Challenger Tour Round-Up: Spizzirri Wins Maiden Title; Gadola Claims Eastside Glory Again

Charleston Challenge 2024

Nicholas Spizzirri claimed his maiden Tour title, beating Malaysia’s Yee Xian Siow to win the Charleston Challenge in South Carolina.

The American had never reached a PSA Tour final before, but did come into this tournament in good form, having recorded a stunning win over World No.50 Shahjahan Khan at the Life Time Clemens Johns Creek Open last week.

That result alone moved him up almost 50 places in the world rankings, to a career-high of No.184, but he’s set to move even higher now after scooping his first piece of silverware.

His semi-final was a relatively short one, with his opponent Abdelrahman Nassar retiring midway through game two after less than half an hour, perhaps giving Spizzirri a physical edge over Yee in Sunday’s final.

The unseeded Malaysian had taken almost 90 minutes to see off India’s Abhishek Agarwal in four games, and was comfortably beaten in game one of this final, with Spizzirri winning it 11-5.

The 23-year-old – who, like Spizzirri, currently lives in Connecticut – battled hard in game two to take the American into a tiebreak, but he fell just short, losing it 12-10.

With victory within his reach, Spizzirri was laser-focused on the finish line, closing out victory 11-7 in the third to get his hands on the trophy.

Glory in this event represents a strong start to life on Tour after college for Spizzirri, who recently completed his senior year at Penn, where he was named to the First Team CSA All-America.

Result:
[5] Nicholas Spizzirri (USA) bt Yee Xian Siow (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 12-10, 11-7 (46m)

Eastside Open 2024

Robin Gadola came out on top of an all-Swiss final at the Eastside Open in Tasmania, beating talented 19-year-old David Bernet 3-0 to claim the trophy for a second time.

Bernet – who trains with former World No.15 Johnny Williams – was playing in his second straight final after falling at the final hurdle in last week’s City of Devonport Tasmanian Open.

But standing in his way this time was 29-year-old Gadola, who had beaten Bernet in all three of their previous PSA Tour matchups, and was looking to win this event for a second time in three years, having picked up the trophy in 2022.

That was his only previous PSA Tour title, but he continued to show just how much he enjoys these courts in this final, completing a 3-0 win in 52 minutes, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

Result:
[2] Robin Gadola (SUI) bt [3] David Bernet (SUI) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (52m)