2nd Guatemala Open Tournament Preview: Haydon Excited To Travel Again

The 2nd Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament gets underway on Tuesday, March 1, just a few days after the first event came to its conclusion, when Mexico’s Alfredo Avila took victory in the men’s Challenger 5 event.

This week’s tournament will feature a Challenger 10 men’s draw and a Challenger 5 women’s draw, the first women’s event in Guatemala since the Tour returned from its six-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Avila, last week’s men’s champion, will be the No.3 seed for this week’s event, with compatriot Arturo Salazar as the top seed. USA’a Timothy Brownell and Colombia’s Ronald Palomino make up the rest of the top four seeds. Canada’s Nick Sachvie, Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi, England’s Tom Walsh and Brazilian No.1 Guilherme Melo will also be seeded for the men’s competition.

Australia’s Alex Haydon will be the top seed for the women’s event, in what will be her first tournament outside of Australia and New Zealand. We spoke to her prior to the event starting, and she is excited at the prospect of being able to travel on Tour once more.

“[I’m] very excited! It’s a whole new level and challenge being able to travel and compete again internationally,” she explained.

“There have been very limited events in Australia in the last couple of years, and we would always end up playing the same players. Nonetheless, it was a good two years for me to build on my squash in training and looking forward to seeing how I match up with others outside of Australia!

“I feel like I am playing some of the best squash I’ve played recently. That is, in Australia. Looking forward to seeing how I go internationally against new opponents!”

The Aussie made the final of the Roberts & Morrow North Coast Open, losing out to former World No.1 Rachael Grinham in the final. However, she was happy for the experience, and believes she will be better because of it.

“I was really happy with how I showed up and performed in the North Coast Open to make my first 10K final,” Haydon said.

“Rachael is very skilled, highly experienced and was in good form, so it was a tough final against her. It was disappointing to come so close and lose, but it was a great first big final experience for me. I felt I handled the initial nerves and pressure well and put in a big fight right till the end.”

Haydon will come into this event as the top seed, but it is something that she is not paying much attention to, instead, making sure her preparation remains the same. She comes in having broken into the world’s top 100 for the first time in her career, and she wants that ranking to keep improving.

“I like to treat each tournament the same, focusing on how I want to perform and show up each match,” she added.

“[I’m] very happy and motivated to keep going up in the rankings! I love seeing progress and achieving goals.”

Haydon will face competition from Colombia’s Laura Tovar, India’s Akanksha Salunkhe and the Mexican duo of Diana Gasca and Aileen Dominguez for the women’s title this week in Guatemala.

The event takes place from Tuesday, March 1 to Saturday, March 5 at the Asociación Deportiva Nacional de Squash in Guatemala, and you can follow the PSA Challenger Tour on *Twitter* and *Facebook* for daily updates from the event.

Men’s First Round Draw: 2nd Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament
[1] Arturo Salazar (MEX) – [Bye]
[WC] Ricardo Toscano (GUA) v [9/16] Joseph White (AUS)
[9/16] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) v Francesco Marcantonio (PAR)
[7] Tom Walsh (ENG) – [Bye]
[8] Guilherme Melo (BRA) – [Bye]
[WC] Sebastian Fonseca (GUA) v [9/16] Charlie Lee (ENG)
[9/16] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) v Alejandro Enriquez (GUA)
[4] Ronald Palomino (COL) – [Bye]
[3] Alfredo Avila (MEX) – [Bye]
Alejandro Reyes (MEX) v [9/16] Miled Zarazua (MEX)
[9/16] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) v Laouenan Loaec (FRA)
[6] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) – [Bye]
[5] Nick Sachvie (CAN) – [Bye]
Andres Herrera (COL) v [9/16] Josue Enriquez (GUA)
[9/16] Diego Gobbi (BRA) v Allan Nunez (MEX)
[2] Timothy Brownell (USA) – [Bye]

Women’s First Round Draw: 2nd Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament
[1] Alex Haydon (AUS) – [Bye]
Tabita Gaitan (GUA) v [8] Maria Clara Ramirez (COL)
[6] Andrea Soria (COL) v Winifer Bonilla (GUA)
[3] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) – [Bye]
[4] Diana Gasca (MEX) v Sophia Fonseca (GUA)
Alejandra Romero (GUA) v [5] Aileen Dominguez (MEX)
[7] Dayana Cardona (GUA) v Darlyn Sandoval (GUA)
[2] Laura Tovar (COL) – [Bye]