E.M. Noll Classic Preview: Gordon Learning From Commentary Stints

The E.M. Noll Classic returns to the Tour for the fifth time this week, with the Challenger 10 level competition taking place in Philadelphia.

The Racquet Club of Philadelphia will play host to the tournament, which will take place from Thursday, February 2 to Sunday, February 5. England’s Sam Todd, who took home the title in 2022, will be back to defend his crown, and he will be the No.4 seed for the event.

The man he defeated in last year’s final, compatriot Charlie Lee, will also be among the top seeds. American Andrew Douglas will be the top seed on home soil, with Spain’s Bernat Jaume as his nearest challenger. Egypt’s Zahed Salem, Seif Shenawy and Ibrahim Elkabbani will also be seeded, with Christopher Gordon adding to the American contingent in the draw.

We spoke to Gordon prior to the tournament starting, and the man who holds the records for the most tournaments played in on Tour is looking forward to another run of events on North American soil.

“I had a good break over Christmas and New Years, followed up with a good spell training in January so I feel like the batteries are fully recharged and I’m well prepared and I am excited to be competing again,” Gordon said.

“It’s great that we have an extended period of events in North America. It’s great for the players to be in one continent for a full month and get some rhythm playing consecutive events without too much travel.

“This tournament is a straight 16-draw so we are all straight in competing the first day. The Challenger Tour is so deep now that you have to be ready from the word go and be really well prepared whoever your opponent is.”

Alongside playing, the American has started to feature in the commentary box more on SQUASHTV, last being a part of the crew in the early rounds of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York City. He is then using that time to his advantage, taking tips and techniques from those players he is watching.

“I think commentating more has been really helpful for my game because it’s forced me to watch a lot of squash and a lot of different players from both the men’s and women’s tour which has really opened my mind to new concepts and patterns of play to try out when I’m practicing. 

The event takes place from Thursday, February 2 to Sunday, February 5 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

First Round Draw: E.M. Noll Classic
[1] Andrew Douglas (USA) v Wong Chi Him (HKG)
Tom Walsh (ENG) v [7] Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY)
[5] Zahed Salem (EGY) v Joseph White (AUS)
Ben Smith (ENG) v [3] Charlie Lee (ENG)
[4] Sam Todd (ENG) v Tang Ming Hong (HKG)
Spencer Lovejoy (USA) v [8] Seif Shenawy (EGY)
[6] Christopher Gordon (USA) v Khaled Labib (EGY)
[WC] Vinicius Leao Rodrigues (BRA) v [2] Bernat Jaume (ESP)