Bermudian squash player Taylor Carrick was back competing on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour this week, participating in the $15,000 Men's Guatemala Open 2025.
The tournament is being held at the Asociación Deportiva Nacional de Squash Club Courts in Guatemala City.
In his opening match, Carrick faced a challenging opponent in Salman Khalil of Egypt.
The contest between Carrick and Khalil lasted for 37 minutes. Ultimately, it was the Egyptian player who proved too strong on the day, securing a victory in straight sets. Khalil won the match with scores of 11-6, 11-6, 11-4.
While the result will be disappointing for Carrick, competing on the PSA Tour provides valuable experience against international-level players. He will no doubt look to take the lessons learned from this match into his future tournaments as he continues to develop his game on the professional circuit.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Carrick's Toronto Classic Run Ends in Second Round Defeat
IslandStats.com
Bermudian squash player Taylor Carrick's campaign at the $9,000 Men's Guilfoyle PSA Toronto Classic 2025 has come to an end in the second round. He faced a tough challenge against the eighth seed, Salim Khan of the United States of America, at the Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club in Canada.
In a 33-minute battle on the court, Carrick fought hard but ultimately succumbed to a straight-sets defeat against the higher-ranked American. Khan proved to be a formidable opponent, demonstrating his seeding with a composed and effective performance.
The first game saw Khan take an early lead, which Carrick was unable to close, resulting in an 11-6 win for the American. The second game was a tighter affair, with Carrick showing resilience and pushing Khan harder. However, the eighth seed held his nerve to clinch the game 11-9. The third game followed a similar pattern, with both players exchanging rallies, but Khan ultimately proved too strong, securing the final game 11-7 and with it, the match.
While Carrick's run at the Toronto Classic has ended, his victory in the first round against Abbas Nawaz will provide encouragement. Competing in PSA Challenger Tour events like this is crucial for gaining experience and improving his world ranking as he continues his professional squash career. He will now look to take the lessons learned from this tournament into his future competitions.
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Carrick Advances at Toronto PSA Classic
IslandStats.com
Squash player Taylor Carrick has made a positive start to his campaign at the $9,000 Men's Guilfoyle PSA Toronto Classic 2025, currently underway at the Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club in Canada.
Carrick faced Canadian opponent Abbas Nawaz in his opening round match. In a focused and determined performance, Carrick secured a straight-sets victory, overcoming Nawaz in a brisk 30-minute encounter.
The Bermudian player took control of the match early, winning the first game 11-5. Nawaz offered more resistance in the second game, but Carrick maintained his composure to clinch it 11-8. The third game proved to be the most tightly contested, with both players battling hard. However, Carrick held his nerve in the crucial moments to eventually secure the win 15-13, completing a confident straight-sets triumph.
This first-round victory provides a solid platform for Carrick as he progresses further in the PSA Challenger Tour event. He will be looking to build on this momentum in his upcoming matches at the Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club.
Saturday, May 03, 2025
Azman & Zakaria Crowned IQUW Bermuda Open Champions
IslandStats.com
The IQUW Bermuda Open Squash Championships reached a dramatic conclusion at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club, delivering two captivating finals that had spectators on the edge of their seats.
In the Ladies Final, the top seed, Aira Azman of Malaysia, faced a formidable challenge from Egypt's second seed, Hana Moataz. However, Azman ultimately proved too strong, claiming a straight-sets 3-0 victory in just 27 minutes. The Malaysian star secured the title with scores of 12-10, 11-3, and 11-6, showcasing her dominance throughout the contest.
The Men's Final provided a stark contrast, treating fans to an epic 110-minute marathon between the top seed, Miguel Rodriguez of Columbia, and Egypt's second seed, Mohamad Zakaria. After a grueling battle, it was Zakaria who emerged victorious, coming back from 2-1 down to defeat Rodriguez 3-2.
Zakaria started slowly, losing the first set 8-11. He responded in the second, levelling the match with an 11-7 win. Rodriguez then edged ahead by taking the third set 11-6. The fourth game proved to be a monumental struggle, lasting an incredible 40 minutes, with Zakaria eventually prevailing 15-13 to force a deciding fifth set. With momentum on his side, the Egyptian second seed clinched the championship, taking the final set 11-4.
The IQUW Bermuda Open has delivered a week of high-quality squash, culminating in two memorable finals that highlighted the skill, athleticism, and determination of the top players on the PSA tour. Azman's dominant performance and Zakaria's incredible comeback will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on the Bermuda squash community.
Friday, May 02, 2025
Seeds Battle Through Thrilling Semi-Finals at Bermuda Open
Miguel Rodriguez & Karim El Hammamy
IslandStats.com
Semi-Finals night at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club delivered a quartet of captivating encounters as the top seeds in both the Ladies' and Men's draws were pushed to their limits in the IQUW Bermuda Open Squash Championships.
Sibling Showdown Sees Aira Azman Advance
The opening match saw a fascinating sibling rivalry play out as Malaysian top seed Aira Azman faced her younger sister, the fourth-seeded Aifa Azman. In a highly anticipated clash, it was the elder Azman who emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline. After Aifa took the first set 11-4, Aira demonstrated her resilience, finding her rhythm to take the subsequent sets 11-4, 11-8, and 11-6 in a 31-minute encounter.
Moataz Survives Five-Set El Rihany Test
The second Ladies Semi-Final provided a gripping spectacle as Egypt's second seed, Hana Moataz, battled through a five-set epic against her compatriot, the eighth seed Amina El Rihany. In a see-saw affair lasting 58 minutes, Moataz twice had to come from a set down before finally clinching the victory 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9).
Rodriguez Battles Back to Reach Men's Final
The Men's top seed, Miguel Rodriguez of Columbia, also had to draw on all his experience to secure his place in the final. Facing Egypt's seventh seed, Karim El Hammamy, Rodriguez fought back from a set down to claim a 3-1 victory. El Hammamy took the opener 11-8, but Rodriguez responded emphatically, taking the next three sets 11-9, 11-8, and 11-3 in a 54-minute contest.
Zakaria Edges Chotrani in Five-Game Thriller
The second Men's semi-final saw another five-set nail-biter as Egypt's second seed, Mohamad Zakaria, overcame a resilient Veer Chotrani of India. Zakaria started strong, taking the first set 11-5, but Chotrani fought back to claim the next two 11-6 and 11-8. Zakaria showed his mental fortitude, winning the fourth 11-3 to force a decider, which he eventually clinched in a marathon 73 minutes with a score of 17-15.
The thrilling semi-finals have set the stage for an exciting final day at the IQUW Bermuda Open, with the top seeds in both draws having to overcome stern challenges to reach the ultimate showdown.
