First of all, I hope you had a great Christmas and received all the new squash kit you wanted!
I always make sure to ask for plenty of new balls and grips as presents, and my mum kindly stocked me up, which is great.
Anyway, I've been really missing the PSA Squash Tour since the Hong Kong Open at the start of December.
I've been pondering what's going to happen in the second half and was planning on writing up some of my predictions for this week's newsletter.
But then I remembered that I actually made a few predictions at the start of 2025 for the coming year.
So, in this article, I thought I'd go back through those predictions for 2025 to see if they had come to fruition, and then I'll make my new predictions for the second half of this season.
Looking Back At My 2025 Predictions ...
Joel Makin To Reach Top 5
Well, we're off to a great start because Makin achieved this feat in February by reaching the World No.5 spot for the first time in his career.
The Welshman was in superb form last season, and I was very confident that this one would come off.
After a consistent run of quality results early in the season, Makin reached a career-high ranking of World No.4 in June 2025, too.
His season highlights included a historic win at the PSA Squash Tour Finals in Toronto, where he became the first Welshman to lift that title, defeating Mostafa Asal in the final.
He also reached the semi-finals of the British Open, pushing deep in one of the sport’s most prestigious events, and successfully defended his British National Championship crown.
Makin has proven time and time again that he’s no one-off contender; his ability to beat top players consistently has solidified his place near the top of the rankings.
A particularly notable moment was his gritty win over Mohamed ElShorbagy at the London Classic, showing he can grind out results against an experienced, former world No.1.
However, the first half of the 2025/26 season hasn’t been without its challenges for Joel.
Illness and injury have unfortunately disrupted a few of his events, leading to some unexpected early exits and affecting his ability to string together results.
But despite those setbacks, Makin is still holding onto that World No. 5 ranking as we head into the second half of the season, which is a testament to the strong foundation he built earlier in the year and great to see given the struggles he's had.
Curtis Malik To Break Into Top 20
One of my early predictions for the 2025/26 PSA season was that Curtis Malik would break into the top 20, and although that hasn’t quite happened yet, he has reached his career-best ranking of World No. 22 in 2025.
Malik has had some very strong results this year, including lifting the Manitoba Open title and producing solid performances at Challenger and PSA Tour events that contributed to his upward ranking trajectory.
He also made headlines with impressive wins at the Silicon Valley Open, where he upset top-seeded opposition to reach a Gold-level quarter-final, his first top-10 win at that level
On the PSA World Tour, Malik has shown he can compete with higher-ranked opponents, as seen in his US Open run, where he reached the quarter-finals and picked up notable wins, including over Mohamed ElShorbagy.
He’s also been a key part of England’s success at the European Team Championships, going unbeaten during the campaign and helping secure another title.
There have been ups and downs, like early exits at events such as the London Squash Classic, but overall, Malik's consistency and ability to take advantage of key opportunities have pushed him toward the edge of that top-20 breakthrough.
Continuing to string together strong performances at tour events and against higher seeds will be crucial if he wants to make that leap in the second half of this season.
While he hasn’t quite hit the top-20 mark yet, he’s clearly trending in the right direction, and he’s maintained a strong presence in the rankings despite the tougher fields and deeper draws of higher-level tournaments.
Amina Orfi To Make The Top 5
One of my predictions for the 2025/26 PSA season was that Amina Orfi would break into the top 5, and she hasn’t just done that, she’s now climbed as high as World No. 3 at just 18 years old, making her one of the breakout stars of the women’s tour.
Orfi’s rise has been pretty incredible.
After years of dominating the junior circuit, including becoming the first player ever to win four World Junior Championships in 2025, she has translated that into success at the senior level too.
She captured titles like the London Squash Classic and continued to collect PSA Tour silver and Gold-level trophies, showcasing not only elite talent but maturity beyond her years.
Her consistency around the top of the rankings has seen her sit well with the best players in the game, like Hania El Hammamy, Nour El Sherbini, and Nouran Gohar.
In fact, they have been referred to as 'the big 3' for some time now, since they have dominated the top three ranking spots for so long.
Orfi has now changed that, pushing ahead of Nour El Sherbini (who was the reigning World No.1 for a heck of a long time).
Amina has also progressed very well through Platinum events, too, reaching her first Platinum semi-final at the El Gouna International by beating Nour El Sherbini and pushing deep at the Hong Kong Open before a narrow loss in the quarters
While she did suffer an upset at the PSA World Championships earlier in the year, that loss did little to slow her overall momentum and development on tour.
