Quarter-Finals – PSA Roundup

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Tomlinson downs Mead to join top seeds in the semis

Seventh seed Mille Tomlinson joined the top three seeds Melissa Alves, Zeina Mickawy and Torrie Malik in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Classic 2025 after the Englishwoman claimed a five-game upset win over fourth seed Alicia Mead at Monaco Squash Club.

World #75 Tomlinson advanced to her first Copper-level semi-final after coming through a back-and-forth 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 2-11, 11-4 encounter with World No.56 Mead after 48 minutes of play.

“I definitely thought the tactical side was important, but it was also a little bit mental, in the fifth certainly,” Tomlinson said. “Those who were implementing her game plan more effectively were dominating. Also, the rallies were longer at the start, and that normally is to my advantage. Even if I’m feeling pain, mentally, I can push through it. So I don’t think that being older makes any sort of difference that way.

“The last time I played Mellissa, she chopped me! So I have nothing to lose, no pressure!”

As Tomlinson mentioned, her semi-final opponent at the Monte Carlo Classic will be top seed Melissa Alves, who came through an all-French duel with the up-and-coming Lauren Baltayan by an 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 scoreline.

The World #19 is yet to drop a game from her two matches this week and will be eying a fourth Copper-level title of her career after wins last season at the Hamilton Open, Cape Town Open and Richardson Wealth Open.

After the match, Alves said: “Her determination is what gave me the most trouble — that drive, that attitude of “I don’t care who’s on the other side of the court!” She steps on court to win, period.

“And that’s exactly what we want. That’s what I want in a teammate. She’s the one I want beside me — to push me to stay at the top. Because if I want to remain the best, I need players like her breathing down my neck, showing me on court that they couldn’t care less who I am.

“What’s really impressive about her is her speed. She gets everything! There were shots I thought were winners, and yet the ball kept coming back — again, and again, and again! At 9–6, 9–3, I’m up, and I’m thinking, “She’s going to give up now”… but no, she’s still repeating in Arabic, “Hang in there!” It’s incredible — and honestly, it’s cool! It forced me to stay laser-focused until I heard the word: Match. With her, it’s never over.”

The other semi-final in Monaco will be contested between second seed Mickawy and third seed Malik, after the pair claimed wins over Germany’s Saskia Beinhard and New Zealand’s Kaitlyn Watts. Egypt’s Mickawy held off an impressive performance by Beinhard to advance 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-2 scoreline, while Malik proved too strong for World #98 Watts, winning her match in three games.