HSC International Open RD1: Wildcard Sharif Wins On Opening Day

Tournament wildcard Hamza Sharif caused the upset on the opening day of the HSC International Open, booking his second round spot.

The 18-year-old Pakistani took on France’s Laszlo Godde, as the Challenger 10 level competition got underway on Wednesday at the Houston Squash Club.

Despite sitting more than 100 places lower in the World Rankings, the Pakistani got off to a good start, winning the opening two games. Godde fought back to win the third but Sharif stayed strong, winning the fourth game to book his place in the last 16, where he will now take on top seed Bernat Jaume.

Elsewhere on day one in Houston, only one other match went past three games. That contents saw Mexico’s Allan Nunez fight from two games down to win in five against the USA’s Arhan Chandra. The American had been in a great position at 2-0 up, but Nunez fought back brilliantly to win the next three games, sealing thew win after an hour to advance to the second round.

Nunez will be joined in the last 16 but fellow Mexican Alejandro Reyes, after he defeated wildcard Faizan Khan in straight games. Elsewhere, Sharif is joined by fellow Pakistanis Muhammad Ashab Irfan, Ahsan Ayaz, and Noor Zaman, with Guatemala’s Alejandro Enriquez and Egypt’s Kareem El Torkey rounding out the draw for Thursday’s action.

The second round of the HSC International Open will see the seeded players come into the draw. The action continues in Houston on Thursday, June 22. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. Live scores are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

First Round Results: HSC International Open
Noor Zaman (PAK) bt Saeed Abdul (PAK) 3-0: 11-9, 11-1, 11-9 (30m)
Alejandro Reyes (MEX) bt [WC] Faizan Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 (29m)
Kareem El Torkey (EGY) bt Israr Ahmed (PAK) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (25m)
Allan Nunez (MEX) bt Arhan Chandra (USA) 3-2: 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 (60m)
Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt Dillon Huang (USA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (25m)
Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) bt [WC] Vandrick Inman-Benavente (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (33m)
Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) bt Alfredo Lopez (MEX) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (19m)
[WC] Hamza Sharif (PAK) bt Laszlo Godde (FRA) 3-1: 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 (45m)

Second Round Draw: To Be Played Thursday, June 22
[2] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) v Noor Zaman (PAK)
Alejandro Reyes (MEX) v [8] Andres Herrera (COL)
[5] Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) v Kareem El Torkey (EGY)
Allan Nunez (MEX) v [4] Christopher Gordon (USA)
[3] Alfredo Avila (MEX) v Ahsan Ayaz (PAK)
Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) v [6] Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[7] Josue Enriquez (GUA) v Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK)
[WC] Hamza Sharif (PAK) v [1] Bernat Jaume (ESP)