Orfi’s combination of power, athleticism, and relentless court coverage has made her a constant threat, and her ascent to No.3 confirms that she's exceeded expectations for the year.
As we head into the second half of the season, she looks firmly established among the elite and poised to take some of the more major titles.
Image credit: Steve Cubbins
Mostafa Asal To Reach World No.1 Again
Another of my forecasts for the 2025/26 PSA season was that Mostafa Asal would return to the World No.1 ranking, and he’s absolutely delivered on that.
Asal overtook long-time ruler Ali Farag in early 2025, ending Farag’s remarkable 93-week reign at the top of the men’s rankings and ascending to No.1 himself.
He didn’t just reach the summit; he reinforced it with some of the most dominant performances on the tour.
A standout moment was his maiden PSA World Championship title win in Chicago, where he defeated four-time world champion Ali Farag in straight games and didn’t drop a single game all tournament.
He also captured Platinum-level trophies like the Optasia Championships, defeating top rivals and solidifying his position at the very top.
Asal’s season continued strongly with titles like the Palm Hills Open, where he extended his winning streak and showcased his incredibly dominant playing style.
He’s continued to perform consistently at the highest level, reaching later rounds in major events including the Qatar Classic and Hong Kong Open.
There have been moments when challengers have pushed him, but by mid-season, he’s firmly cemented himself into that World No.1 spot, backing up my prediction with both ranking results and major titles under his belt.
Also, the fact that Ali Farag retired from professional squash with immediate effect on May 28 certainly made things a little easier for Asal.
As the season progresses, the key question will be how he balances that top spot with the continued emergence of elite rivals around him like Diego Elias and Paul Coll.
Olivia Weaver To Break Into The Top 3
Another prediction I made for the 2025/26 season was that Olivia Weaver would break into the top 3, and while she hasn’t quite reached that specific milestone yet, she has had a phenomenal season and is currently sitting at World No. 5, her highest ranking of late 2025.
I admit that this one was a little outlandish, given how ridiculous the competition is in the women's top 5, but I still think that Weaver has what it takes to push those top 4 Egyptian players.
Weaver’s year has been marked by some standout performances that I think justify that prediction.
She captured the Silicon Valley Open title, defending her Gold‑level crown with strong, consistent squash in California and demonstrating her ability to handle pressure in those important matches.
She also made her first-ever British Open semi‑final in Birmingham, beating higher‑ranked opposition along the way and showing she can compete deep into the biggest draws.
On the world stage, Weaver reached the semi‑finals of the PSA World Championships in Chicago, where she once again proved her mettle against elite competition and picked up crucial ranking points.
Elsewhere this season, she won multiple titles, including a Gold‑level Australian Open victory, beating none other than Amina Orfi in the final (3-1), which boosted her confidence and her ranking substantially.
Weaver also made history by becoming the first American finalist at the PSA World Tour Finals, a major career milestone that further highlighted her consistency.
This string of results has kept her firmly within the elite ranks and has steadily closed the gap on the top three.
While she hasn’t yet cracked the top 3, Olivia Weaver’s 2025 has been full of deep runs, big wins, and milestones, showing she’s very much on pace for that next breakthrough.
Sam Osborne-Wylde To Make His Name Known
For my final prediction, I’ll keep it brief since this one was always a bit vague, but I couldn’t resist mentioning one of England’s exciting young talents, Sam Osborne-Wylde.
He currently sits at World No. 122, already turning some heads with his dynamic, fearless style.
While he hasn’t made a big breakthrough yet, expect him to climb the rankings as he gains experience; top 100 (and maybe even top 80) could be on the horizon in the second half of this season.
Keep an eye on Sam, I'd definitely say that he's one to watch!
Image credit: Steve Cubbins
Four Predictions For The Season's Second Half
Now, I know that this is just a short period of time to give predictions for, but I still find it pretty fun to do!
Hopefully, I'll remember to look back on them at the end of the season and see which of the following come off ...
Youssef Ibrahim To Break The Top 4
My first second‑half prediction is that Youssef Ibrahim will climb into the World Top 4.
Based on how this year has unfolded, I believe that there's a strong case that it’s within reach.
Ibrahim has been a steady force on the tour and, after breaking back into the top 10, he’s currently at World No. 6 (his best ranking yet), thanks to consistently deep runs at major events.
This season, he’s hit several finals and semi‑finals on the PSA Tour, including runner‑up finishes at the Hong Kong Open and China Open, and a semi‑final showing at the US Open, proving he can challenge the elite on a week‑in, week‑out basis.
Ibrahim’s ability to stay physically sharp and avoid early exits in big draws will be key if he’s to leap from No.6 into the top 4, but his trajectory this season suggests he’s finding that consistency more often.
