Compiled by Gazette Staff
HOUSTON – Egypt’s squash icon Nour El-Sherbini delivered another masterclass on the PSA Tour, storming to the 2026 Texas Squash Open title in Houston, USA.
The World No.2 showcased her trademark resilience in a pulsating final, edging American star Olivia Weaver in a five-game thriller. El-Sherbini triumphed 3-2 with game scores of 13-15, 13-11, 12-14, 11-8, 11-8 in front of an electrified crowd.
Battling back from 2-1 down, the Egyptian champion captured her 47th PSA Tour crown, overcoming the No.2 seed in dramatic fashion and extending her unbeaten streak against Weaver to an emphatic 17 matches.
The prestigious event, staged at the Houston Squash Club, featured a prize purse of $120,000 for both the men’s and women’s draws.
Much like her recent success at the Windy City Open, the eight-time World Champion demonstrated ice-cool composure under immense pressure.
With the match hanging in the balance, El-Sherbini raised her level, dominating the closing stages of both the fourth and fifth games with clinical, error-free squash.
Weaver had earlier surged ahead after three gripping tie-break games and appeared poised to break her duck against the ‘Warrior Princess’ when the decider was locked at 6-6. But momentum shifted decisively.
A costly error from the American, followed by two razor-thin line calls that went against her, handed El-Sherbini three championship balls.
The Egyptian needed no second invitation. Sealing victory on her second opportunity, El-Sherbini claimed her second Texas Open crown—12 years after first lifting the trophy as a qualifier—further cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
“I’m so glad to get through the match. It was very, very tough mentally as well as physically,” El-Sherbini said after the match. “Olivia played absolutely amazingly and I’m happy I won in the end.
“It was tough, very tough mentally. It was in the same mood and the same rhythm as last week in Chicago. To go in and play another tournament back-to-back, it was hard. I’m so proud of how I handled it and the end result I wanted.”
Men’s final
Heading into the men’s final on the back of four consecutive defeats to 2024 World Champion Diego Elias, World No.7 Victor Crouin rose to the occasion with a masterclass in precision and control, neutralizing the Peruvian’s world-class firepower.
Despite surrendering a 9–4 advantage in the opening game after a late flurry of errors, the 26-year-old Frenchman responded with authority. Crouin dictated the tempo with sharp, clinical shot-making, relentlessly targeting the front two corners to keep Elias under sustained pressure during a grueling 76-minute battle.
As Elias grew increasingly frustrated, Crouin tightened his grip on the contest, capturing the second and third games with composed, high-percentage squash. The fourth game saw the No.4 seed surge to a commanding 10–5 lead, seemingly on the brink of a statement victory.
Yet the drama was far from over. Elias mounted a fierce late comeback, rattling off four consecutive points to close the gap to 10–9 and inject fresh tension into the final moments.
In the end, Crouin held his nerve. Awarded a decisive stroke by the match referee, the Frenchman sealed the victory in style, clinching the 21st title of his professional career and delivering one of the standout performances of his season.
“I’m so glad I got over the line in the end,” Crouin said after the match. “I was thinking of the Grasshopper Cup match last year when I lost against Diego from 10-5 up, so I was relieved to win 11-9 in the end. Obviously, it’s my first gold event win, and I’ve been chasing wins over top-five players for a while.
“I’ve been feeling strong on court and I’m trying to chase the top five for sure. I’ve been fairly consistent this season and I feel it’s been one of my strengths.”
