Challenger Tour Weekly Preview: Four Countries Host Events

There are four tournaments taking place on the Challenger Tour this week, with action coming from Europe and South America.

Both the Tour de las Americas and the Latina Tour de las Americas continue this week. After Leandro Romiglio won the men’s event, the women’s draw take to the court at the Paraguay Open this week.

Alina Bushma was the victor at the PAC Open de Squash at the weekend. The Tour stays in Brazil this week, with the men’s in action at the ECP Open. Elsewhere last week, New Zealand’s Lana Harrison and Australia’s Joseph White were the victors at the 2023 edition of the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland/Oceania Open.

This week, the PSA Challenger Tour returns to Europe with two tournaments. The Brussels Dronsfields Mercedes Benz and the Danny Gamble Open both get underway on Friday, May 26.

Here is what is taking place on Tour this week…

Latina Tour de las Americas – Paraguay Open
After Argentina’s Leandro Romiglio won the men’s event on Saturday, the Paraguay Open switches over to the Latina Tour de las Americas, with the women’s Challenger 5 level competition beginning on Tuesday, May 23.

Like the previous events on this year’s Latina Tour de las Americas, Dutchwoman Tessa ter Sluis will be the top seed, with Colombia’s Laura Tovar as the No.2 seed.

Lucia Bautista, who has reached the finals of the last two events, including winning her maiden Tour title in Resistencia, will be one of the favourites again despite being unseeded. Fiorella Gatti and Lujan Palacios will be the two Paraguayans in action on home soil.

Tour de las Americas – ECP Open
The ECP Open returns to the calendar for the second year in a row, with this year’s edition forming part of the Tour de las Americas. Guatemala’s Josue Enriquez won last year’s edition, beating Brazilian Guilherme Melo in the final.

Melo will be among the top eight seeds for the Challenger 5 level men’s competition, with compatriot Diego Gobbi also in that mark, as the No.4 seed. American Christopher Gordon will be the top seed this week in Sao Paulo.

Colombia’s Andres Herrera and Edgar Ramirez Bautista, along with Belgian Joeri Hapers, Dutchman Rowan Damming and Paraguayan No.1 Francesco Marcantonio, make up the rest of the eight seeds for the event.

Brussels Dronsfields Mercedes Benz
The PSA Tour returns to Belgium for the first time in five years this week. The Brussels Dronsfields Mercedes Benz will showcase squash in the European nation for the first time since 2018, with a women’s Challenger 3 level event taking place.

Winners Squash Club plays host to the tournament, with Malaysia’s Yasshmita Jadishkumar as the top seed. England’s Kiera Marshall, Frenchwoman Lea Barbeau and Spain’s Sofia Mateos will make up the top four seeds.

Chloe and Alyssia Crabbe will be the Belgian representatives in the 16-strong draw in Brussels. The former represented her country at the European Team Championships last month, as Belgium reached the final for the first time.

The Danny Gamble Open
The Canterbury Squash Rackets Club plays host to the last tournament of the week, the Danny Gamble Open. The Challenger 3 level women’s competition will take place from Friday, May 26 and will feature a 16-strong draw.

Singapore’s Au Yeong Wai Yhann will be the top seed for the event, as the only non-Brit in the top eight seeds. Scotland’s Alison Thomson and Katriona Allen will join the English quintet of Asia Harris, Saran Nghiem, Katie Wells, Amelie Haworth and Isabel McCullough.

This Week’s Schedule:
Latina Tour de las Americas – Paraguay Open: Tuesday, May 23 – Saturday, May 27
Tour de las Americas – ECP Open: Wednesday, May 24 – Sunday, May 28
Brussels Dronsfields Mercedes Benz: Friday, May 26 – Sunday, May 28
The Danny Gamble Open: Friday, May 26 – Sunday, May 28