Hong Kong Squash Open: Japan’s Satomi Watanabe Stuns Amina Orfi to Reach First Platinum Semi-Final
Japan’s Satomi Watanabe produced one of the standout performances of the Hong Kong Squash Open on Friday, defeating Egypt’s teenage sensation Amina Orfi to book her first ever semi-final appearance at a platinum level event. The win marked a major milestone in Watanabe’s career, coming fourteen years after she left Japan at age twelve to pursue her squash ambitions abroad.
Watanabe, currently ranked world No 7, surged to a 2-0 lead with sharp movement and clean hitting. But momentum shifted dramatically as Orfi, the world No 3 and one of the tour’s brightest rising stars, fought back to level the match at 2-2. With pressure mounting, Watanabe relied on her training and recent work with a sports psychologist to regain composure in the decisive fifth game.
Despite receiving a warning for dissent, the 26-year-old dominated the final stretch, sealing the match 11-4 with confident shotmaking. She celebrated by tossing her racquet into the air and roaring in delight, becoming only the second player this season, after Hania El Hammamy, to defeat Orfi.
The victory not only cements Watanabe as a serious contender in the women’s draw but also highlights her resilience after years of dedication and setbacks. In the men’s competition, top seed Paul Coll cruised into the semi-finals with a commanding performance, reinforcing his status as the player to beat.
