HAMBURG — Aly Abou Eleinen downed top seed Youssef Soliman 3–0 in an all-Egyptian final to clinch the 2026 Hamburg Squash Open title.
Eleinen, who defeated Soliman the last time the pair met on the PSA Squash Tour at the Texas Open in 2025, has scooped his first piece of silverware this season having finished runner-up in Karachi at the start of 2026.
“Youssef is one of the closest people to me on Tour. We’re sharing a room actually this tournament and we’re basically sleeping next to each other!” he said afterwards according to psasquashtour.com.
“But Youssef’s been a training partner in Egypt for a while, we hang out a lot. I know he’s returning back from injury and to be playing at this level is just the start.
“I’ve been waiting for this title for a while now. I’ve had lots of heartbreaks. I came close in Pakistan, and then had a bad start in El-Gouna, but I’m now working with Karim Darwish for a couple of months and he’s done it all.
“It’s helping me through the mental part. I pretty much speak to him every day to try and get my mind together.
“I’m glad to get it done and hopefully I can finish the season strong,” he added.
No.1 seed Soliman came into the final off the back of two monumental matches in the quarter and semi-finals against Melvil Scianimanico and Baptiste Masotti, respectively.
The World No.12’s semi-final lasted over 100 minutes, and the physical toll on Soliman’s body looked to have told throughout today’s title decider, as Eleinen controlled the majority of the rallies.
Eleinen won the first 11-5 and, despite an improved display from Soliman in the second, Eleinen ramped it up and took advantage of any loose shots from Soliman to double his lead.
World No.14 Eleinen wrapped up the third 11-5, driving the ball deep into the corners and moving Soliman around the court to secure his fourth title on Tour.
“Youssef is one of the closest people to me on tour. We’re sharing a room actually this tournament and we’re basically sleeping next to each other!” he said afterwards.
“But Youssef’s been a training partner in Egypt for a while, we hang out a lot. I know he’s returning back from injury and to be playing at this level is just the start.
“I’ve been waiting for this title for a while now. I’ve had lots of heartbreaks. I came close in Pakistan, and then had a bad start in El Gouna, but I’m now working with Karim Darwish for a couple of months and he’s done it all.
“It’s helping me through the mental part. I pretty much speak to him every day to try and get my mind together. I’m glad to get it done and hopefully I can finish the season strong.”
