11-8 (26m)
[9/16] Declan James (ENG) bt [5] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 11-7, 11-9 (32m)
[3] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [9/16] Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-8, 13-11 (31m)
[4] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-8, 11-5 (26m)
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt [6] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 11-6, 11-8 (41m)
[9/16] Abhay Singh (IND) bt [7] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 12-10, 11-9 (35m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 11-7, 11-8 (29m)
 
Women's 2nd Round:
[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [9/16] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 11-6, 11-9 (28m)
[6] Salma Hany (EGY) bt [9/16] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 11-6, 2-11, 11-8 (34m)
[7] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt [9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 11-8, 11-9 (20m)
[3] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 11-4, 11-5 (12m)
[4] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt Nour Heikal (EGY) 11-9, 11-7 (18m)
[5] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt Grace Gear (ENG) 11-6, 11-5 (18m)
[8] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt [9/16] Mélissa Alves (FRA) 10-12, 11-7, 11-9 (23m)
[2] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 11-8, 11-9 (25m)
 
UNSQUASHABLE player Iker Pajares Bernabeu delivered a composed and tactically astute performance to overcome Dimitri Steinmann in straight games at the Grasshopper Squash Cup, progressing with an assured 11-8 13-11 victory in 41 minutes at Zürich Hauptbahnhof.

Facing the challenge of a dangerous opponent on home soil, Iker demonstrated patience and precision from the outset. The Spaniard controlled the central area of the court, applying consistent length and intelligent variation to prevent Steinmann from settling into his rhythm. By dictating the tempo of the rallies and choosing his moments to attack, Iker edged a competitive opening game 11-8 through disciplined shot selection and sharp movement into the front corners.

The second game proved even more testing. Steinmann, buoyed by local support, raised his intensity and began extending rallies in an attempt to disrupt Iker’s control. However, the UNSQUASHABLE player remained composed under pressure. Absorbing the Swiss player’s advances with calm assurance, Pajares showed his experience in the crucial moments of the tie-break. With both players exchanging opportunities, it was the Spaniard’s accuracy and clarity of decision-making at the business end of the game that ultimately proved decisive as he closed it out 13-11.

Throughout the contest, Iker's ability to manage the pace of play and maintain positional dominance was evident. His balance of control and calculated aggression ensured he remained a step ahead in the tactical exchanges, underlining why he continues to be a consistent performer on the PSA World Squash Tour.

This straight-games victory not only highlights Iker’s quality against a capable opponent but also reinforces his status as a serious contender as the tournament progresses in Zürich.

Fellow UNSQUASHABLE player Yannick Wilhelmi produced a spirited and skilful display despite falling to England’s Declan James in a fiercely contested opening round encounter.

The Swiss player pushed the experienced Englishman all the way in a dramatic first game that set the tone for the contest. Yannick matched James shot for shot through a series of long, attritional rallies, showing excellent control of length and confident movement into the front corners. Roared on by the home crowd, he created multiple game-ball opportunities in a tense tie-break, but James’ composure at the crucial moments saw the Englishman narrowly escape 15-13.

Rather than retreat, Yannick grew further into the match in the second game. Displaying impressive court coverage and a willingness to take the ball early, the UNSQUASHABLE player repeatedly disrupted James’ rhythm and forced the higher seed into uncomfortable positions. However, the marginal gains again went the way of the Englishman, whose experience in managing tight scorelines proved decisive as he edged ahead and closed out the game 11-8 to seal the match in 37 minutes.

Despite the straight-games scoreline, the performance from Yannick Wilhelmi was rich in quality and intent. His tactical discipline, sharp movement and ability to sustain pressure throughout extended rallies highlighted his growing maturity on the PSA World Squash Tour. Against a seasoned campaigner in James, the Swiss player demonstrated that he can compete toe-to-toe at this level, earning warm appreciation from the Zürich crowd for his efforts.

