Hyder Trophy RD1: Peychar Downs Top Seed On Surprising Opening Day

There were plenty of surprises in New York on Thursday, as the Hyder Trophy got underway, with Austria’s Jacqueline Peychar downing the women’s top seed.

The Challenger 10 level competition got underway on Thursday at the Equinox Fitness Centre in New York City, with 16 matches taking place across the four courts.

Austria’s Peychar took on top seed Kaitlyn Watts in the opening round of the tournament, and she found herself a game down after the Kiwi won the first 11-5. From there, the unseeded Austrian took charge, winning the next three games to advance to the quarter finals and take a big upset win.

She will now face another unseeded player, in Egypt’s Haya Ali. The young Egyptian is in great form, having reached the finals in three of her last four competitions, including grabbing her maiden Tour win. She defeated Malaysia’s No.8 seed Wen Li Lai on Thursday, winning straight games to keep her form going.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Lucie Stefanoni made the most of home advantage, beating Egypt’s Rana Ismail in four games. The tournament’s No.3 seed recovered after losing the opening game to take the second, but Stefanoni was too strong for the Egyptian, winning the third and fourth to secure victory.

Five other nations will be represented in the last eight of the women’’s event. Singaporean No.1 Au Yeong Wai Yhann will face Stefanoni in the quarters, while England’s Alicia Mead and Mexican No.1 Diana Garcia will do battle. India’s Akanksha Salunkhe, the No.2 seed, will take on Australian Alex Haydon for a place in the semis.

There were also a couple of surprises in the men’s event, with two unseeded Pakistanis set to face off in the last eight. Noor Zaman came through a five-game contest with No.6 seed Josue Enriquez. The Guatemalan fought back from a game down twice, but Zaman was able to win the decider to advance. He will now face Muhammad Ashab Irfan, after his fellow Pakistani came through a quick contest against No.3 seed Edmon Lopez. Irfan led 9-6 in the opener, before Lopez had to retire.

Top seeds Yassin Elshafei and Aly Hussein both safely made it through to the last eight, with the former aiming to win a third title in four events. He will face another Egyptian, in Mohamed Nasser in the quarter finals. Israel’s Daniel Poleshchuk, Spain’s Ivan Perez and Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva are the other men through to Friday’s action.

The Hyder Trophy continues on Friday, May 5 with the quarter finals. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s First Round Results: Hyder Trophy
[2] Aly Hussein (EGY) bt Mohamed Nabil (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-9
[5] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt Abdelrahman Nassar (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5
[8] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) bt [WC] Hollis Robertson (USA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6
[4] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt Mark Broekman (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-1
Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) bt [3] Edmon Lopez (ESP) 3-0: 9-6 rtd
Noor Zaman (PAK) bt [6] Josue Enriquez (GUA) 3-2: 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8
[7] Mohamed Nasser (EGY) bt Jamie Ruggiero (USA) 3-1: 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-3
[1] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) bt Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) 3-0: 13-11, 13-11, 11-7

Men’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, May 5
[2] Aly Hussein (EGY) v [5] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR)
[8] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) v [4] Ivan Perez (ESP)
Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) v Noor Zaman (PAK)
[7] Mohamed Nasser (EGY) v [1] Yassin Elshafei (EGY)

Women’s First Round Draw: Hyder Trophy
Jacqueline Peychar (AUT) bt [1] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) 3-1: 5-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7
Haya Ali (EGY) bt [8] Wen Li Lai (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-7
[7] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) bt Sofia Mateos (ESP) 3-1: 11-3, 5-11, 11-1, 11-3
Lucie Stefanoni (USA) bt [3] Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 2-11, 11-5, 11-7
[4] Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-1: 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10
[5] Diana Garcia (MEX) bt Ali Loke (WAL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-0
[6] Alex Haydon (AUS) bt [WC] Jhansi Bhavsar (USA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-1
[2] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt Alina Bushma (UKR) 3-1: 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9

Women’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, May 5
Jacqueline Peychar (AUT) v Haya Ali (EGY)
[7] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) v Lucie Stefanoni (USA)
[4] Alicia Mead (ENG) v [5] Diana Garcia (MEX)
[6] Alex Haydon (AUS) v [2] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND)