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00:27In an ongoing quest
00:28to bring squash to a wider global audience
00:31we've travelled to the southern hemisphere
00:32to the Australian Open
00:34and tonight it's quarter finals night
00:35so we're going to be focusing on four more rivalries
00:38as the tournament gets into full swing
00:41G'day Brisbane
00:42Get ready for the squash Australian Open
00:44Join us for an exciting showcase of skill and drama
00:47right here in our beautiful city
01:27Good evening and welcome to the Australian Open
01:28and welcome to the squash Australian Open 2026
01:31it's day four quarter finals night here
01:33we're going to be focusing on the bottom half of the draw
01:35at this gold event on the PSA squash tour
01:39Ryan Cuskelly and Lisa Aitken joining me in the studio for this one
01:42the tournament in full swing now
01:45Yeah, it's been an unbelievable start
01:46been some great matches
01:48we've got a great line-up today
01:50so I'm really looking forward to it
01:51Yeah, what is it about at this stage of the tournament
01:54often people talk about the quarter finals
01:55being the most exciting, why is that?
01:57Well, you're seeing the big seeds
02:00the top seeds, the top eight seeds
02:02all start to battle out for those final places
02:04they've already had a couple of matches in the bank
02:06and it's a battle now of last man standing
02:08in these conditions
02:09Last man and last woman
02:10let's have a little look
02:11and see what's coming your way
02:12Last people's
02:14These are your four matches
02:15starting with Sana Ibrahim of Egypt
02:17taking on Tinegillis of Belgium
02:19that'll get us started
02:20and get the night underway
02:21Your pick of the bunch there, Ryan?
02:23I'm going to go with the older boys
02:24we've been talking a lot about the younger groups
02:26so Mueller and Macon
02:27I think Mueller's found some form
02:30he's a little bit older
02:31but I think he's playing some good squash
02:32and I think he can really
02:33take it to Macon tonight
02:35And Lisa, for you?
02:36I'm looking forward to the
02:37Salmahani-Marina-Stefanone match
02:38that's a rematch of their encounter
02:41at the Texas Open
02:42Salmahani wasn't really up for it that day
02:44she was still struggling a little bit
02:45with her confidence, I think
02:46Marina's obviously in fantastic form
02:48Salmahani is a former top ten player
02:50so I'm really looking forward to seeing her
02:52come into this event
02:53she's the higher ranked seed here as well
02:55so let's see if she can turn that match
02:57around against Marina
02:57Okay, we're going to preview
02:58all of those matches very shortly
03:00but ahead of that
03:01we're going to talk about the Olympics
03:02LA 2028 squash making its debut
03:05at the Olympics
03:06We're going to start with the Continental Games
03:08we talked a bit about the Asian Games yesterday
03:10and how the women could qualify
03:11and we're going to talk next about
03:13how the men can qualify for the Asian Games
03:15because Yao is in action this evening
03:17he's up fourth against Mohamed Zakaria
03:19Yes, the Asian Games
03:20I mean, look at that
03:21you can see 2026
03:22it's the only Continental Games this year
03:25so really cool for Yao
03:27you've got the women
03:28obviously they're likely to play their final first
03:31so really cool for them
03:32to be the first ever squash player
03:34into the Olympics
03:35but Yao, if you look at this graphic here
03:38he's likely looking like he could be
03:40the first Asian male player
03:42that could qualify
03:43Yeah, Ryan, just 190 days to go
03:45until those Asian Games and those qualifiers
03:47so is Yao going to be completely unchallenged
03:50as the graphic asks that question
03:51what's the answer?
03:52At the moment, yes
03:53but I think Al Tamimi
03:54he's had a bad injury
03:56doing his Achilles
03:57and a good friend of mine
03:58I think he's going to come back strong
04:00and I feel it's a pretty cool thing
04:02if he can actually win that title
04:04and go to the Olympics
04:06Have you spoke to him?
04:08I do speak to Abdullah
04:09And how's he getting on?
04:10because he's obviously like social media
04:12and he's putting a lot of his rehab out there
04:14he's doing things I didn't expect him to do so soon
04:17Yeah, I couldn't believe what he was doing
04:19he's actually coming out here in May
04:20so we might get a couple of games
04:23and a couple of drills
04:23He's coming to do some training here?
04:25Yeah, he's coming in May
04:25so he might stay with me
04:27or stay with Jeff Hunt
04:28so he's very close to Jeff Hunt
04:30so yeah, I'd be interested to see where he's at
04:33he's got a young body
04:34he's very small
04:34so I think he'll come back good
04:37He's the only one I think looking at that
04:39if he's on top, top form right now
04:41which he's obviously not
04:43but when he's playing his best
04:43he's the one I think that can challenge Yao
04:45And to give it some context
04:47Yao would have to win that Asian Games qualifier
04:49he'd have to then stay in the top 50
04:52and be in the top 50 for that hard deadline
04:53May the 22nd, 2028
04:56and then he'd be an Olympian
04:58Yeah, and that's really cool
05:00I think what's also quite cool about his opportunity
05:02is the fact that the season's really quiet
05:05in that run-up to that Continental Games
05:07we have a very busy tour
05:09we start at the beginning of September
05:10and we go right the way through to June
05:12so trying to peak for the Continental Games
05:14in the mix of all of that is really hard
05:16so he'll have his last tournament
05:17likely the British Open early June
05:19and then he won't put his feet up
05:21but he'll taper in
05:23he'll build up his training volume
05:25and his body and everything
05:26and to prepare for that
05:28How easy or difficult is that to do as an athlete?
05:32Yeah, it's brutal
05:32it's just trying to find the events you want to peak for
05:36which is hard
05:37because you want to peak for every event
05:39so yeah, you've got to be really strategic with you
05:41when you're training
05:42and look at the schedule
05:43and really plan it out
05:44where you really want to peak
05:45so yeah, it's a hard balance
05:48but I think as an experience
05:49sort of as you go through
05:51you get better at it
05:52so
05:53Obviously, we looked on that graphic there
05:54there were some Indian names in there as well
05:56the likes of Ramit Tandon
05:57he's going to have a big decision to make as well
05:59isn't he?
06:00because he plays doubles
06:00and you're not allowed to play singles and doubles
06:03at the Asian Games
06:04it's one or the other
06:04so
06:05I mean, there's going to be some tough conversations going on
06:07Yeah, there certainly is
06:09Abe Singh as well
06:10he's obviously the highest ranked Indian player
06:12in that list there
06:13and he's the current reigning gold medalist mixed doubles
06:17with Anahat Singh
06:18and the Asian Games is massive
06:19you know, they get
06:20there's a lot of funding on the line
06:21there's a lot of money that the athletes get
06:23the Asian Games is
06:24it's spoken about all year round
06:26the build into it's like
06:27like an Olympics itself
06:28Who has the ultimate say as to
06:30Well, that's the question, isn't it?
06:31so does Abe Singh, does Ramit Tandon
06:33does Birchot Rani have any say over
06:35can I play singles only?
06:37I want to try and get that Olympic spot
06:38or are they dictated to?
06:40you're going to play doubles
06:41we see a potential medal opportunity there
06:44so that's a question I'd like to speak to the athletes
06:46and find out
06:47because that changes everything
06:48Sounds like a bit of homework for one of you guys
06:50you can be doing some interviews behind the scenes
06:53and maybe get that information for us
06:55that would be good
06:55you up for it, Ryan?
06:56I'll do it for sure
06:57we've already got some techs out
06:58Good stuff
06:59we're going to talk a little bit more
07:01about the Pan-Americans now
07:02so let's have a look at the order
07:03of these Olympic qualifiers
07:05and this is a bit further away
07:07this one
07:08it's not until 2027
07:10July 16th
07:11that gets going in Lima, Peru
07:12so one of the penultimate opportunities
07:15for players to qualify there
07:17now these women are going to be in the mix
07:20it's really dominated by the stars and stripes of America
07:23all four of those women were expecting
07:25to be eligible for the Pan-Am Games
07:27but it's not as simple as that
07:29is it, Lisa?
07:30It's not
07:31I mean, looking at that
07:32it's obviously quite clearly stacked
07:34in favour of the Americans
07:35and just as you were talking there, Michael
07:37I just want to make the point
07:38that the Pan-American Games
07:40you can only get to that
07:41if you qualify at the Pan-American Championships
07:44which is this year
07:45so they're currently revisiting the criteria there
07:48to decide how many athletes
07:50each nation is allowed to go there
07:52once that is set
07:54each nation will compete in a singles event
07:56a doubles event
07:58and a team event
07:59and then you have to win
08:01be top 10 in that team event
08:03to qualify for the Pan-Ams
08:05but going back to this graphic here
08:06with Marina Stefanoni in particular