Men's 1st Round:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bye
[9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 11-6, 11-9 (29m)
[9/16] Juan Vargas (COL) bt [WC] Louai Hafez (SUI) 11-3, 11-7 (29m)
[8] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bye
[5] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bye
[9/16] Declan James (ENG) bt Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 15-13, 11-8 (37m)
[9/16] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) 11-4, 12-10 (42m)
[3] Victor Crouin (FRA) bye
[4] Joel Makin (WAL) bye
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [9/16] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 3-11, 11-4, 11-6 (19m)
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt [9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 11-8, 13-11 (41m)
[6] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bye
[7] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bye
[9/16] Abhay Singh (IND) bt [WC] David Bernet (SUI) 11-9, 9-11, 11-8 (53m)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt. Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-5, 11-5 (25m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bye

Women's 1st Round:
[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) bye
[9/16] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt [WC] Cindy Merlo (SUI) 11-9, 11-8 (14m)
[9/16] Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt Amina El Rihany (EGY) 12-10, 11-7 (19m)
[6] Salma Hany (EGY) bye
[7] Nada Abbas (EGY) bye
[9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt [WC] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 11-4, 11-5 (18m)
[9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 11-7, 11-1 (19m)
[3] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bye
[4] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bye
Nour Heikal (EGY) bt [9/16] Hana Moataz (EGY) 11-7, 11-3 (13m)
Grace Gear (ENG) bt [9/16] Katie Malliff (ENG) 14-12, 7-11, 11-2 (29m)
[5] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bye
[8] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bye
[9/16] Melissa Alves (FRA) bt. Nadien Elhammamy (EGY) 11-3, 11-0 (16m)
Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt. [9/16] Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-5 (26m)
[2] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bye

The 2026 (PSA) Grasshopper Squash Cup will be staged at Zürich Hauptbahnhoffrom from the 21st to 26th April.

For the latest match updates as they happen and details of how to watch live, visit: psasquashtour.com

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) have released the draws for the 2026 Grasshopper Squash Cup which will be the final PSA World Squash Tour Gold-level event of the 2025/26 squash season. Diego Elías and Amina Orfi headline the men’s and women’s fields respectively as they bid to lift the title at one of the most distinctive venues on the professional calendar.

The tournament will run from the 21st to 26th April at Zürich Hauptbahnhof, one of the busiest railway stations in the world. As in previous editions, a spectacular all-glass show court will be installed inside the station concourse, offering commuters and fans a rare opportunity to watch the world’s best players in action. Early rounds will be contested in a best-of-three format, with matches switching to the traditional best-of-five from the semi-final stage onward.

At the top of the men’s draw sits former World Champion Diego Elías, who returns to Zurich for the third time in his career. The Peruvian finished runner-up in last year’s event after falling to Ali Farag in four games. Elías endured a disrupted start to the current squash season due to a knee injury and has yet to fully recapture the form that carried him to the summit of the world rankings. Nevertheless, both the player and the Zurich crowd will hope the Grasshopper Cup provides the stage for a return to his very best as he pursues a maiden title at the event.

Second seed Karim Gawad, champion here in 2023, arrives in impressive form. The Egyptian climbed back to World No.3 in February for the first time in six years, underlining both his longevity and enduring quality. Gawad’s section of the draw could produce one of the tournament’s most compelling clashes, with 2019 Grasshopper Cup Champion Mohamed ElShorbagy also positioned in the same quarter. Should both players advance, a quarter-final meeting between two of the modern era’s most accomplished competitors would undoubtedly captivate the Zurich crowd.

Europe’s leading contenders, Victor Crouin and Joel Makin, occupy the third and fourth seeding positions respectively. Crouin has enjoyed a standout season and recently captured the biggest title of his career at the Texas Squash Open, a result that propelled the Frenchman into the world’s top five. Makin, meanwhile, has battled knee problems during the campaign but remains one of the tour’s most physically resilient competitors and a notoriously difficult opponent.

