LT Chicago Open Preview: Harrity Enjoying Hardworking US Group 

The Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family is the last of four tournaments taking place on the Challenger Tour this week, and it will feature both a men’s Challenger 30 level draw and a women’s Challenger 10 level competition.

Frenchman Victor Crouin will be the top seed for the men’s event, with the World No.11 facing competition from the Mexican duo of Leonel Cardenas and Cesar Salazar. India’s Ramit Tandon will be the other member of the top four seeds for the event.

England’s Nathan Lake, Egypt’s Zahed Salem and the American duo of Todd Harrity and Faraz Khan will all be in action, with the latter pair aiming for victory on home soil. We spoke to Harrity prior to the tournament, and he believes that he is playing well right now, but he is trying not to predict how this event will go.

“Currently I think I am in good form. I have a had a few ups and downs already in the start of this season, but I felt I played pretty well in the U.S. Open, my last tournament and am improving as the season progresses,” Harrity said.

“This is a very strong draw. It’s one of the strongest Challenger 30 level events I’ve seen, but it will be a great tournament. Honestly I never like to predict how I will do in an event because all that ever does is just put pressure on myself. So I will just take it one match at a time.”

Harrity is a key part of a strong American group of players in the world rankings, sitting just behind Shahjahan Khan in the battle to be US No.1. He believes that it is a good time to be a part of the US Squash programme, and that having so many players can only benefit the entire group.

“I think it’s a very exciting time for US Squash. Of course, Shahjahan has been playing very well. But we also have Timmy [Brownell], Andrew [Douglas], Faraz [Khan], and Spencer [Lovejoy] who are training hard and playing well,”

“It’s a real gift to have this group of hardworking, enthusiastic players. We can all push each other and get better as a group. I don’t think too much about the US No.1 spot. I try to focus on constantly improving my own game and all of these guys are definitely helping me be my best.”

Another American, in Haley Mendez, will be the top seed for the women’s tournament. Egypt’s Hana Moataz and Kenzy Ayman, along with Scotland’s Georgia Adderley, make up the rest of the top four seeds. Three more Egyptians, in Menna Nasser, Nardine Garas and Rana Ismail, along with England’s Anna Kimberley, make up the rest of the top eight seeds.

The event takes place from Wednesday, October 19 to Sunday, October 23 at the Life Tine Athletic Vernon Hills in Chicago. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

Men’s First Round Draw: Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) – [Bye]
[WC] Omar El Torkey (EGY) v [9/16] Spencer Lovejoy (USA)
[9/16] Josue Enriquez (GUA) v Yannik Omlor (GER)
[8] Faraz Khan (USA) – [Bye]
[7] Zahed Salem (EGY) – [Bye]
Andres Herrera (COL) v [9/16] Alfredo Avila (MEX)
[9/16] Sam Todd (ENG) v Joeri Hapers (BEL)
[4] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) – [Bye]
[3] Ramit Tandon (IND) – [Bye]
Alejandro Reyes (MEX) v [9/16] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK)
[9/16] Seif Shenawy (EGY) v Babatunde Ajagbe (NGR)
[6] Todd Harrity (USA) – [Bye]
[5] Nathan Lake (ENG) – [Bye]
Mark Broekman (ENG) v [9/16] Nick Sachvie (CAN)
[9/16] Timothy Brownell (USA) v Abhishek Agarwal (IND)
[2] Cesar Salazar (MEX) – [Bye]

Women’s First Round Draw: Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family
[1] Haley Mendez (USA) – [Bye]
Ninon Lemarchand (FRA) v [9/16] Alicia Mead (ENG)
[9/16] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) v Erisa Sano Herring (JPN)
[5] Menna Nasser (EGY) – [Bye]
[7] Anna Kimberley (ENG) – [Bye]
[WC] Hana Elashry (EGY) v [9/16] Lea Barbeau (FRA)
[9/16] Alina Bushma (UKR) v [WC] Sana Bahadar (PAK)
[4] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) – [Bye]
[3] Georgia Adderley (SCO) – [Bye]
Margot Prow (ENG) v [9/16] Hannah Blatt (CAN)
[9/16] Bruna Marchesi Petrillo (ITA) v Sohaila Ismail (EGY)
[6] Nardine Garas (EGY) – [Bye]
[8] Rana Ismail (EGY) – [Bye]
Sanne Veldkamp (NED) v [9/16] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND)
[9/16] Diana Garcia (MEX) v [WC] Reeham Sedky (USA)
[2] Hana Moataz (EGY) – [Bye]