08:08I'm looking at that thinking
08:09she's got a bit of time there
08:10to try and close that gap
08:12between Sabrina Sobe
08:14Amanda Sobe
08:14Olivia Weaver
08:15over a year in total
08:17and looking at the trajectory
08:18she's had of this season so far
08:20she's certainly on that train
08:23but if you were to make that team today
08:25she is still quite a bit off that
08:26and Stefanoni up third this evening
08:29against Sal Mahoney
08:30we'll see her in action
08:30we'll see what sort of squash
08:31she's able to produce
08:33do you see any other sort of permutations
08:35from that one Ryan
08:36or is it going to be those Americans
08:37that are the front runners
08:38still a long time
08:39we're still a long way out
08:40there could be injuries
08:41there could be decisions to retire
08:42will the Sobe sisters push on
08:44or will they fall away
08:45and stay inside the top 50
08:47you'd like to think so
08:47yeah I like what Lisa said
08:49I think Stefanoni
08:50I've seen her train
08:51I used to live in Connecticut
08:52and at Chelsea Piers
08:54she used to train there
08:54you know when I was coaching
08:55and I used to see what she was doing
08:57even from a young age
08:58from 17, 18
08:59I'd see her do court sprints by herself
09:02soloing for hours and hours
09:03you just don't
09:04some people don't have that
09:05so I think she's going to
09:06put the hours in
09:07that she might need
09:08just to get over the line
09:09so I'd put my eye on her
09:11and really you know
09:12check her out
09:12she's still 23
09:15so I think
09:15knowing the kind of character she is
09:17she's so chilled out
09:18she'll not be making a grand plan
09:20to try and
09:21you know boom or bust
09:22for that Olympics
09:23she's got another one
09:24hopefully
09:25with it coming to Australia
09:26if we make that bid
09:28so she's got time
09:29would you see her
09:30leapfrogging
09:31the Sobe sisters
09:31at some stage
09:33on that graphic
09:34I personally don't see that
09:35happening in time
09:36for the Olympics
09:37I think she's got everything
09:38in her weaponry
09:39to one day beat them
09:40but I just think
09:41the Sobe sisters
09:41are going to continue
09:42to keep improving
09:43and doing what they need to do
09:44and I mean
09:45I currently feel as well
09:46that Olivia Weaver
09:47is just that level above
09:49Okay well listen
09:50we can't have a Scot
09:51in the studio
09:52and an Australian
09:52in the studio
09:53and not talk about
09:54Greg Lobin
09:54and his switch
09:55from Scotland
09:56to Australia
09:56I just wanted to get
09:58both your take
09:58on that nationality switch
10:01so from what we understand
10:02he's looking to switch
10:04nationality
10:04from Scottish
10:05to Australian
10:06he's married to Donna Lobin
10:07she's Australian
10:08they've got a kid together
10:09you know fully in his rights
10:10to do all of that
10:11but I guess
10:11with one eye
10:12on Olympic qualification
10:14what's your take on it Ryan?
10:16It's a tough question
10:17personally
10:18it's not something
10:19I would do
10:20and you know
10:21Squash in Australia
10:22has got such a big history
10:24you know
10:24we sort of
10:25dominated the sport
10:25for 30 years
10:27so it's hard to
10:29that to sink in
10:30that it will probably
10:31be a Scottish player
10:32representing the Australian flag
10:35so yeah
10:35it's really hard
10:36but then
10:36on the other side of that
10:37he can do what he wants
10:38if he wants to do that
10:39he can
10:40and it is good
10:42for our programme too
10:43if he spends more time
10:44in Australia
10:45you know
10:45coaching with our young ones
10:46coming through
10:47so there is another
10:49really good side to it
10:50but I've got mixed emotions
10:52OK Lisa
10:53what about you
10:53what are your
10:54sort of first emotions
10:55when you found out
10:56that news
10:56that Scotland was losing
10:58Greg and Australia
10:59were gaining
10:59Yeah I mean
10:59Australia's gained
11:00Scotland
11:01Scotland's lost massively
11:02he was our only male
11:04opportunity
11:04of having Scottish
11:05representation
11:06if you like
11:07in the GB team
11:08he feels that he's
11:09maybe not going to be able
11:10to make that team
11:11so from that standpoint
11:12you can understand
11:14why if the Olympics
11:15is the be all
11:17and end all
11:17and that's going to
11:18be the tip of the iceberg
11:19for his career
11:20after everything he's achieved
11:21Commonwealth Games medals
11:23you can understand
11:24I personally haven't spoken
11:26to Greg
11:26or anyone else
11:28in the system
11:28in Scotland
11:29so I don't understand
11:30or know what the vibe is
11:32or the feelings are there
11:33I obviously saw
11:34on social media
11:35the announcement
11:36and I can see
11:37that Scottish squash
11:38are wishing him well