In the women’s event, the top seed is Egyptian star Amina Orfi, currently ranked World No.3 and already a four-time PSA Gold event champion. The prodigious World Junior Squash Champion came agonisingly close to securing her first major title at the Windy City Squash Open, where she narrowly lost to Nour El Sherbini despite holding a two-game advantage. Known for her resilience and attacking flair, Orfi will be eager to return to winning form in Zurich.

Japanese No.1 Satomi Watanabe is seeded second and arrives with renewed confidence after capturing the Steel City Squash Open, ending a 13-month wait for a PSA World Squash Tour title. Watanabe has previously troubled Orfi and will be aiming to convert her recent momentum into a breakthrough victory. She shares a section of the draw with England’s Jasmine Hutton, whom she defeated during her title-winning run in Pittsburgh after recovering from a game down.

Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam occupies the No.3 seeding and remains the only other player in the draw, aside from Orfi, with prior PSA World Squash Tour Gold-level success. Her stunning title run at the London Squash Classic in 2024 remains one of the standout performances of recent seasons, although she has struggled to replicate that level consistently since. Having reached last year’s final before losing to Nouran Gohar, the Malaysian will be keen to mount another strong challenge.

Swiss fans will also have plenty of local interest to follow throughout the week. Leading the home contingent is Dimitri Steinmann, joined in the men’s draw by wildcards David Bernet and Yannick Wilhelmi, as well as multiple-time national champion Nicolas Mueller. In the women’s competition, Cindy Merlo and Ambre Allinckx will carry local hopes when they begin their campaigns against Egypt’s Sana Ibrahim and Mariam Metwally respectively.

With world-class fields, an iconic city-centre venue and the final Gold title of the season at stake, the Grasshopper Cup promises another memorable week of top-level squash in Zurich.

Men’s Draw:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) - Bye
Juan Vargas (COL) vs [9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY)
[9/16] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) vs Declan James (ENG)
[7] Jonah Bryant (ENG) - Bye
[5] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) - Bye
[WC] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) vs [9/16] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)
[9/16] Greg Lobban (SCO) vs Melvil Scianimanico (FRA)
[3] Victor Crouin (FRA) - Bye
[4] Joel Makin (WAL) - Bye
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) vs [9/16] Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
[9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) vs Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP)
[8] Youssef Soliman (EGY) - Bye
[6] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) - Bye
[WC] David Bernet (SUI) vs [9/16] Abhay Singh (IND)
[9/16] Gregoire Marche (FRA) vs Auguste Dussourd (FRA)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) - Bye

Women’s Draw:
[1] Amina Orfi (EGY]) - Bye
[WC] Cindy Merlo (SUI) vs [9/16] Sana Ibrahim (EGY)
[9/16] Lucy Turmel (ENG) vs Ka Yi Lee (HKG)
[6] Salma Hany (EGY) - Bye
[7] Nada Abbas (EGY) - Bye
[WC] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) vs [9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY)
[9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) vs Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY)
[3] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) - Bye
[4] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) - Bye
Hollie Naughton (CAN) vs [9/16] Hana Moataz (EGY)
[9/16] Katie Malliff (ENG) vs Grace Gear (ENG)
[5] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) - Bye
[8] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) - Bye
Tomato Ho (HKG) vs [9/16] Melissa Alves (FRA)
[9/16] Georgia Adderley (SCO) vs Rowan Elaraby (EGY)
[2] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) - Bye

The 2026 (PSA) Grasshopper Squash Cup will be staged from the 21st to 26th April.

For the latest match updates as they happen and details of how to watch live, visit: psasquashtour.com

UNSQUASHABLE will be represented at the 2026 Grasshopper Squash Cup by Iker Pajares Bernabeu and Yannick Wilhelmi.

2025 PSA Grasshopper Cup Results: InternationalSquashMagazine.com
2023 PSA Grasshopper Cup Results: InternationalSquashMagazine.com