2026 STARR Bermuda Open Quarter-Finals Spark Drama
Nicholas Spizzirri Advanced
IslandStats.com
The 2026 STARR Bermuda Open reached a fever pitch on quarter-finals day, as world number 90 Nicholas Spizzirri produced a miraculous comeback to stun the tournament's fourth seed Timothy Brownell at the Bermuda Squash Club.
The day began with a result that sent shockwaves through the men's draw. Facing an uphill battle against the world number 29 and fourth seed, Spizzirri looked to be heading for a swift exit after dropping the opening two sets. However, the underdog refused to buckle under the pressure, finding a second wind to unsettle his higher-ranked opponent. Spizzirri’s relentless energy and tactical adjustments allowed him to claw back into the contest, taking the third and fourth sets to force a decider. In a tense final frame, the American maintained his composure to seal a historic 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 victory, marking one of the most significant upsets in the event's history.
Top seed and world number 21 Kareem El Torkey survived a significant scare in Devonshire as he was forced to go the distance by Rui Soares in a grueling five-set marathon. In a contest that ebbed and flowed, the Egyptian eventually held his nerve to claim an 11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-2 victory, narrowly avoiding a shock exit to the 86th-ranked Portuguese star.
In the women's division, the path to the semi-finals was far more clinical for Nadine Shahin. The world number 47 put on a dominant display to extinguish the hopes of Noa Romero in straight sets. Shahin dictated the pace from the outset, utilizing her experience to navigate a tight second frame before running away with the match in the third. Her 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 victory ensures she carries significant momentum into the final four, as she continues her pursuit of the title in Devonshire.
With the semi-final line-ups now taking shape, the tournament is poised for a grandstand finish. The remaining seeds will be wary of the giant-killing form shown by the likes of Spizzirri, while the women's draw remains wide open following Shahin’s authoritative progression.
There were no such dramas for the women's number one seed, as Sabrina Sobhy produced a clinical display of precision to dismantle world number 56 Menna Hamed. The American favorite conceded just eight points in a dominant straight-sets performance, cruising through 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 to secure her place in the next round.
