Ainaa Triumphs in St. Louis to Clinch RC Pro Series 2026 Title
PETALING JAYA, April 26 — Malaysian squash player Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi delivered a composed and resilient performance to capture the RC Pro Series 2026 title in St. Louis, Missouri.
Ranked No. 55 in the world and seeded fourth, Ainaa overcame Egypt’s Jana Safy in a closely contested five-set final, winning 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-3.
The encounter saw both players exchange sets in a tight battle, but Ainaa’s control and composure in the deciding game proved decisive as she pulled ahead convincingly to seal the championship.
Her route to the final included a notable upset in the semi-finals, where the 24-year-old defeated top seed Nadine Shahin, ranked No. 47 globally. After losing the opening set, Ainaa mounted a strong comeback to win 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7.
The victory marks her first title of the season and ends a two-year wait since her last PSA Tour triumph in India, highlighting a strong return to competitive form.
Ainaa has been steadily building momentum on the international stage, with her recent achievements including a gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok last year, further underlining her progress.
This latest success is expected to boost her world ranking and provide added confidence as she continues to compete in higher-tier tournaments against stronger international opponents.
-wilayah.com.my
