Iker Pajares Bernabeu Reaches 2026 Grasshopper Cup Quarter-Finals
April 25 2026
UNSQUASHABLE player Iker Pajares Bernabeu produced a sequence of assured, tactically intelligent performances to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 Grasshopper Cup in Zürich, recording impressive wins over Dimitri Steinmann and Youssef Soliman before bowing out to fourth seed Joel Makin in a fiercely contested last-eight encounter.
The Spanish No.1 opened his campaign by negotiating a potentially awkward first-round tie against home favourite Steinmann. Composed from the outset, Iker controlled the ‘T’ with authority and applied consistent length into the back corners to deny the Swiss player any attacking rhythm. He edged a competitive first game 11-8 through patient rally construction and sharp finishing at the front. The second was tighter, with Steinmann lifting the tempo under vocal local support, but Iker’s calm decision-making in the tie-break proved decisive as he closed out a 13-11 victory.
In the second round, Iker delivered arguably his most convincing display of the tournament to defeat sixth seed Soliman 11-6 11-8 in 41 minutes. Establishing immediate control through accurate length and intelligent variation, the Spaniard dictated both pace and positioning. By repeatedly forcing Soliman deep before capitalising on loose returns, Pajares set the tone early and never allowed the Egyptian to settle. When Soliman attempted to raise the intensity in the second game, Iker responded with notable tactical discipline, absorbing pressure and choosing the right moments to accelerate to seal the match with authority.
His run was halted in the quarter-finals by Joel Makin, but not before another high-quality contest that underlined Iker's impressive form. In a physically demanding battle, the Spaniard pushed the Welshman hard before eventually succumbing 8-11 11-6 11-9.
Across all three matches, Iker’s ability to dictate tempo, maintain positional dominance and apply sustained pressure through disciplined shot selection stood out. His blend of control and calculated aggression in Zürich highlighted both his growing confidence and his tactical maturity on the PSA World Squash Tour.
2026 (PSA) Grasshopper Squash Cup, Zurich Hauptbahnhof, Zürich, Switzerland
Men's Quarter-Finals: [4] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 8-11, 11-6, 11-9 (50m)
Men's 2nd Round: Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt [6] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 11-6, 11-8 (41m)
Men's 1st Round: Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt [9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 11-8, 13-11 (41m)
2026 PSA Grasshopper Cup Full Story: InternationalSquashMagazine.com
2025 PSA Grasshopper Cup Results: InternationalSquashMagazine.com
2023 PSA Grasshopper Cup Results: InternationalSquashMagazine.com