Tournament Preview: Cleveland Classic

The Cleveland Classic PSA World Tour Bronze event takes place this week at the Cleveland Racquet Club with a high-quality draw battling it out for the title between January 30 – February 3.

Defending champion and World No.4 Nour El Tayeb leads the draw and along with the other top eight seeds receives a bye into the second round where she will face either Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica or USA’s Sabrina Sobhy.

The Egyptian reigned victorious at last year’s event after she defeated Wales’ World No.9 Tesni Evans in the final and she will be looking to replicate that form when she goes to Cleveland again this season.

Seeded on the same side of the draw as the World No.4 is Egypt’s World No.14 Salma Hany, India’s World No.12 Joshna Chinappa and Hong Kong’s World No.11 Annie Au following the withdrawal of Wales’ World No.9 Tesni Evans following her ankle injury at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions earlier this month.

Situated at the opposite side of the draw is New Zealand’s World No.6 Joelle King, who won the Cleveland Classic title back in 2018, and she will face either Canada’s Hollie Naughton or Wales’ Ali Loke in round two.

Seeded on the same side of the draw as the Kiwi is England’s No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry, England’s former World No.3 Alison Waters and World No.15 Victoria Lust.

Home interest comes in the form of USA No.2 Olivia Blatchford Clyne, who faces Czech Republic’s Anne Serme in round one. World No.39 Sabrina Sobhy is also in the draw and will face Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica in her opening match. Meanwhile, the wildcard spot goes to Spain’s Marina De Juan Gallach, who was born in Valencia, Spain but now resides in Cleveland. She will face Egypt’s Nadine Shahin in round one.

Play begins on Thursday January 30 at 17:00 local time (GMT-5) and you can follow the live scores from the event here.

There will also be live streaming of the event. Follow the action from court one and court two.

Cleveland Classic Main Draw
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [Bye]
Ineta Mackevica (LAT) v Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
Farida Mohamed (EGY) v Jessica Turnbull (AUS)
[7] Salma Hany (EGY) [Bye]
[5] Joshna Chinappa (IND) [Bye]
Nadia Pfister (SUI) v Menna Nasser (EGY)
Nadine Shahin (EGY) v [WC] Marina De Juan Gallach (ESP)
[4] Annie Au (HKG) [Bye]
[3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [Bye]
Salma Youssef (EGY) v Menna Hamed (EGY)
Mayar Hany (EGY) v Sarah Cardwell (AUS)
[6] Alison Waters (ENG) [Bye]
[8] Victoria Lust (ENG) [Bye]
Anna Serme (CZE) v Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Ali Loke (WAL)
[2] Joelle King (NZL) [Bye]