WA Open International showcases strength of squash in Western Australia

The 2026 WA Open International delivered five days of world-class squash in Perth, with Switzerland's Louai Hafez and Malaysia's Thanusaa Uthrian emerging as champions at the Mirrabooka Squash Centre.

Held from 3-7 June, the WA Open formed the second stop of the 2026 Australian Squash Tour and attracted a strong international field alongside a thriving graded tournament that showcased the strength of squash in Western Australia.

Hafez continued his impressive run in the state, backing up his victory at the Kalgoorlie PSA Challenger the previous week to complete a Western Australian double with the men's WA Open title. In the women's draw, Uthrian claimed the championship after navigating a competitive international field.

Players from Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Pakistan, Switzerland and Malta were represented across the PSA competition, with the men's field featuring players ranked between 130 and 175 in the world and the women's field boasting athletes ranked between 140 and 180.

The tournament generated more than 280 matches across five days, creating an electric atmosphere both on and off the court.

Alongside the PSA event, 134 players competed in the graded competition across junior, masters and adult divisions. The combined format provided local players and squash fans with the opportunity to watch international-level competition while participating in their own events.

Western Australian athletes were well represented in the PSA draws, with Erin Classen, Hannah Slyth, Pascale Louka, Law Arthur Pak Ki and Daniel Marsh all competing on home courts.

Squash Western Australia General Manager Leigh Kaye said the event's success extended beyond the PSA competition.

"It is always fantastic to run events with lots of participation," Kaye said.

"Running the graded event alongside the PSA event gives all our keen squashies an opportunity to watch some fantastic world squash, rub shoulders with players and hopefully be inspired to build on their own games."

Adding to the event atmosphere, juniors from clubs across Western Australia were invited to perform the traditional racquet spin before matches from the quarter-final stage onwards, giving young players a memorable role in the tournament.

The success of the WA Open International comes at an exciting time for the sport in the state, with Perth set to host the World Masters Championships and squash preparing for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.