Johns Creek Open RD2: Tsukue and Hashmi Take Out Seeds

Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue and Pakistan’s Muhammad Farhan Hashmi both cause seeding upsets on the second day of the Life Time Optimus BT Johns Creek Open, as they advanced through to the quarter finals of the Challenger 10 level tournament.

The Japanese No.2 took on No.7 seed Mark Broekman in the last 16 of the tournament in Johns Creek, Georgia, United States, and needed just half an hour on court to get the job done against the Englishman. He dropped just 15 points across the contest, winning 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 to advance to the last eight, where he will now face Canada’s No.4 seed Michael McCue.

The other surprise result of the second day’s play saw Pakistan’s Muhammad Farhan Hashmi get the better of Nigerian No.1, and the tournament’s No.8 seed, Babatunde Ajagbe, in a five-game battle. The Pakistani was two games down, but fought back to win in just over an hour, claiming the last game 11-9 to break into the quarter finals where he will face England’s Sam Todd, the No.2 seed.

Elsewhere, top seed Arturo Salazar safely made his way into the quarter finals, with a straight games win over Pakistan’s Hamza Sharif, and he will now face Jamaican No.1 Christopher Binnie. The other quarter final will see No.3 seed Alfredo Avila take on No.6 seed Edgar Ramirez Bautista for a place in the semis.

The quarter finals of the Life Time Optimus BT Johns Creek Open will take place on Friday, July 15, with the last eight doing battle for places in the semis of the Challenger 10 level competition.

*Second Round Results: Life Time Optimus BT Johns Creek Open*
[1] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Hamza Sharif (PAK) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (31m)
[5] Christopher Binnie (JAM) bt Salah Eltorgman (CAN) 3-2: 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5 (51m)
Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) bt [7] Mark Broekman (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
[4] Michael McCue (CAN) bt Alex Smith (IRL) 3-1: 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8 (54m)
[3] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Asyraf Azan (MAS) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-3 (29m)
[6] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) bt Lewis Doughty (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-2, 11-7, 13-11 (45m)
Muhammad Farhan Hashmi (PAK) bt [8] Babatunde Ajagbe (NGR) 3-2: 6-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (62m)
[2] Sam Todd (ENG) bt Jamie Ruggiero (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 13-11, 11-5 (25m)

*Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, July 15*
[1] Arturo Salazar (MEX) v [5] Christopher Binnie (JAM)
Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) v [4] Michael McCue (CAN)
[3] Alfredo Avila (MEX) v [6] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL)
Muhammad Farhan Hashmi (PAK) v [2] Sam Todd (ENG)