Karim Abdel Gawad & Olivia Weaver crowned 2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Open Champions

Karim Abdel Gawad of Egypt and Olivia Weaver of the USA have been crowned champions of the Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open after staging thrilling comebacks to defeat top seed Paul Coll of New Zealand and Egypt’s No.3 seed Amina Orfi respectively at Brisbane's South Bank Piazza.

Just over a week ago, concerns loomed over whether this year’s Australian Open, the largest professional squash tournament ever held in Australia, would proceed as planned, with Tropical Cyclone Alfred threatening Brisbane. However, those fears were soon forgotten as the near 1,000-strong crowd was treated to a night of electrifying squash, matching the high standard seen throughout the competition.

Despite World No.4 Paul Coll holding a superior ranking and a 7-5 head-to-head advantage, Karim Abdel Gawad entered the final with confidence, having convincingly beaten the Kiwi 3-0 in their last encounter at the El Gouna Squash International.

Paul Coll looked on course to claim back-to-back PSA World Squash Tour titles, having won the New Zealand Squash Open last week, when he edged a tight opening game 11-9. Karim Abdel Gawad, however, responded emphatically in the second, dictating play from a central T position and showcasing his signature deft touches to level with an 11-6 win.

The third game was a tense, stop-start affair that worked in the Egyptian's as he closed-out a dramatic tie-break 13-11.

Paul Coll appeared set to force a deciding fifth game when he surged to a 7-3 lead in the fourth game, however, Karim, the 2016 World Squash Champion, mounted a stunning late charge, reeling off eight of the next ten points to take the game 11-9 and complete a remarkable comeback victory.

Olivia Weaver, too, had to dig deep to overcome the 17-year-old Amina Orfi, whose blistering form saw her dismantle No.2 seed Tinne Gilis in the semi-finals. The Egyptian teenager had dominated her opponents all week, while Olivia, the World No.4, had shown resilience, recovering from slow starts in each of her previous matches, including a comeback win over No.4 seed Rowan Elaraby in the semi-finals.

Amina Orfi made a commanding start, dictating the rallies and exploiting the corners to storm to an 11-4 first-game win. But the American adjusted in the second, stepping up the court and increasing her volleying to disrupt the Egyptian’s rhythm, levelling the match with an 11-9 victory.

The USA No.1 found another gear in the third, delivering a ruthless display to claim the game 11-1. Orfi, however, refused to fade and built a 7-2 lead in the fourth, threatening to force a decider, before Olivia Weaver, composed under pressure, gradually chipped away at the deficit, drawing level at 8-8 before sealing the title with a spectacular attacking boast at 10-9, urged on by her coach, Australian squash legend Rodney Martin.

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Men's Final:
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt [1] Paul Coll (NZL) 9-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-9 (83m)

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Women's Final:
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [3] Amina Orfi (EGY) 4-11, 11-9, 11-1, 11-9 (53m)

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Men's Semi-Finals:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [3] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) 11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (75m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 (59m)

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Women's Semi-Finals:
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [4] Rowan Elaraby (EGY)3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (52m)
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-3 (43m)

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Men's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 (34m)
[3] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [6] Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10 (61m)
[9/16] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt [9/16] Bernat Jaume (ESP) 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9 (87m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt [9/16] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8 (56m)

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Women's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [8] Salma Hany (EGY) 12-10, 11-6, 11-3 (31m)
[4] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt [5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 6-11, 11-5 (65m)
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3 (55m)
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [9/16] Aifa Azman (MAS) 11-0, 11-4, 11-5 (23m)

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Men's 2nd Round:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [9/16] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (30m)
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt [7] Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) 11-5, 11-5, 15-13 (44m)
[6] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [9/16] Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) 11-8, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9 (60m)
[3] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] Henry Leung (HKG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (24m)
[9/16] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt [4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 7-11, 11-8, 2-9 ret. (34m)
[9/16] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt [8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 (42m)
[9/16] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY) bt [5] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 6-2 ret. (86m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt [9/16] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 (29m)

