The finals at the 2025 European Team Squash Championships are set to deliver an exciting showdown as England’s men take on France while the defending women’s champions, Belgium, face England. This anticipated matchup marks a repeat of last year’s finals in Uster, with both contests promising high stakes and fierce competition.
The women’s final will feature a Belgium-England duel for the third consecutive year, showcasing the talents of sisters Tinne Gilis and Nele Gilis-Coll, who both triumphed in their semi-final against Scotland. The Scottish team, making only their second appearance in an ETC semi-final in 18 years, put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell short against the stellar Gilis siblings. Nele reflected on the pressure of being the defending champions, stating, “Maybe on paper the pressure is on us tomorrow as defending champions, but England has won it for so many years, so for me the pressure is on them.” She added, “The only difference is that we are very confident after last year’s win and very hungry. Me and Tinne give each other so much energy so hopefully we can win back-to-back titles.”
England’s women reached the final for the 45th time out of 46 in the tournament’s history, thanks to contrasting victories from Jasmine Hutton and Georgina Kennedy in their semi-final against France. Hutton faced the legendary Camille Serme, a six-time winner of the European Individual title and ex-world no. 2, who returned to the pro game last year after having a baby in 2022. Despite Serme’s experience and skill, Hutton managed to rally and take the match 11-7, 12-14, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3. Kennedy then sealed the deal with a dominant performance, finishing her match against Melissa Alves 11-7, 11-2, 11-6.
In the men’s division, the England-France final will mark the 22nd meeting between these two traditional rivals in Europe’s elite team competition. England’s men secured their place in the final after a convincing 3-0 victory over Germany on the Hasta La Vista club glass court in the first semi-final. Marwan ElShorbagy led the charge, defeating Yannick Omlor in a swift performance, winning 11-9, 11-9, 11-6. Mohamed ElShorbagy faced Raphael Kandra in a closely contested match, ultimately winning 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 over 43 minutes. Curtis Malik then secured the victory for England with a straightforward win against Jan Wipperfurth, finishing 11-3, 11-6, 11-5.
France’s men also booked their spot in the finals by defeating third-seeded Switzerland 3-0 in the second semi-final. Gregoire Marche and Nicolas Muller squared off first, with Marche coming out on top in four games. Victor Crouin followed up with a solid performance against Dimitri Steinmann, winning in three tight games. Once Baptiste Masotti established a two-game lead against Yannick Wilhelmi, France’s victory became unassailable, leading to a handshake between the players.
In the Division 2 finals, Poland’s men made history by earning promotion to the top tier for the first time ever. Their dramatic semi-final against Sweden was a spectacle, culminating in a nail-biting fifth game that went to a tiebreak. Kajetan Lipski emerged as the hero, thrilling the crowd and sending them into a frenzy. “It was huge pressure. I knew that I had to win and leave it all on the court. I knew that I could not make any mistakes. It’s huge for us. We’ve never been in the first division before, so it means a lot. It really means everything for us,” Lipski expressed after the match.
Joining Poland in the men’s finals are the Netherlands, who defeated Austria 3-0. The Dutch also secured a place in the Division 2 women’s final, thanks to wins from Fleur Mass and Megan Van Drongelen against Ireland. The Irish no.1, Hannah Craig, managed to win the second rubber against Tessa Ter Sluis, setting up a decider that ultimately fell in favor of the Netherlands.
As the finals approach, excitement is palpable among players and fans alike. The England women will aim to dethrone Belgium, while the England men will look to continue their legacy against a formidable French side. With both matches promising to be filled with intensity and high-level squash, spectators can expect a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 European Team Squash Championships.
Whether it’s the experience of the Gilis sisters or the strategic prowess of the ElShorbagy brothers, each team brings unique strengths to the court. As the players prepare for their matches, the anticipation continues to build for what promises to be an unforgettable day of squash.
With the stakes higher than ever, the finals at the 2025 European Team Squash Championships are not to be missed. As history is made and rivalries are reignited, fans from all over will be tuning in to witness who will emerge victorious.