11:39on his journey
11:40but you can
11:41you can understand it
11:42from his point of view
11:43to be honest
11:44I mean he's achieved
11:44quite a lot
11:45he's probably exceeded
11:46his own expectations
11:47as a squash player
11:48getting into the top 20
11:49a Commonwealth Games medal
11:52multiple titles
11:53I mean he's been
11:54the Scottish number one
11:54now for many years
11:56and going to an Olympics
11:58I mean icing on the cake
11:59you wouldn't want to
12:00stop anyone from doing that
12:01I know ice skaters do that
12:02I was watching that
12:02glitter and gold
12:03ahead of the Olympics
12:05and a lot of the ice skaters
12:06do switch nationalities
12:07so that they can form
12:08the right pairing
12:09for the right country
12:09so I guess it's not
12:11uncommon in other sports
12:13yeah
12:13no you're right
12:14and this is not
12:15on your point
12:16but it's just to add
12:17to my own point
12:18as I was thinking there
12:21I'm personally sad
12:22that the boys
12:24the young boys and girls
12:25have lost their role model
12:26we've got a fantastic one
12:28in the form of George Adderley
12:29on the women's side
12:30of things
12:30but they all look up to Greg
12:32massively
12:34and they copy a lot
12:35of what he does
12:36he trains in Scotland
12:37he's around
12:37he offers a lot of support
12:39and advice
12:39to these young players
12:41he's done that
12:42for a lot of years
12:43but I'm sad that they're
12:43now going to lose that
12:44at the back end
12:45of his career
12:46what sort of welcomes
12:46are you going to get here
12:47in Australia
12:48when he does come down
12:49here to do a bit of training
12:50a lot of good one from Ryan
12:50by the sounds of things
12:51but I guess you're going to
12:52have to embrace him
12:53there's maybe a few things
12:54to learn for your youngsters
12:55from a player of that calibre
12:57and I'll be at the airport
12:58with some flowers
13:02no
13:04aside of that
13:04there is obviously
13:05a lot of positives
13:06out of it
13:07and it is good
13:08for our players
13:09and our up and coming juniors
13:10to have a top 20
13:12top 30 player
13:13I mean
13:14it's great
13:15it's just
13:17it's hard
13:17because I feel like
13:18I need to lace them up
13:19again
13:21is that the sort of thing
13:22it's too hard
13:23I'm too slow
13:24and too old now
13:24I think
13:26but yeah
13:26it is what it is
13:28I wish him all the best
13:30anyway
13:30and obviously he's going to
13:31come to our high performance
13:32programme
13:33so I'll get on court
13:34with him
13:34and put him through
13:35a few pressure sessions
13:36would you like to see that
13:37you think he'll come across
13:39soon for example
13:40and get stuck in
13:42obviously he's not going
13:42to be actually
13:43able to represent
13:44Australia with a flag
13:46until after
13:46even the continental games
13:48yeah I think
13:49I'd love to see him
13:50in Australia more
13:51you know
13:51I think
13:52if you're going to play
13:53for Australia
13:53you know
13:53like the other
13:55everyone comes back
13:56from overseas
13:56for the Australian season
13:58for one or two months
13:59probably
13:59so if he comes to one month
14:01it'd be great
14:01for our programme
14:03just so he can
14:03you know
14:04pass on his knowledge
14:05train
14:06with our guys
14:08so yeah
14:08there's some really good
14:10things about it
14:10it's just
14:11yeah
14:11it is what it is
14:12okay
14:13we'll leave that chat there
14:14and we wish Greg
14:15all the best with his
14:16switch from Scotland
14:17to Australia
14:17now as the venue
14:18begins to fill up here
14:19on Friday night
14:20ahead of the quarterfinals
14:22we caught up with
14:22Geoff Hunt
14:23eight-time British
14:24Open title winner
14:25and four-time world champion
14:27and we started off
14:28by asking him
14:29a little bit
14:29about his rivalry
14:31with Jonah Barrington
14:33look
14:34it's interesting
14:35Jonah Barrington
14:36as a player
14:36you know
14:37he was
14:38one of the most
14:39fiercest competitors
14:40you've ever come across
14:41you know
14:41you couldn't try harder
14:43and put more effort
14:44into trying to win
14:45than Jonah
14:46he was
14:46he was extremely
14:48difficult to play
14:49from that perspective
14:50you know
14:51he had a very good serve
14:53he had a very good length
14:54he again
14:56was a bit like me
14:56he wasn't the greatest
14:57shot player
14:58and relied more on
14:59on court management
15:01and maneuvering the ball
15:03around the court
15:03and everything
15:05but he was a difficult
15:06customer
15:06and
15:07I had some very
15:08very tough
15:09physical games
15:10with Jonah
15:10he was always difficult
15:11to beat
15:12and so
15:13he was
15:14he was
15:15he was a tough player
15:16all around
15:16now
15:16Johange was
15:18on the other hand
15:18was quite a different
