LT Chicago Open QF: Mead and Todd Gatecrash Semis

The English duo of Sam Todd and Alicia Mead continue to make waves in Chicago, with the pair now into the semi-finals of the competition alongside the top seeds.

Todd got the better of No.4 seed Leonel Cardenas in the second round, and he then came up against No.7 seed and former World No.14 Zahed Salem in the last eight, and the pair would do battle for more than 70 minutes at Life Time Athletic Vernon Hills.

The Englishman won the first game 11-8, but then found himself 2-1 down after some high quality squash from the Egyptian gave him the advantage. Salem then had his chances to finish the match in the fourth, with it going deep into a tie-break, but Todd was able to save several match balls. He then took it 16-14, before going on to claim an 11-6 win in the fifth to down the tournament’s No.7 seed.

The 19-year-old will now face World No.11 Victor Crouin in the semi-finals in Chicago, while India’s Ramit Tandon and Mexico’s Cesar Salazar will do battle in the other match in the last four of the men’s Challenger 30 level draw.

In the women’s event, the unseeded Alicia Mead will join the rest of the top four seeds in the semi-finals. She got the better of top seed Haley Mendez in the second round on Thursday, and then came up against another unseeded player, in Japan’s Erisa Sano Herring, in the quarters.

Mead won the first game of their encounter, but the Japanese woman brought it level following the second game. However, from there, it was the Englishwoman who took control, to win inside half an hour and book her spot in the semi-finals of the Challenger 10 level competition.

She will now face Egypt’s Kenzy Ayman in the semis, while Scotland’s Georgia Adderley, the No.3 seed, will also face an Egyptian. Adderley will meet No.2 seed Hana Moataz in the last four on Saturday afternoon.

The semi-finals of the Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family will take place on Saturday, October 22 at the Life Time Athletic Vernon Hills. You can keep up to date with live scores from the last four here.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [8] Faraz Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (43m)
Sam Todd (ENG) bt [7] Zahed Salem (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 8-11, 4-11, 16-14, 11-6 (72m)
[3] Ramit Tandon (IND) bt [6] Todd Harrity (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2 rtd (16m)
[2] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [5] Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-1: 11-13, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (58m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, October 22
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) v Sam Todd (ENG)
[3] Ramit Tandon (IND) v [2] Cesar Salazar (MEX)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family
Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Erisa Sano Herring (JPN) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9 (30m)
[4] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt [7] Anna Kimberley (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 14-12, 15-13 (39m)

[3] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt Sohaila Ismail (EGY) 3-1: 3-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-7 (34m)
[2] Hana Moataz (EGY) bt Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (26m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, October 22
Alicia Mead (ENG) v [4] Kenzy Ayman (EGY)
[3] Georgia Adderley (SCO) v [2] Hana Moataz (EGY)