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Women's 2nd Round:
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [9/16] Marina Stefanoni (USA) 12-10, 13-11, 11-9 (34m)
[8] Salma Hany (EGY) bt Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 11-1, 11-8, 11-5 (32m)
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [9/16] Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 11-1, 11-5, 11-7 (22m)
[4] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt [9/16] Rachel Arnold (MAS) 11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (33m)
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [9/16] Hana Moataz (EGY) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (38m)
[6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [9/16] Tomato Ho (HKG) 17-15, 9-11, 13-11, 11-2 (56m)
[9/16] Aifa Azman (MAS) bt [7] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 14-12, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10 (48m)
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [9/16] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 (22m)

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Men's 1st Round:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
[9/16] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) bt Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (27m)
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt [9/16] Alex Lau (HKG) 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 (34m)
[7] Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) bye
[6] Greg Lobban (SCO) bye
[9/16] Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt [WC] Joseph White (AUS) 11-6, 11-2, 11-4 (37m)
[9/16] Henry Leung (HKG) bt Abhay Singh (IND) 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3 (73m)
[3] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) bye
[4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bye
[9/16] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt Rui Soares (POR) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (48m)
[9/16] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt Tom Walsh (ENG) 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (41m)
[8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bye
[5] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bye
[9/16] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY) bt [WC] Dylan Molinaro (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 (31m)
[9/16] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Bryan Lim (MAS) 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8 (51m)
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) bye

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Women's 1st Round:
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bye
[9/16] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt Ainaa Amani (MAS) 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (28m)
Nicole Bunyan (CAN) bt [9/16] Aira Azman (MAS) 11-9, 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8 (47m)
[8] Salma Hany (EGY) bye
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bye
[9/16] Ka Yi Lee (HKG) bt Marta Dominguez (ESP) 9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 11-1 (51m)
[9/16] Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt Nour Heikal (EGY) 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (51m)
[4] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bye
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bye
[9/16] Hana Moataz (EGY) bt Cindy Merlo (SUI) 18-16, 11-4, 11-6 (26m)
[9/16] Tomato Ho (HKG) bt Madison Lyon (AUS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 (21m)
[6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bye
[7] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bye
[9/16] Aifa Azman (MAS) bt [WC] Alex Haydon (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (23m)
[9/16] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) bt [WC] Jessica van der Walt (AUS) 11-8, 9-11, 1-11, 11-4, 11-8 (62m)
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bye

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) have announced that following the strongest tropical cyclone in Queensland for more than 50 years which has left 250,000 homes and businesses without power, that the 2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open will begin one day later than originally scheduled with the PSA World Squash Tour Gold-level tournament now set to take place from the 12th to 16th March.

UNSQUASHABLE will be represented at Australia’s premier squash championship by Spanish No.1 Iker Pajares Bernabeu and Velavan Senthilkumar of India.

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Men’s Draw:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) v Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 
Alex Lau (HKG) v Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)
[8] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bye
[7] Greg Lobban (SCO) bye
[WC] Joseph White (AUS) v Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
Ramit Tandon (IND) v Abhay Singh (IND)
[4] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bye
[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bye
Rui Soares (POR) v Bernat Jaume (ESP) 
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[5] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bye
[6] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bye
[WC] Dylan Molinaro (AUS) v Mohamad Zakaria (EGY)
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) v Henry Leung (HKG) 
[2] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye

2025 PSA Easy Times Brewing Co Australian Squash Open
Women’s Draw:
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bye
Ainaa Amani (MAS) v Marina Stefanoni (USA)
Aira Azman (MAS) v Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 
[5] Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) bye
[6] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bye
Aifa Azman (MAS) v Ka Yi Lee (HKG)
Rachel Arnold (MAS) v Nour Heikal (EGY) 
[4] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bye
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bye
Cindy Merlo (SUI) v Hana Moataz (EGY) 
Tomato Ho (HKG) v Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) 
[7] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bye
[8] Fayoruz Aboelkheir (EGY) bye
[WC] Alex Haydon (AUS) v Salma Hany (EGY) 
Georgia Adderley (SCO) v [WC] Jess Van der Walt (AUS) 
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bye