[14] Marina Stefanoni (USA) 3-1 Alicia Mead (ENG) 10-12, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4 (34m)
Incredible start from Alicia – her length/width was the best I ever saw her play, great first game, and still way in the match in the second. A bit of physical drop in the last two, as Marina made the court very, very big from the second game on.
🎙️ “Just play squash!”
Hear from your winner Marina Stefanoni 👇 pic.twitter.com/PYAX0FU2cZ
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 8, 2026
Marina : A bit of a slow start for me, and an excellent start from Alicia.
She is a very talented player, quite physical, she came out with a very high pace.
I started out quite well, had a 7/3 lead, but then my length dropped a bit and I took a small step back, lost my length, a bit of a loss of focus. And she took the opportunity, so all credit to her, she played really well.
And then, I wasn’t worried, I knew what to do and I knew I would find it eventually. I just stopped thinking and focused on playing squash.
I’m based full time in Philadelphia, I work with Graeme Williams, and when I go home to Connecticut, I work with Kumail Mehmood, I have two coaches, they are the best ever, and they complement each other perfectly. So I’m learning a lot;
[6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 3-0 Haya Ali (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (21m)
Although the score doesn’t seem that close, the young Haya made sure to make the #6 work hard for her first round. Good performance from the Japanese, advised by her fiancé, good start for one of the hot favourites for the title.
Satomi : She obviously has a very good hand, so anything loose, anything I gave her, the slightless blink of a chance, she would go for it, and she has the shot to actually finish it off.
So I really had to focus on hitting good targets, and I really needed to be on my toes to go for the front corners as well, so it’s definitely a good first round to make me sharp.
I’m based in South West London, Roehampton Squash Club, where I train with Alison Walters. My strength is my attacking type of play, but I didn’t quite have the balance of consistency and patience, making it solid.
Whereas Alison had a great attacking game and also very solid, so I’m learning whatever it takes, whether the skill sets, whether it’s the mentality, how do I step on court, what you have to be thinking, that’s the kind of things I’m working on with her.
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 3-0 Marie Stephan (FRA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (21m)
A good start from the French girl, pushing Siva in the first game to 11/9 then leading in the second. The Malaysian had to find her marks to reverse the tide, and closes it in 21m.
