Challenger Tour Roundup: Final Four Confirmed in Toronto Whilst Lam & Bryant Claim Upsets at MRU Open

The semi-finalists of the Goodfellow Classic were confirmed yesterday as four players came through testing quarter finals. Wales’ Elliot Morris Devred has reached back to back semi-finals for the second time in his career after he defeated Mexico’s Cesar Segundo Corona in an hour-long four-game contest. The Welshman trailed 1-0 but battled back strongly to reverse the tie and lead 2-1 before closing out the fourth game 11-9.

Two 9/16 seeds also feature in the semis as England’s Robert Downer and Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek scored wins to reach the final four. Downer overcame No.4 seed Alejandro Reyes in four games whilst Abdelkhalek managed to come through a close encounter with Edgar Zayas. Zayas sustained a blood injury during the match with disrupted the flow of both players but the Egyptian came out on top in the fourth game 13-11.

Top seed Abhay Singh recorded the only straight games win of the day as he moved past France’s Maceo Levy. The Indian took a close first game 13-11 before settling into his groove to close the second and third games out 11-7, 11-3.

Results: Quarter finals
[8] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt Cesar Segundo Corona (MEX) 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (61m)
[9/16] Robert Downer (ENG) bt [4] Alejandro Reyes (MEX) 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7 (45m)
[9/16] Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek (EGY) bt [9/16] Edgar Zayas (MEX) 11-5, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11 (108m)
[1] Abhay Singh (IND) bt [6] Macéo Lévy (FRA) 13-11, 11-7, 11-3 (33m)

Draw: Semi-finals
[8] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) v [9/16] Robert Downer (ENG)
[1] Abhay Singh (IND) v [9/16] Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek (EGY)

Hong Kong’s Harley Lam and England’s Jonah Bryant produced impressive performances to secure upsets in the MRU Open taking place in Calgary yesterday. Lam was subject to an 11-0 loss in the opening game of his match with Australia’s Joseph White but bounced back in strong style to win the next three games and move into the quarter finals.

England’s Jonah Bryant continued his impressive form as he defeated No.8 seed Edgar Ramirez in just under half an hour. The Warwickshire-based 18-year-old had complete control of the match in the opening two games, winning them both 11-3, 11-5. He then faced stronger competition in the third game but eventually closed it out 11-9.

Top seed Tang Ming Hong avoided a scare in his clash with Chile’s Jose Gallegos as he was forced to secure his quarter final place by winning in five games. The Hong Kong No.1 seed took a 2-1 lead in the match but was pegged back by Gallegos before going on to control the fifth game, winning 11-1.

Results:
[2] Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [9/16] Noah Meredith (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 (39m)
[7] Wong Chi Him (HKG) bt [9/16] Brett Schille (CAN) 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 (42m)
[6] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [9/16] Ka Hei Ho (HKG) 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (32m)
[4] Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt [9/16] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 (31m)
[3] Perry Malik (ENG) bt [9/16] Anthony Lepper (NZL) 11-4, 8-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-4 (53m)
[9/16] Harley Lam (HKG) bt [5] Joseph White (AUS) 0-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (56m)
[9/16] Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [8] Edgar Ramirez (COL) 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 (28m)
[1] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt Jose Gallegos (CHI) 11-5, 6-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-1 (50m)

Draw:
[2] Edwin Clain (FRA) v [7] Wong Chi Him (HKG)
[4] Finnlay Withington (ENG) v [6] Daniel Mekbib (CZE)
[3] Perry Malik (ENG) v [9/16] Harley Lam (HKG)
[1] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) v [9/16] Jonah Bryant (ENG)