15:19player altogether
15:20you know
15:20he was a
15:21he was a hard hitter
15:23you know
15:23he was a
15:24really good volleyer
15:25he could kill the ball
15:27you know
15:27he developed his game
15:29over the years
15:29you know
15:29had really
15:30some good drop shots
15:31he'd use his body well
15:33to position himself
15:34and make it difficult
15:35to get around him
15:36he was a
15:37very very
15:38good player
15:39you know
15:39he based his game
15:40on good length
15:41and
15:41and
15:42and
15:42working around the court
15:44you know
15:44he gave you nothing
15:45to play off really
15:46and put you under
15:47extreme pressure
15:48so
15:48he was
15:49you know
15:50probably
15:50the tougher of the two
15:52in that sense
15:53to play
15:53and it wouldn't matter
15:54what the conditions were
15:55he was hard to play
15:56so I
15:57I think
15:58JK was
15:59yeah
16:00he went on to prove
16:01how good he was
16:01didn't he
16:03my favourite moment
16:04playing I suppose
16:05it's got to be my
16:068th British Open
16:08against
16:08you know
16:09the up and coming
16:11Jehunga Khan
16:12it was a special
16:14special day for me
16:15because
16:16apart from being
16:17the 8th one
16:18and at that time
16:19it was equaling
16:20with beating
16:21Hashem Khan's record
16:23my dad was watching me
16:24for the first time
16:25in a British Open
16:27Championship
16:28even though he'd
16:28mentored me
16:29and helped me enormously
16:30from a very very
16:32young age
16:32he'd never seen me
16:34play in the
16:34British Open
16:35and he was there
16:36and I had my
16:37children around me
16:38watching
16:39being there
16:40and just the overall
16:41atmosphere to me
16:42was phenomenal
16:43and to come off
16:45and having
16:45and won that
16:46it meant so much
16:47to me
16:47because
16:48obviously
16:49Jehunga went on
16:50to win
16:50more than I did
16:52but on the other hand
16:54I was able to
16:55outlast him
16:55on that particular day
16:56and it was
16:57the longest match
16:58I've ever played
16:59in my life
16:59so that was
17:00also significant
17:01so overall
17:03it's pretty hard
17:04to forget
17:04something like that
17:06when squash
17:07was finally
17:07announced
17:08as being
17:09an Olympic sport
17:10it was unbelievable
17:11from my point of view
17:12because
17:13the Olympics
17:13made a huge difference
17:14to us
17:15because here's a chance
17:16for the game
17:17to expand
17:18even further
17:19than what it has
17:20already
17:20I mean
17:22funding's a critical issue
17:23it happened
17:24through the
17:24Commonwealth Games
17:25for our country
17:26having squashed
17:27into Commonwealth Games
17:28helped getting funding
17:29and further development
17:30for the sport
17:31in our country
17:33and of course
17:34with the Olympics
17:35it's continued on
17:36and I just hope
17:38that it will continue
17:39on in the Olympics
17:39because it makes
17:40a huge difference
17:40to us in Australia
17:41and I'm sure
17:42it would have done
17:42the same
17:43for many many
17:44other countries
17:44around the world
17:47it's a good opportunity
17:48because it will put us
17:49on an international stage
17:50in an environment
17:52that's probably
17:52as good as anything
17:54I mean
17:54all of us
17:55watch the Olympics
17:56we love the Olympics
17:56and to see our sport
17:58in there
17:59is something special
18:00Great to hear
18:01from Geoff Hunt
18:02we're joined now
18:03by Jenny Duncalf
18:04and Paul Hornsby
18:05thanks for joining us
18:06just a word
18:07on that great man
18:07and what he's delivered
18:09for our sport
18:09over the years
18:11Absolute legend
18:12of the game
18:12and we're so fortunate
18:13to have him still
18:15involved
18:15Geoff just lives
18:16down the road
18:16on the Gold Coast
18:17and that's where
18:18Squash Australia's
18:18high performance centre is
18:20so you'll often see him
18:21doing a bit of solo still
18:22he's still in ridiculous shape
18:25and just the father figure
18:26of Australian squash really
18:27in the same way
18:28that Jonah is in England
18:30and gives back a lot always
18:32but so humble
18:33at the same time
18:33and Paul
18:34what stands out for you
18:35from his illustrious career
18:36there must be moments
18:37that you must have
18:38watched growing up
18:39as a young lad
18:40well you need to know
18:41how old are you
18:41I'm not quite as old
18:43as you might think
18:43but no I mean
18:44an amazing career
18:46what a fantastic fellow
18:49though really
18:49I met him once
18:51in New Zealand
18:51going back about 12 years
18:53he was in a place
18:53called Invercargill
18:54for a really small
18:56PSA event
18:56with a very young
18:57Abdullah Altamimi
18:59but he had time
19:00to speak to absolutely
19:01everybody
19:01he never left
19:02the squash club
19:02he watched every match
