Malaysian Open Preview

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The Malaysian Open Squash Championships 2022 gets underway tomorrow from the Malaysian National Squash Centre in Kuala Lumpur, with 48 male and female players looking to capture the Bronze event title.

In the men’ draw, the top seed is former World Champion Tarek Momen who will be looking to capture his first PSA title since February 2020, where he won the Troilus Gold Canada Cup 2020. ‘The Viper’ has incredibly only failed to reach the quarter final stage once in his last 50 PSA events. After receiving a bye in round one, he’ll start his campaign against either compatriot Yahya Elnawasany or Malaysia’s Mohd Syafiq Kamal.

Momen will face strove competition for the title however as in his half is the World No.6 Marwan ElShorbagy, who was ranked lower than Momen when the draw was made but has since moved ahead of the top seed. ElShorbagy has found a lease of life in this season, starting it in superb fashion by reaching three finals as well as the final four of the U.S. Open.

The bottom half of the draw features the No.2 and No.3 seeds, Joel Makin and the always dangerous Mazen Hesham. Makin recently reached the semi-finals of the MARIGOLD Singapore Squash Open, losing out to eventual winner Mohamed ElShorbagy in a four game contest. Hesham’s skills are undoubted and poses a threat to anyone on his day. He’ll be looking to pull it all together in this very strong Bronze event.

Home favourite Eain Yow Ng produced a stunning result in the MARIGOLD Singapore Squash Open, beating World No.2 and Commonwealth Gold medalist Paul Coll from 2-0 down to reach the quarter finals. The 9/16 seed will be up against Argentina’s Leandro Romiglio for a spot against No.2 seed Makin in round two.

In the women’s draw, USA’s World No.11 Olivia Fiechter is the top seed and will be looking to capture her fourth PSA title, her last title coming in April this year at the 2021-2022 Oxford Properties Canadian Open. The USA No.2 will be up against either Malaysia’s Ooi Kah Yan or England’s Julianne Courtice in round two.

Two in-form players will pose direct threats to Fiechter’s title ambitions. Belgium’s Nele Gilis (the No.2 seed) narrowly missed out on a semi-final place in Singapore last week after falling to World No.4 Amanda Sobhy 12-10 in the fifth game. The Belgian has already reached four semi-finals this season and has gone on to win two events, the Open De France Bronze event and the City Tattersalls Club Australian Open 2022 Challenger 30 event.

Wales’ No.3 seed Tesni Evans has also been in great form this season, reaching the quarter finals of four of her last five events, her best finish coming at the New Zealand Open where she lost out to Joelle King in the final. Evan’s is determined to break back into the world’s top ten and starts her campaign in Kuala Lumpur against either Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica or Singapore’s Au Yeong Wai Yhann.

Defending champion Aifa Azman will be in action in round two after receiving a first round bye. The 20-year-old impressively captured last years title from the wildcard position, beating the top seed Salma Hany in the final. You can never back against Azman, especially on home soil, where she has claimed eight of her eleven PSA titles.

Glass court action from day one will be streamed LIVE on SQUASHTV, whereas side court play will be available to watch on the Malaysian Open website. With live scores available here. Play starts across three courts at 13:00 (GMT+8).