Challenger Tour Weekly Preview: Events In Australia, Austria and England

After a busy week featuring six events, the Challenger Tour features three more tournaments over the next seven days, with action coming from Australia, Austria and England this week.

Over the last seven days, we have seen nine winners crowned, with three women claiming their maiden victories on Tour. 17-year-old Zeina Zein won the women’s crown at the Hove Ampito Squash Open, Malaysia’s Aira Azman won on home soil at the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy, and Switzerland’s Celine Walser claimed the women’s Austrian Open crown.

England’s Curtis Malik claimed the men’s title in Hove, after winning all four matches in five games, with an average match time of 71 minutes, while India’s Abhay Singh came through the field at the men’s event at the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy despite being unseeded to claim the biggest title of his career to date.

Elsewhere, Spain’s Ivan Perez won in Carlisle, and Mexico’s Arturo Salazar claimed the HSC Open – presented by Cotidie, while Malaysia’s Bryan Lim Tze Kang and Japan’s Akari Midorikawa were victorious at the City of Greater Bendigo International in Australia.

This week, the men take to the court in Salzburg at the Austrian Open, the English run moves to Berkhamsted, and the City of Greater Shepparton International follows on from the Bendigo event which finished on Saturday.

Here is what takes place on the Challenger Tour this week…

Austrian Open (Men’s)
After Switzerland’s Celine Walser claimed the women’s title in Salzburg on Saturday, the men’s Austrian Open begins on Wednesday, July 6 at the same venue, the Europark, with 16 men aiming to take home the title come Saturday afternoon.

Another Swiss player, in Yannick Wilhelmi, will be the top seed for the men’s Challenger 5 level competition, with German Yannik Omlor, and new Carlisle Squash Club Open champion Ivan Perez as the nearest competitor for the crown.

There will be three Austrians in action on home soil. Aqeel Rehman and Jakob Dirnberger will be joined by wildcard Lukas Windischberger as the home favourites for the event, while Jamaica’s Christopher Binnie will be the sole non-European in the 16-strong field.

Berkhamsted Linksap Open
For the second year in succession, the Berkhamsted Linksap Open takes its place on the Tour’s calendar, with this year’s competition featuring both a men’s and women’s Challenger 10 level event.

World No.55 Mazen Gamal will be the top seed for the men’s tournament, with Portugal’s Rui Soares and Scotland’s Rory Stewart making up the top three seeds. After a stunning win in Hove, England’s Curtis Malik will be aiming to go back-to-back this week in Berkhamsted.

Egypt’s Hana Moataz will lead the women’s draw, with England’s Grace Gear and Millie Tomlinson, along with Swiss No.2 Nadia Pfister, as the rest of the top four Seeds. Several of those who featured in Hove will play this week as well, with Torrie Malik, Rana Ismail and Saran Nghiem all in action.

City of Greater Shepparton International
Finally, the Shepparton Squash Centre will play host to the City of Greater Shepparton International this week, with a Challenger 3 level men’s and women’s event taking place from Thursday, July 7 to Sunday, July 10.

Following on from last week’s event in Bendigo, the women’s draw is mainly the same, with Australia’s Sarah Cardwell and last week’s winner, Japan’s Akari Midorikawa, being the top two seeds for the competition.

Malaysia’s Hafiz Zhafri will be the top seed for the men’s event, with Egypt’s Shady El Sherbiny, Frenchman Laouenan Loaec and Australia’s Damon Macmillan as the rest of the top four seeds for the draw.

This Week’s Schedule
Austrian Open (Men’s): Wednesday, July 6 – Saturday, July 9
Berkhamsted Linksap Open: Thursday, July 7 – Sunday, July 10
City of Greater Shepparton International: Thursday, July 7 – Sunday, July 10