Challenger Tour Round-Up: Iqbal Wins Third Title in Four; Khan & Irfan Set Up Final Meeting

City of Devonport Tasmanian Open 2024 

Nasir Iqbal continued his impressive summer Down Under with victory at the City of Devonport Tasmanian Open. 

The 30-year-old Pakistani player had won two of his last three events in Australia over the last few weeks, reaching the semi-finals of the other. 

His lone defeat in those semi-finals came to Melvil Scianimanico, a defeat he avenged in the last four here in Tasmania, setting up a final clash with David Bernet. 

The young Swiss talent was appearing in his biggest final to date, and was targeting a maiden Tour title, but knew he had his work cut out against a player with a highest career ranking of No.35 in the world. 

Both games one and two were extremely tight, but it was Iqbal who made his experience count in both, taking game one 11-8 before edging a second-game tiebreak 12-10. 

Bernet won game three 11-6 to keep himself in contention, but Iqbal took control of game four to shut down the threat, clinching it 11-5 to get his hands on a third trophy in the last two months. 

Result: 
Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt David Bernet (SUI) 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5 (49m) 

Life Time Clemens Johns Creek Open 2024 

Muhammad Ashab Irfan and Muhammad Asim Khan will face off in an all-Pakistani final at the Life Time Clemens Johns Creek Open. 

The Lahore-born duo are seed No.3 and No.2 respectively, but neither had to get past the No.1 seed to reach this final, after Nicholas Spizzirri’s stunning win over fellow American and World No.50 Shahjahan Khan in the last eight. 

Spizzirri has never been inside the world’s top 200, but produced a sensational display to sink the top-seeded Khan, though he was unable to repeat his success on semi-finals day. 

Instead, he went down 3-0 to 20-year-old Ashab Irfan, who is at a career-high ranking of No.85 and remains on course for a second consecutive Tour title. 

Standing in his way is compatriot Asim Khan, who came through a five-game thriller against Adegoke Onaopemipo, winning 11-9 in the fifth after 90 minutes of play. 

Asim Khan and Ashab Irfan will now go head-to-head for the third time this season, with Asim Khan winning the previous two. 

The most recent of those was a 99-minute epic in March, which saw three of the five games go to tiebreaks, and game five finish 11-8. 

Results: 
[2] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) bt Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR) 3-2: 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9 (90m) 
[3] Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) bt Nicholas Spizzirri (USA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 (40m)