Challenger Tour Round-Up: Toth and Mustonen Win in Canada, Yellow Dots Squash Open Begins in Lagos

Richardson Wealth Van Lawn Open 2024  

Local player Alexandra Toth caused the biggest upset on day one of the Richardson Wealth Van Lawn Open, beating South Africa’s Hayley Ward to set up a second-round clash with top seed Tsz-Wing Tong. 

Canada’s Toth does not currently have a PSA ranking, but had home advantage on her side as she beat the South African – ranked 132 in the world – 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4 in 38 minutes. 

Wales’ Ali Loke was the only other [9/16] seed to go out in round one, losing 3-0 to Brazil’s Bruna Marchesi Petrillo, while teenage twins Ocean and Spring Ma both gave a good account of themselves. 

The 17-year-old Canadian duo were both playing in just their second ever Challenger Tour event, and though both came up short, they did each take a game off their respective opponents, Alina Bushma and Lucia Bautista. 

Oasis Pools & Spas Manitoba Open 2024 

Henrik Mustonen continued his good run of form in round one of the Oasis Pools & Spas Manitoba Open. 

The 33-year-old Finn reached the semi-finals of his last PSA Tour event – the Gas City Open – and has since won the Finnish Closed Championships and another Satellite event. 

He carried that form into his round-one win in Winnipeg, beating Canada’s Cory Mccartney, who was the only [9/16] seed to lose out on day one. 

There will still be home interest in round two, though, after both Brett Schille and Connor Turk recorded wins. 

Schille beat Ireland’s Aaron Allpress 3-0, although only after edging an epic second-game tiebreak 21-19, after Turk had seen off compatriot Shawn Delierre earlier in the day. 

Yellow Dots Squash Open 2024 

The No.5 seeds in both the men’s and women’s draw at the Yellow Dots Squash Open went out on day one, as action got underway at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Nigeria. 

This is a territory event open only to players from Nigeria, and it was Oladipupo Ayomide who caused the first upset of the day, beating men’s fifth seed Samson Asade 3-0 in 39 minutes. 

The women’s fifth seed, Olatunji Jadesola, went out a few minutes later, though in far more dramatic fashion. 

The 17-year-old was beaten 3-2 by Veronica Sunday in a match that passed the 100-minute mark, eventually ending when Sunday took match ball at 10-9 up in the fifth, completing a dramatic encounter in which four of the five games had been separated by just two points. 

You can stay up to date with all the fixtures and results on the PSA Tour here.