19:03and what an amazing
19:04presence to have
19:05around the place
19:06yeah I mean
19:07he was in the other day
19:08as well wasn't
19:08I think that's when
19:08we managed to capture him
19:09for that very brief interview
19:11but do you think
19:12do you think he'll show up
19:12again towards the finals
19:13and another sighting
19:14absolutely
19:15I mean we're so lucky
19:16this week
19:16Jeff is often around
19:17but we've actually got
19:18Heather Mackay here as well
19:19she's being inducted
19:21tomorrow
19:21to the PSA Hall of Fame
19:23and she's not known
19:24to come out very often
19:25so there's definitely
19:26a lot of anticipation
19:2716 time British Open
19:29champion
19:29so yeah I'm thrilled
19:30to try and meet them
19:31yeah can't wait
19:32let's remind everyone
19:33what's coming your way
19:34this evening
19:34it's quarter finals night
19:35day four of the tournament
19:37here in Brisbane
19:37a gold event
19:38on the PSA squash tour
19:40Sana Ibrahim
19:40against Tinegillis
19:41gets us going
19:42and not long to wait
19:43for that one
19:44just around 10-12 minutes
19:46until the players
19:47will be on court
19:48and we'll start
19:49with Tinegillis then
19:50top of that pile
19:52how's she been
19:53performing recently
19:53her form's been
19:54getting better
19:55she's just recently
19:56won in New Zealand
19:57so she'll be brimming
19:58with confidence
19:58yeah New Zealand Open
20:00champion beating
20:01Nayla in a 70 minute
20:02high quality women's final
20:03of course she's going
20:04to be brimming
20:06with confidence
20:06coming into here
20:08she's never won
20:08a gold event before
20:09she's got every chance
20:11Siva's the top seed
20:12but I feel like
20:13her confidence
20:14this season really began
20:15back in Windy City
20:16she was playing
20:18Anna Hat
20:18as we see here
20:19she'd actually just
20:20lost to her 3-love
20:21at the Canadian Open
20:22in October
20:23and then coming back
20:25from two games down
20:26so she really got stuck in
20:28it was a really gritty
20:28performance
20:30and she alludes to it
20:31in the interview
20:32afterwards
20:32that she feels
20:34that it's going to
20:35take the pressure off
20:36a bit
20:36give her the confidence
20:37I mean it's no shame
20:38losing to a player
20:39like the Indian teenager
20:42Singh
20:43and then now
20:44on the back of New Zealand
20:45she seems happy
20:46she seems free on court
20:47physically fit
20:49and I'm looking forward
20:50to seeing her playing
20:51Paul you were in NZ
20:53for that one as well
20:53watching it
20:54obviously you live there
20:54but you were there
20:55commentating for us on it
20:57so what are your takeaways
20:58from how she played
20:59last week?
21:00No absolutely
21:01just to sum up
21:01what Jenny said really
21:03she just had a different
21:04aura about
21:05she looked relaxed
21:06she had a smile on her face
21:07she saw her off the court
21:08she looked very happy
21:09down there in New Zealand
21:10but I mean
21:11if you just look back
21:12to that final
21:13taking on her sister
21:14who the head-to-head
21:15going into that
21:16she was 8-1 down
21:18so the pressure
21:19of playing her sister
21:20the pressure of
21:21only ever having
21:21one win against her
21:22on the PSA tour
21:24it would have been
21:24quite satisfying really
21:26for her to
21:27claw one back
21:28if you like
21:28OK our opponent tonight
21:29has made six quarterfinals
21:31this season
21:31Sana Ibrahim
21:32who represents Egypt
21:33let's talk a little bit
21:34about her
21:35this was the victory
21:36against Siva Sangari
21:37Subramaniam
21:37at the US Open
21:38well this was a fantastic win
21:40match of her career
21:41so far
21:41and I've been really
21:42impressed with Ibrahim
21:43that ended with a slightly
21:44controversial finish
21:46but it didn't really affect
21:47the result in the end
21:48so you can see that
21:49she can beat
21:50a top ten player
21:51Siva being number six
21:52in the world
21:53watched her play in Hong Kong
21:55she lost to Satomi Watanabe
21:57and was seven in the world
21:58but it wasn't easy
21:59she really tests
22:01the top players
22:01and she's 16 in the world
22:03now
22:04but she's actually
22:05number eight in Egypt
22:06so again just showcasing
22:07the strength of Egyptian squash
22:09but she's the third youngest
22:10in that eight
22:12behind Ferruz
22:13and Amina Orfi
22:14and just the way she plays
22:16very complete game
22:17she's strong
22:17she's five foot seven
22:18so quite tall
22:20she's got quite a sort of
22:21statuesque feel about her
22:23not that I've been on court
22:24next to her
22:24but she's quite
22:25an aggressive player
22:27hits the ball well
22:28takes it in nicely
22:29as well
22:30so it's not going to be easy
22:31for Tina tonight at all
22:32anything else to add to that Paul?
