Challenger Tour Weekly Preview: Brazil, Paraguay and New Zealand Play Host

There are three tournaments taking place on the Challenger Tour this week, with action coming from Brazil, Paraguay and New Zealand.

This will be the second week in succession that the Tour has three events. Last week, English siblings Curtis and Torrie Malik were victorious at the Lagos State Squash Classic in Nigeria.

They were joined in the winners’ circle by Argentine Leandro Romiglio and Colombia’s Lucia Bautista, who won the Regatas Resistencia Open on the Tour de las Americas. The week’s biggest winner was Belgium’s Tinne Gilis, who claimed the Challenger 30 level Richmond Open crown, her second win of the season.

This week, the Tour de las Americas continues with two events. The men’s draw of the Paraguay Open takes place this week, with the women’s to follow next week. Meanwhile, the PAC Open de Squash will be held in Brazil.

The other tournament taking place this week on Tour will be the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland/Oceania Open, which begins on Thursday, May 18. The tournament will feature both a men’s and women’s draw. 

Here is what is taking place on Tour over the next week…

Tour de las Americas – Paraguay Open
The opening event of the week will see the continuation of the Tour de las Americas. The Paraguay Open gets underway on Tuesday, May 16, with a Challenger 10 level men’s competition.

After winning the Regatas Resistencia Open last week, Argentine Leandro Romiglio will come into this event full of confidence. He will be the top seed once again, and is also a previous winner of this competition. The majority of the top eight seeds remaining from last week’s event in Argentina.

The only change sees American Christopher Gordon come in as the No.2 seed. Germany’s Yannik Omlor and England’s Tom Walsh make up the top four. Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi reached the final in Resistencia last week, and will be the No.5 seed this week in Asuncion.

Frenchman Edwin Clain, Colombia’s Andres Herrera and Argentine Jeremias Azana will round out the eight seeds. Francesco Marcantonio will be the leading Paraguayan in action on home soil. He will be joined by Damian Casarino and Rafael Castillo, with the latter being the tournament wildcard.

Barfoot & Thomson Auckland/Oceania Open
The Barfoot & Thomson Auckland/Oceania Open will be the sole event not in South America this week. The tournament gets underway on Thursday, May 18 and will feature a men’s Challenger 5 level draw and a women’s Challenger 3 level draw.

Home favourites Lwamba and Temwa Chileshe will be the top two seeds in the men’s draw, and will be seeded to face each other in the final. Lwamba is the defending champion after winning this event last year. Compatriots Anthony Lepper and Elijah Thomas will also be seeded, along with Australian Joseph White, Malaysia’s Darren Rahul Pragasam, Japan’s Tomotaka Endo and Hong Kong’s Andes Ling.

Australia’s Alex Haydon will be on her own in the women’s draw, with the top seed being the only member of the 16-strong field that does not hail from host nation New Zealand. Winona-Jo Joyce, Ella Lash and Abbie Palmer will make up the rest of the top four seeds. Kiwi Lana Harrison won the women’s event last year, and she will be aiming to defend her title.

Latina Tour de las Americas – PAC Open de Squash
The PAC Open de Squash is the next event on the Latina Tour de las Americas, with the women’s Challenger 5 level competition being held from Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Paissandu Atlético Clube will play host to the tournament, and the venue hosted a men’s event back in 2021, also under the PAC Open name. This week, Dutchwoman Tessa ter Sluis will be the top seed, with Colombia’s Laura Tovar as her nearest challenger.

After taking down four seeded players to win in Resistencia last week, Colombia’s Lucia Bautista will be one to watch in Brazil this week, in a draw that features many of the same players from the Regatas Resistencia Open.

This Week’s Schedule:
Tour de las Americas – Paraguay Open: Tuesday, May 16 – Saturday, May 20
Barfoot & Thomspon Auckland/Oceania Open: Thursday, May 18 – Sunday, May 21
Latina Tour de las Americas – PAC Open de Squash: Thursday, May 18 – Sunday, May 21