Egypt's Aly Abou Eleinen popped up on the professional squash map for most fans last season after a few very big results.
After watching him play a few times, I knew he was going to become one of my favourite players based on his style, attitude, and heart, and that's exactly what's happened!
Eleinen is a young up-and-comer who is showing incredible potential for the future, so, I thought that now would be a fitting time to write up a player profile on him...
However, before I dive in, it's worth mentioning that I actually wrote the following article on April 28th. Since then, Aly unfortunately sustained an injury to his knee in his quarter-final match against Karim Abdel Gawad at the recent PSA World Championships.
I thought it would be worth adding this update just so our readers are aware. Considering Aly was already 1-0 up and pulling ahead in the second game, this was such a shame to see. In a post match discussion, he said that he doesn't really know what happened and that he hopes it's nothing too serious.
Me and you both Aly, fingers crossed you get back on court in no time!
Anyway, on with the article!
Aly's Background
There isn't a whole lot of information about Aly available online, but I've tried to scrape together as much as I can to give you a better picture of what brought him to where he is today.
Similarly to all the other player profiles I do, if you spot something that you know to be wrong, please let me know and I'll amend it when I come to upload this article to our blog!
To start with, Aly has quite a cool birthday. He was born on the 1st of January, 2000, meaning that there's the teeniest tiniest possibility that Aly was the first baby of the millenium (although it's very unlikely).
What we do know is that Aly Abou Eleinen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, though he now lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
That move from the Mediterranean coast of Egypt to the East Coast of the U.S. is a big one, and it seems to have played a significant role in shaping both his squash and his life more broadly.
Unlike some of the other Egyptian pros who came through the insanely strong Cairo squash scene, Aly took a slightly different path, one that blends elite sport with elite education.
He ended up heading to the U.S. to study and play college squash at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the top Ivy League schools.
That alone says quite a bit about Aly's mindset. It’s certainly interesting to see a future top-ten squash player choosing to pursue higher education while climbing the ranks of the sport.
At Penn, Aly made his mark.
He captained the team, helped lead them to their first-ever Ivy League title, and picked up a bunch of individual honours along the way, including a nomination for the Skillman Award, which recognizes sportsmanship and overall excellence.
His college record was awesome, and he was consistently ranked among the top players in the U.S. college scene throughout his time there.
Graduating in 2022 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (yep, PPE, just like a bunch of prime ministers), Aly then turned his full attention to the professional squash tour.
And to be fair, his rise since then has been pretty remarkable.
While many Egyptian stars burst onto the pro scene in their teens, Aly took the slightly longer route.
But if anything, that seems to have worked in his favour. With a solid education under his belt, a mature approach to the sport, and a few extra years of physical and mental development, Aly came onto the tour with a bang.
He climbed the rankings super quickly, breaking into the top 50 within a year of graduating, and has been rising steadily ever since.
What’s impressive is how seamlessly he’s transitioned from the college game to the PSA Squash Tour, which is a huge jump in intensity, pace, and consistency.
Aly's Professional Career So Far
Since turning professional in 2019, Aly Abou Eleinen has carved out one of the most promising trajectories on the PSA Squash Tour.
From his initial position outside the top 350, the Egyptian has surged up the rankings during his professional years so far, reaching a career-high of World No.12 (but currently sitting at World No.14).
His rise has been anything but stagnant, marked by rapid development, consistent improvement, and breakthrough moments that have solidified his place among the elite (while turning a few heads).
With 92 wins from 143 matches, 13 finals appearances, and six PSA titles to his name, Aly’s resume already speaks volumes.
But it was his electrifying run at the 2024 U.S. Open that turned heads around the squash world.
Unseeded and relatively under the radar (at least to me), Aly stormed to the semi-finals of the Platinum event with a trio of standout wins, including a seismic upset over then-World No.2 (and now World No.1) Mostafa Asal.
The match showcased Aly’s exceptional tactical maturity and mental strength, overturning deficits and maintaining composure under pressure to defeat one of the sport’s most dominant figures.
Asal is renowned for his ability to blast players who may be lower ranked, but still highly skilled, off the court with raw power and explosive pace alone, however, he seemed to have a great deal of trouble trying to put Eleinen under pressure.
That U.S. Open performance wasn’t a flash in the pan. Over the past year, Aly has continued to post strong results at major tournaments.
He reached the final of the 2025 Manchester Open, notched semi-final appearances at both the Motor City Open and QSF 5 Open, and pushed top seeds like Paul Coll and Tarek Momen to their limits.
His ability to navigate tough draws, take out seeded players, and hold his own in the business end of tournaments has become a hallmark of his playing style (something I'll be going into more detail on next).
As of April 2025, Aly is widely seen as one of the most dangerous floaters on tour, unseeded at some events, but capable of beating anyone on his day.
With the Olympic Games on the horizon and greater visibility for the sport, players like Aly represent a new generation of talent ready to break through on the global stage.
However, as an Egyptian hoping to play in the LA2028 Olympics, competition is pretty ruthless for Aly.
I just had a look at the rankings and, despite being in that top 15, Eleinen is still below Youssef Soliman, Mazen Hesham, Youssef Ibrahim, Karim Gawad, Marwan and Mohamed ElShorbagy, Tarek Momen, Ali Farag, and Mostafa Asal.
Egypt certainly has a chokehold on the upper echelons of the rankings!