22:33well I mean
22:34the match there
22:36against Siva Singari Subramani
22:37for me it was how
22:39she approached
22:39the biggest points
22:40in that match
22:40it was close
22:41it was nip and tuck
22:42towards the business end
22:44as we call it
22:45and she closed out
22:46really well
22:46and I agree with what
22:47Jenny said
22:48she's got a real presence
22:49on the court
22:49she likes to really move
22:51that ball around
22:51hard and low
22:53I think back to a match
22:54that she played in Hong Kong
22:55actually the previous year
22:56against Noran Gohar
22:58which ended in heartbreak
23:00really
23:00because she had
23:01Noran Gohar on the ropes
23:03and she took a racket
23:04to the top of the head
23:05and was just not allowed
23:07to play on
23:07because she said that
23:08she was suffering
23:09from dizziness
23:10so it was game over
23:11she was playing so well
23:12she's actually done well
23:13here in the past as well
23:14she played
23:162024 Australian Open
23:17down in Sydney
23:18and made the semi-finals
23:19beating Rachel Arnold
23:20who was ranked above her
23:21so maybe has fond memories
23:22here to work with as well
23:23no wins against
23:24Tine Gillis though
23:25I'm just looking down
23:26at their head-to-heads
23:26five love in favour
23:28of Tine Gillis
23:28so that's going to be
23:29another positive
23:30for the Belgian corner
23:32yeah absolutely
23:32yeah there's nothing better
23:33than going into a match
23:35with five previous meetings
23:37that you can reflect upon
23:38which has been positive
23:40okay well after that
23:41it'll be Joel Macon
23:42versus Nicky Muller
23:43Wales versus Switzerland
23:44so let's talk a little bit
23:45more about that one
23:46and the Golden Tiger
23:47sort of very up and down
23:48form for him
23:49he had a good tour finals
23:51winning the last event
23:52of the season
23:52it's a major title
23:53and Joel Macon
23:54coming away with wins
23:55against Elias and Asal
23:57in the final tournament
23:58of the season
23:58yeah well sorry
23:59sorry Jenny
24:00I was just going to say
24:01I put it in there
24:02because I got so excited
24:03about this
24:04I mean I was at the event
24:05and I did actually say
24:07on commentary
24:07that you could actually
24:08make a movie about
24:09Joel Macon at that event
24:10if you go back
24:11to the pool stages
24:12he got absolutely
24:13battered by Mustafa Asal
24:14and he rolled his ankle
24:16within that match
24:17and we caught up
24:18with the physio
24:19Lawrence that evening
24:20and he said
24:21I can't believe
24:21he's still playing
24:22I can't believe
24:23he's not pulled out
24:23of the tournament
24:24and then he rocked up
24:25the next day
24:26with that real
24:27controversial match
24:28against Diego Elias
24:29to say four match balls
24:31there in the best of three
24:32format
24:33and then you know
24:35a few days later
24:36stepping on court
24:36against the guy
24:37who had completely
24:38dictated the match
24:39two days previously
24:40finds himself two games
24:42up and Asal retires
24:42and then he's got
24:44his hands on the trophy
24:45the biggest result
24:46of his career
24:47it was awesome
24:48that was the biggest
24:49result for Wales
24:50as well
24:50I think that was
24:5120 years after
24:52David Evans won
24:53the British Open
24:54so fantastic
24:55event for Wales
24:58I thought you were going
24:59I thought you were
24:59at full flow
25:00I was actually
25:00Michael
25:00I thought I was talking
25:01too much
25:01I was just thinking
25:02of Nicky actually
25:03Nicky Muller
25:04I think for him
25:05he's 36 now
25:0713 times Swiss
25:08Swiss national champion
25:10and just
25:11you can hear
25:12the atmosphere
25:12building behind us
25:13for him
25:14it's just a case
25:15of
25:16like how good is it
25:17he's been playing
25:17for years
25:18and he's still
25:19getting to play
25:19on these stages
25:20so he'll definitely
25:21be out there
25:22to put on a bit
25:23of a show
25:23today
25:24he's always been
25:24a creative player
25:25very good to watch
25:27clash of styles
25:28Joel Macon
25:29I'm not going to say
25:29he's not good to watch
25:30but it's in a different
25:32way
25:32so yeah
25:33I think Nicky
25:34will try and
25:34put on a show
25:35can Nicky Muller
25:36do it one all
25:36in their head to heads
25:37they last met in January
25:382023 at the
25:40tournament of champions
25:40and Muller won that one
25:423-2
25:43I think so
25:43he has beaten
25:44Macon in the past
25:45yeah I think he's up
25:46against it tonight
25:46to be honest
25:47I do feel
25:48Joel Macon's had
25:49a little bit of a
25:50rough time
25:51in recent months
25:52but I also feel
25:53he's getting better
25:53and better and better
25:54so I feel that
25:57Nicky Muller played
25:58very well in New Zealand
25:59I don't think he's
25:59going to trouble
26:00Macon tonight
26:01okay let's rock it
26:01through the last two
26:02matches
26:03Salma Haney
26:03versus Marina
26:04Stefanoni
26:04that's Egypt
26:05versus the USA
26:06this is a repeat
26:07of the Texas
26:08Open match
26:10which they
26:10went head to head
26:11in and that was
26:12back in 2026
26:13so I mean
26:13it's this season
26:14it's still part of
26:15this calendar year
26:16yeah it was only
