Defending Champion Kennedy Carries Home Hopes Into Manchester Open Finals

The finalists of the Manchester Open 2025 have been decided after four top class semi-finals concluded at the PSA Squash Tour Bronze event in front of a packed crowd at the National Squash Centre.

Women's top seed and defending champion Georgina Kennedy was the sole English winner on semis day with four others losing out to higher-ranked opponents. Kennedy faced compatriot Katie Malliff in the second match of the day and after losing the opening game 11-3, used her physicality to great effect to come back and win comfortably in the following three games.

Kennedy is looking to defend her title and will feature in a third successive Manchester Open final as she takes on Egypt's Salma Hany. The No.3 seeded Hany spoilt the birthday celebrations of No.5 seed Jasmine Hutton. The England No.2 was celebrating her 26th birthday but struggled to find her top form on court despite the encouragement from the knowledgeable North West crowd.

Hany was clinical in all areas of the court during the competitive contest. The pair traded blows across the middle of the court as both looked to get in front and showcase their attacking skills. Hutton led 8-7 in the second game but Hany fought back to win the next three points and set herself up with two game balls to take a crucial 2/0 lead. Hutton received a No Let at 10-9 much to the dismay of the home crowd to lose the game. Hany always looked dominant the third game as she won 11-8 to move into the final.

"I'm very, very happy with the performance." Said Hany after her win.

"Jazz has been playing very well recently and I knew it would be hard so I needed to prepare well, so I'm very happy to be through in three.

"I was really prepared for a battle today. She had no pressure and I just wanted to perform well with being the higher seed. She's been playing great so I just wanted to be at my best today and I'm happy to play that well."

The first match of the men's semi-finals featured two up and coming players who look destined for great things in the game. Top seed Aly Abou Eleinen took on 19-year-old Jonah Bryant as the teenager looked to score a place in a first Bronze event final.

In a high quality match, the Egyptian was busy around the middle of the court from the start of the contest, cutting balls off on the volley and gave Bryant no time at all on the ball. The Penn University graduate was more proactive in the front two corners and used his superb movement to constantly nullify Bryant's attacks.

After losing the opening games 11-8, 11-5, Bryant fought back. The determined home hope found space on the court and exploited a lapse in concentration from the top seed to score the third game 11-5. Eleinen regrouped in the fourth game and although both players were pushing each other to the limits, the Egyptian always looked the stronger of the two. He sealed the game 11-9 to move into a first Manchester Open final.

"I had to do a lot of things right to get the win today." Eleinen explained.

"It's not easy to play such an up and coming player like Jonah, especially here in his home country with the crowd behind him. There's no obvious errors in his game, he's really well rounded and it's so difficult to win points. He came back at me in the third game and in the fourth too but I'm glad I kept my concentration to get through it in the end."

Eleinen's opponent in the final will be Mexico's No.2 seed Leonel Cardenas. The 24-year-old faced Declan James in the final match of the day and exhibited mature, professional squash to defeat the tall Englishman in straight games.