Challenger Tour Weekly Preview: Four Events, Four Continents

This week, the Challenger Tour spreads its wings far wide, with four tournaments taking place across four continents over the next seven days.

It follows on from a week where all three tournaments on Tour took place in North America. Nick Sachvie won on home soil at the White Oaks Classic, while England’s Sam Todd was victorious at the Concourse Athletic Club Open. The Burnt Squash Open continues into Monday, with Spencer Lovejoy and Seif Shenawy set to meet in the final.

This week’s action starts in Australia, with the Challenger 20 level Jansher Khan Canberra Open kicking off on Tuesday, October 18. Three more events then start on Wednesday around the world.

The CAS – Serena Hotels/Combaxx International Squash Championships takes place in Pakistan, while the PaybyFace Randburg Open follows on in South Africa. The Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family also begins on Wednesday, October 19.

Here is what is taking place on Tour this week…

Jansher Khan Canberra Open
The first event of the week’s action on Tour will be the Challenger 20 level Jansher Khan Canberra Open. The tournament takes place from Tuesday, October 18 to Saturday, October 22 at the Woden Squash Centre in the Australian capital.

England’s Adrian Waller, the World No.24, will be the tournament’s top seed. Canadian No.1 David Baillargeon, England’s Charlie Lee and the USA’s Andrew Douglas will make up the rest of the top four seeds.

Joseph White will be the leading Australian in the draw, with the World No.134 being joined by compatriots Rhys Dowling, Nicholas Calvert and James Lloyd, the latter of which being one of two wildcards in the 24-man competition.

CAS – Serena Hotels/Combaxx International Squash Championships
The Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad plays host to the CAS – Serena Hotels/Combaxx International Squash Championships, which begins on Wednesday, October 19.

The men’s Challenger 30 level draw will see an Egyptian trio lead the way. Moustafa El Sirty will be the top seed, with Mohamed ElSherbini and Yahya Elnawasany joining him in Pakistan. Balazs Farkas, the Hungarian No.1, will join them in the top four seeds. 

German No.1 Saskia Beinhard will be the top seed for the women’s Challenger 10 level competition. She will be joined in the seeds by compatriot Katerina Tycova. The Spanish duo of Marta Dominguez Fernandez and Sofia Mateos, along with the Egyptian pair of Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Malak Khafagy will also be in action.

Home hopes Noor Zaman and Israr Ahmed will be among the 9/16 seeding bracket, while fellow Pakistanis Ahsan Ayaz, Muhammad Ashab Irfan, Farhan Zaman, Hamza Khan, Farhan Mehboob and Zeeshan Zeb will all be in action. There will be a further ten Pakistanis in action in the women’s event, with Noor ul Huda, Rushna Mehboob and Aiman Shahbaz leading the way for the home nation.

Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family
The second event of the week to feature a men’s Challenger 30 and women’s Challenger 10 draw is the Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family, which will take place from Wednesday, October 19 to Sunday, October 23.

Life Time Athletic Vernon Hills will play host to the event, with World No.11 Victor Crouin as the top seed for the men’s event. Mexico’s Cesar Salazar and Leonel Cardenas, along with Indian Ramit Tandon, make up the rest of the top four seeds. Todd Harrity and Faraz Khan will also be seeds, and aiming to impress on home soil.

Home favourite Haley Mendez will be the women’s top seed with Egypt’s Hana Moataz and Kenzy Ayman, along with Scottish No.2 Georgia Adderley, making up the rest of the top four seeds for the Challenger 10 level tournament.

PaybyFace Randburg Open
The PaybyFace Randburg Open will be the third event beginning on Wednesday, October 19. The Challenger 5 level tournament will feature both a men’s and women’s event across two venues in South Africa.

Frenchwoman Elisa Romba will be the top seed, with compatriot Kara Lincou and Lilou Brevard-Belliot, Egypt’s Nour Megahed and Ukraine’s Anastasiia Kostiukova all among the seeds. They will be joined by three South Africans on home soil, in Teagan Leigh Roux, Jenny Preece and former World No.60 Chenya Wood.

The French duo of Edwin Clain and Toufik Mekhalfi will lead the way in the men’s draw, with South Africa’s Dewald van Niekerk and Jean-Pierre Brits as contenders for the title on home soil.

This Week’s Schedule:

Jansher Khan Canberra Open: Tuesday, October 18 – Saturday, October 22
CAS – Serena Hotels/Combaxx International Squash Championships: Wednesday, October 19 – Saturday, October 23
Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family: Wednesday, October 19 – Saturday, October 23
PaybyFace Randburg Open: Wednesday, October 19 – Saturday, October 23