26:16last month
26:17not the best match
26:18for Salma obviously
26:19it ended up just being
26:2011-2
26:2111-2
26:21and then she unfortunately
26:22had to retire
26:24which has been a bit
26:25of a story for her season
26:26it's been plagued
26:28with a foot injury
26:29she started off the season
26:30really well
26:30had a win against
26:31Satomi Watanabe
26:33made the semis
26:34at Silicon Valley
26:35but then in China
26:36unfortunately
26:37hurt her foot
26:39and had to withdraw
26:40then hasn't actually
26:40played between November
26:41and February
26:42Windy City
26:43being her first event
26:44back
26:45and Stefanoni
26:46a semi-finalist
26:47at the Texas Open
26:48and also a semi-finalist
26:49last week
26:49at the New Zealand Open
26:50so shouldn't underrate her
26:52no absolutely not
26:53absolutely
26:53she
26:54I really enjoy
26:56watching Stefanoni play
26:57she's got a nice way
26:58about her
26:58she goes about her
26:59business
27:00pretty quietly
27:01but she's
27:02she's an amazing athlete
27:03and I think that
27:04she's going to really
27:04cause a few problems
27:06out there tonight
27:07again
27:07okay
27:07we've got one more
27:08match review
27:09that's Mohamed Zakaria
27:10versus
27:11Iun Yao Ung
27:12of Malaysia
27:13this should be a real
27:14peach of a match
27:15this one
27:15between these two
27:16let's talk about
27:17the two faces
27:18of Mohamed Zakaria
27:19and maybe about
27:19the maturity
27:20that we've seen
27:21from him this season
27:22well looking at
27:23this match
27:23it was
27:24it had everything
27:25I've got to say
27:25I loved this match
27:26but in the end
27:28it was actually
27:28Zakaria who
27:29stitched himself up
27:30in that fifth
27:31he was punished
27:32for his movement
27:34he got strokes
27:35against him
27:36I think about
27:36three or four strokes
27:37and a no-let
27:38in the fifth
27:38Jonah ending up
27:39winning it
27:40and that has got to be
27:41the highlight of the match
27:42for me
27:42was actually
27:43not the faces of Zakaria
27:44but the faces of his coach
27:45Jonathan Power
27:46not too dissimilar
27:47from his playing days
27:48and look at that
27:49that's a celebration
27:50isn't it
27:51it was all going on
27:52so this was him
27:53sort of
27:54later apologised
27:55for his antics
27:56and movement
27:57but a different
27:59player we saw
28:00last week
28:00in New Zealand
28:02yeah it was a match
28:03that was talked about
28:04for all the wrong reasons
28:05really
28:05it was antics
28:06from start to finish
28:07and you see what
28:09the reaction from
28:10Jonah Bryant
28:10says it all there really
28:11it was a bit of a mess
28:12really
28:13it was 109 minutes
28:1545 refereeing decisions
28:16not one for the purists
28:17but less decisions
28:18in New Zealand
28:19so that I guess
28:20record is getting better
28:21we want less stoppages
28:23yeah 100%
28:24I mean
28:25what a difference
28:26a few months can make
28:27for Mohamed Zakaria
28:29he turned up
28:30to this match
28:30125 minutes
28:32popped over
28:33the two hour mark
28:33but it was just pure squash
28:35it was fewer
28:36in fact about half
28:37the number of refereeing decisions
28:38and it was
28:40just a brilliant spectacle
28:41for the sport
28:42you know
28:43both players moving around
28:44each other really nicely
28:46both players leaving it
28:47all out there
28:48literally
28:49and you know
28:50Joel Makin
28:51he's a very honest
28:53and fair guy
28:53I think this was about
28:54as animated
28:56as we saw him
28:56in the match really
28:58and they have a nice
28:59little chat at the end
28:59don't they
29:00I think you managed
29:01to get in there
29:01and find out
29:02what they were saying
29:03to each other
29:03you offered them
29:04some nice words
29:04towards the end
29:05yeah I actually like
29:05the reaction from Joel
29:07as Zakaria's
29:08giving his celebration
29:09they had a little chat
29:11at the end
29:11and then we saw
29:12this sort of
29:12the slit of the throat
29:14celebration
29:15which take it
29:16as you will
29:17but yeah
29:17I bumped into Joel
29:18and he just mentioned
29:19that he said to Zakaria
29:20that was a great match
29:21you know
29:22why don't you play
29:22like that all the time
29:23don't quote me on that
29:24but you know
29:25paraphrasing
29:27you can play like that
29:28you can play
29:29he's such a good player
29:30he doesn't need
29:30to sort of dip into
29:31what we saw a little bit
29:32earlier in the season
29:33against Jonah
29:34anything else to add on there
29:35for me
29:36he just earned himself
29:37a lot of fans
29:37by performing like that
29:39by behaving like that
29:40and a long way
29:40it continued
29:41okay we're going to
29:42leave it there
29:42that's all for our
29:43preview show
29:44for tonight's quarterfinals
29:45but all the live action
29:46gets underway
29:47starting with
29:48Sana Ibrahim
29:49against Tina Gillis
29:50do come over
29:50and join us
29:51very very shortly
29:52we're looking forward
29:52to seeing you here
29:53in Brisbane Australia
29:55so make sure you come
29:56and join us very soon
29:56thanks very much guys
29:57see you in a bit
29:58coffee
29:59you
29:59obviously
29:59you
29:59you
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