Iván Pérez Wins PSA Valencia Open

UNSQUASHABLE player Iván Pérez produced an outstanding display of resilience to capture the 2026 PSA Valencia Memorial Chimo Marmaneu title at the Olympia Hotel in Spain, overcoming Wales' Rhys Evans in a gruelling five-game final that lasted 110 minutes.

Seeded three for the PSA World Tour event, Iván negotiated a demanding sequence of wins, spending almost six hours on court across his four matches and overcoming three seeded opponents on his way to the trophy.

After receiving a first-round bye, Iván began his campaign against Egypt's Marwan Tamer. The Spaniard established an early advantage through accurate length and disciplined movement before withstanding a third-game fightback from his opponent. Iván regained control in the fourth to complete an 11-8 11-3 8-11 11-7 victory after 58 minutes.

The quarter-finals brought another demanding encounter against Pakistan No.1 Muhammad Asim Khan. Iván made a strong start to take the opening game, but Khan responded to ensure the contest remained closely fought. The Spaniard held his nerve in the key exchanges, eventually securing an 11-6 13-11 5-11 11-8 victory after 80 minutes.

Iván faced his toughest test yet in the semi-finals against second seed Sam Osborne-Wylde. The pair produced an absorbing 115-minute battle, with neither player willing to surrender control. Iván edged the first two games 12-10 and 13-11, only for the Englishman to fight back and level the match. With a place in the final at stake, Iván produced a crucial response in the decider, maintaining his composure to prevail 11-7.

In the final, Iván came up against Rhys Evans of Wales proved to be another extraordinary test of Iván's physical and mental endurance. The Welshman edged a closely contested opening game 13-11, but Iván immediately responded, raising his level to take the next two games 11-3 and 11-4.

Evans refused to surrender and fought back to take the fourth game 13-11, setting up a decisive fifth. With more than 100 minutes already played, Iván found another reserve of energy and quality when it mattered most. He controlled the crucial stages of the decider to complete an 11-13 11-3 11-4 11-13 11-6 victory and secure the PSA title.

Iván's triumph was built on remarkable consistency and resilience throughout the tournament. His ability to recover from setbacks, maintain his intensity during lengthy encounters and deliver his best squash in decisive moments proved crucial, particularly during two five-game battles in the latter stages.

The Valencia title represents another significant achievement for the Spaniard and further underlines his development on the PSA World Tour. Winning on home soil after such a demanding run also provides Iván with valuable ranking points and further momentum as he continues to establish himself among the leading players on the international circuit.

2026 PSA Valencia Memorial Chimo Marmaneu, Olympia Hotel, Valencia, Spain
Final:
[3] Iván Pérez (ESP) bt [9/16] Rhys Evans (WAL) 11-13, 11-3, 11-4, 11-13, 11-6 (110m)

Semi-Finals:
[9/16] Rhys Evans (WAL) bt [6] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (37m)
[3] Iván Pérez (ESP) bt [2] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) 12-10, 13-11, 4-11, 7-11, 11-7 (115m)

Quarter-Finals:
[9/16] Rhys Evans (WAL) bt Marek Panacek (CZE) 11-2, 11-8, 11-1 (32m)
[6] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) bt [4] Balazs Farkas (HUN) 6-11, 16-14, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9 (62m)
[3] Iván Pérez (ESP) bt [9/16] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 11-6, 13-11, 5-11, 11-8 (80m)
[2] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bt [7] Mohamed Nasser (EGY) 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6 (58m)

2nd Round:
Marek Panacek (CZE) bt [1] Patrick Rooney (ENG) 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-1 (41m)
[9/16] Rhys Evans (WAL) bt [8] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (25m)
[6] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) bt [9/16] Omar Said (EGY) 12-10, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 (52m)
[4] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bt [9/16] Yannik Omlor (GER) 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 (52m)
[3] Iván Pérez (ESP) bt [9/16] Marwan Tamer (EGY) 11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7 (58m)
[9/16] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) bt [5] Simon Herbert (ENG) 11-3, 11-2, 11-7 (28m)
[7] Mohamed Nasser (EGY) bt Yusuf Sheikh (ENG) 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 13-11 (79m)
[2] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bt [WC] Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) 11-8, 7-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6 (69m)

1st Round:
[1] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bye
Marek Panacek (CZE) bt [9/16] Joseph White (AUS) 2-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2 (47m)
[9/16] Rhys Evans (WAL) bt [WC] Adrian Revert Escutia (ESP) 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (23m)
[8] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) bye
[6] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) bye
[9/16] Omar Said (EGY) bt Hamza Khan (PAK) 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 (19m)
[9/16] Yannik Omlor (GER) bt [WC] Ernesto Revert (ESP) 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (26m)
[4] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bye
[3] Iván Pérez (ESP) bye
[9/16] Marwan Tamer (EGY) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 (37m)
[9/16] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) bt Shady El Sherbiny (EGY) 11-5, 11-6, 2-11, 11-8 (37m)
[5] Simon Herbert (ENG) bye
[7] Mohamed Nasser (EGY) bye
Yusuf Sheikh (ENG) bt [9/16] Will Salter (ENG) 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7 (72m)
[WC] Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) bt [9/16] Brice Nicolas (FRA) 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (71m)
[2] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bye