Former World No.3 Nour El Tayeb has announced her immediate retirement from professional squash.
“It’s been a wonderful journey specially the last 3 years. The time comes when I dont think I can sustain competing at a high level while trying to be a mother.
I’ve been a little tired for the most part of the 3 years.But I think I’m proud also of the those 3 years.
They’ve been the best most rewarding most challenging years of my career. But again very happy to feel like I finished my career playing at a very nice level.
Goodbye to the squash chapter. I think no comeback this time ♥️”
Since making her professional debut in 2004, El Tayeb established herself as one of the most popular and skilful players on the PSA Tour. The 31-year-old reached a career-high ranking of No.3 in 2018 and won 16 titles throughout her 20 years on tour.
El Tayeb lifted major trophies at the 2017 U.S. Open and 2018 Windy City Open and reached the final of the 2018-19 PSA World Championships in Chicago.
That victory in 2017 was a historic moment for the sport as El Tayeb and her husband Ali Farag – the men’s World No.1 – became the first married couple to lift the same major title on the same day.
During the summer of 2021, El Tayeb and Farag welcomed their daughter, Farida, into the world. After 14 months away from the sport, El Tayeb returned to action at the Black Ball Open in December 2021 as she reached the quarter-finals.
After dropping down to No.81 in the world in February 2022, El Tayeb was back in the top five of the world seven months later after capturing the CIB Zed Open title – her first trophy since becoming a mother.
El Tayeb and Farag also won the 2023 Manchester Open titles together, this time with Farida joining them on court for the trophy presentation. Three more titles would follow, with March’s Squash in the Land event providing El Tayeb with her final PSA trophy.
Since making her PSA debut, El Tayeb reached 31 finals and won 299 of 440 matches, with her first taste of silverware coming in France at the Creteil International Open in 2010. Her final appearance on the PSA Tour came against eventual winner Nouran Gohar at last month’s Xbox PSA World Tour Finals.
Career Stats
PSA Matches: 440…PSA Match Wins: 299….
PSA Titles: 16 PSA Finals: 31
PSA Tournaments Played: 150
Highest World Ranking: No.3
WSF: El Tayeb helped Egypt win gold at the 2012, 2018 and 2022 WSF Women’s World Team
