Noor Zaman stuns Marche to reach Open Squash Classic quarterfinals

US U23 reigning World Champion defeated the fifth seed in a hard-fought 3–2 battle

ISLAMABAD:

In a thrilling contest at the $74,000 Open Squash Classic 2025 in New York, Pakistan’s rising star and reigning U23 World Champion, Noor Zaman, defeated French world number 20th Grégoire Marche, the number fifth seed, in a hard-fought 3–2 battle to advance to the Open Squash Classic quarterfinals. The match score read 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10 after 75 minutes.

The Open Squash Classic is a Professional Squash Association Bronze-level event — a mid-tier tournament on the professional circuit, offering around $50,000 to $75,000 in prize money and valuable ranking points to emerging players.

Zaman’s victory marks one of the biggest wins of his young career, showing grit and composure under pressure. He will next face the number fourth seed, Leonel Cardenas of Mexico, who is ranked world number 15th.

The Open Squash Classic has attracted strong international competition this week. Zaman’s path to the quarters has grabbed attention, especially since he entered the draw unseeded. Zaman, the reigning U23 world champion, recently achieved a career-high ranking of number 47th.

Zaman’s earlier form gives him confidence. He has shown consistency on the domestic front and strong performances in Professional Squash Association (PSA) events. Beating a top seed like Marche marked a significant milestone in Zaman’s career, enhancing his confidence and visibility on the international stage.

Tournament officials and spectators will closely follow his upcoming quarterfinal against Leonel Cardenas, which could further highlight Pakistan’s growing presence in men’s squash if he continues his strong form.