With Platinum‑level events offering big ranking points and his game continuing to mature, Ibrahim looks poised to make that leap, especially if he turns close semi‑final losses into finals appearances in the second half of the season.
I'll certainly be rooting for him as he's one of my favourite players to watch at the moment!
He's also beaten Paul Coll twice this season and made three consecutive finals, which is a really good sign.
Nour El Sherbini To Resurge Into The Top 3
One of my second‑half predictions is that Nour El Sherbini will fight her way back into the World Top 3, and all signs point to her being more than capable of doing just that.
El Sherbini, the eight‑time World Champion, has had a slightly bumpy start to the 2025/26 season with a few unexpected losses, including a quarter‑final exit at the CIB Egyptian Open to Fayrouz Aboelkheir, where she was beaten in a tight 3-2 clash.
Despite those setbacks, her experience remains unmatched.
Sherbini captured her record‑equalling eighth PSA World Championship title in Chicago, defeating Hania El Hammamy 11‑5, 11‑9, 4‑11, 11‑7 in the final and extending her legacy at the sport’s biggest event.
That performance alone underscores her ability to raise her game on the biggest stages, and she added major titles in events like the Qatar Classic and CIB Egyptian Open earlier in the season.
Currently just outside the top three, El Sherbini has had to contend with rising stars like Amina Orfi and the resurgent Hania El Hammamy, who have both been collecting big results, but her experience and proven ability to grind out wins in five‑game battles will be crucial as the season progresses.
Nouran Gohar is another long-standing rival that Nour will have to face, too.
If she can tighten up the occasional inconsistency and avoid early upsets, I fully believe that El Sherbini can climb back into the Top 3, reminding the squash world that she remains one of the sport’s best.
Mohamad Zakaria & Jonah Bryant To Break Into The Top 10
For my next second‑half prediction, I’m backing two rising stars, Egypt's Mohamed Zakaria and England's Jonah Bryant, to break into the World Top 10 before the end of the 2025/26 season.
Both players have edged pretty close, with Zakaria currently hovering around World No.11 and Bryant right behind at No.13, and their recent results suggest they’re ready to make that leap.
Zakaria, just outside the bracket, has enjoyed a breakthrough year featuring deep runs at multiple PSA Tour events.
This includes a quarter‑final showing at the Hong Kong Open and a strong performance at the Silverbacks Open, where he dispatched higher‑ranked opponents like Gregoire Marche before falling to Mohamed El Shorbagy.
His attacking flair, quick hands, and ability to pressure the ball early have helped him notch wins over top‑20 rivals and steadily accumulate ranking points.
Bryant has also developed into a consistent challenger on the tour, highlighted by an impressive run at the London Squash Classic, where he pushed World No.1 Mostafa Asal to five games, and a quarter‑final showing at the Canary Wharf Classic, too.
He's beaten the likes of Mohamed ElShorbagy (a former World No.1) this season as well.
These performances underline his capacity to compete with and beat opponents ranked above him, a key requirement for cracking the Top 10.
Both players have shown the grit and technical growth needed to sustain deeper tournament runs, but the next step will be turning close semi‑final appearances into finals and picking up those crucial ranking points against the very top players.
If Zakaria and Bryant can build on their momentum and avoid early exits in Platinum‑level events, especially when facing the top seeds, I’m confident we’ll see them both inside the top 10 before season’s end.
What's even more exciting is that the pair are developing quite the rivalry, with one of the best matches of the season being their five-set clash at the Qatar Classic.
Jonah currently has a 2-1 win ratio in their head-to-head, but whenever they play, it's very hard to pick a winner.
It's usually a feisty affair; however, since Bryant is from my home country of England, I'm always cheering for him!
Anahat Singh To Break The Top 20 (One To Watch)
I'd highly advise that you keep an eye on Anahat Singh, the 17‑year‑old Indian talent who’s been one of the breakout players of the 2025/26 season.
She currently sits at World No. 29 and has flown up the rankings this season.
Singh has been in impressive form all year and even secured a win over veteran Joshna Chinappa in Chennai, adding valuable experience across Challenger‑level and larger events.
Her rise has included standout runs such as becoming the first Indian woman to reach a PSA World Tour final at the NSW Squash Bega Open and strong performances at events like the SRFI Indian Open, demonstrating her ability to battle through tough draws.
Given her rapid progression this season and the level of maturity already on display, I think that she's got what it takes to break into the top 20 before the end of the 2025/26 campaign, a huge milestone for one of the sport’s most exciting young prospects.
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