It's always interesting to look at head-to-heads as it's a great way to figure out the clashes of styles and which higher ranked players that Aly seems to struggle with more.
He's only played Ali Farag once and lost 3-1 and hasn't taken the scalps of any other top five players just yet, however, his record with Tarek Momen (ranked World No.6) is 2-2, which is impressive.
He's also played Marwan ElShorbagy (World No.8) once and beat him in a tight 3-1.
Photo credit: Steve Cubbins
Aly's Style of Play
Despite falling just short in a few finals, Aly’s ceiling continues to rise. His game, built on fluid movement, precision hitting, and a cool-headed tactical approach, has evolved impressively since his college days at the University of Pennsylvania.
His battle-hardened performances in recent months, including another close five-gamer against Asal at the 2025 Cotidie Texas Open, suggest he’s not far off from cracking the top 10.
Standing at 175cm (5 ft 9 in) and weighing just 60kg (9 st 6 lb), Aly might not possess the brute physicality of some of the PSA Tour’s powerhouses, but that’s precisely what makes his game so distinctive.
His lighter frame gives him a unique advantage in terms of court coverage and agility. He glides effortlessly into position, often retrieving balls that seem out of reach, and is quick to transition from defence to attack.
What separates Aly from many of his peers is his patience and clarity in pressure moments.
He doesn’t rush the big points, instead drawing opponents into extended rallies before injecting pace or going short with surgical precision.
While many young players rely heavily on pace and explosiveness, Aly’s approach is calculated and layered, almost cerebral.
His squash IQ allows him to read the game exceptionally well and adapt mid-match.
However, the fact that he took up the sport in Egypt has given him that exciting attacking flair that Egyptians seem to have. He's a master of cutting in low, hard, mid-court kills as well as crash nicks and drops.
Another reason why he's so exciting to watch!
This blend of athleticism, technical control, and a strategic mind gives Aly a unique edge.
He might not overwhelm opponents with sheer force, but he wears them down with intelligence, shot-making, and relentless consistency. However, it's very tricky to tell what shot he's going to play next due to his expert holds and deception.
As he continues to add more firepower to his game and strengthen his presence at the front of the court, he’s fast becoming one of the most well-rounded and watchable players on tour.
Eleinen's Personality
Aly Abou Eleinen is widely regarded not only for his rising talent on the squash court but also for his grounded yet humble personality.
In interviews (especially post match interviews), Aly comes across as a calm, reflective individual with a clear sense of purpose.
Similar to the likes of Ali Farag, he's full of smiles, very positive, and very respectful of his opponents.
He’s got a deep appreciation for the sport overall, too, but also a good head on his shoulders, someone who’s thinking long-term and trying to build a sustainable, well-rounded career both on and off the court.
His maturity and strategic outlook are particularly evident when he speaks about his career, as he’s not solely focused on immediate success.
Aly’s mindset is all about growth, sustainability, and the bigger picture, which makes him a standout figure in the sport.
His focus on longevity in squash, combined with his willingness to engage with the sport's broader issues, reflects a level of insight and responsibility that goes beyond his role as a competitor.
Outside of his playing career, Aly is known for being incredibly humble and approachable, too. I've seen plenty of images of him with fans and audience members after matches as well.
Despite his rising profile in the squash world, he remains someone who values his connections with others and stays grounded in his principles.
Aly’s steady, measured approach to life combined with his warm personality really make him incredibly likeable in my eyes!
Image credit: Steve Cubbins
What Does The Future Hold For Aly?
Aly Abou Eleinen has already made waves in the squash world in a relatively short amount of time, and there’s no doubt in my mind that his trajectory is only going upwards.
Looking at how quickly he’s progressed since turning pro, it’s clear that he has everything needed to reach the very top.
I firmly believe that Aly has what it takes to break into the top 10 before the end of this season, especially if he continues to collect big scalps and take down higher-ranked players in the process.
He’s shown an impressive ability to handle pressure and stand his ground against higher-ranked players as the underdog, while adapting to different playing styles, and delivering when it counts, all qualities that are essential for top-ten players.
If he can keep up this momentum, I would love to see him in the semi-finals or even finals at platinum events in the next year.
Aly’s ability to navigate tough draws, consistently challenge top seeds, and compete in the business end of tournaments sets him apart from many other up-and-coming players.
I think he has the potential to solidify his place in the top ranks and, within the next few years, could easily find himself challenging for titles at the biggest events. His career has already been impressive, but the best is undoubtedly yet to come.
His recent performances have shown he’s ready to push further. I fully expect him to be a regular feature in the latter stages of major tournaments, and if he can stay injury-free and maintain his focus, I've got nothing but high hopes for Eleinen.
So, what’s next for Aly?
Simply put, if he keeps doing what he’s doing, there’s no reason why we won’t see him among the very best before too long.
It’s going to be an exciting few years for Aly, and indeed for squash, with younger players such as Jonah Bryant, Mohamad Zakaria, flying up the rankings too, I think the top end of the rankings could look very different in a few years time.
I would definitely say that I'm an Aly Abou Eleinen fan at the moment, so I will be rooting for him in tournaments to come!
This article was taken from our On The 'T' Newsletter, if you're interested in receiving more content like this, please feel free to sign up using the subscribe section located at the bottom left of this page (or underneath the article if you're on mobile), thanks!
