LT Chicago Open RD2: England’s Mead and Todd Cause Upsets

The English duo of Sam Todd and Alicia Mead caused big upsets on Thursday evening in the second round of the Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family, with the latter taking down the top seed in the women’s event.

Mead took on top seed Haley Mendez in the second round at Life Time Athletic Vernon Hill. She quickly found herself two games down to the American, who currently sits at World No.52. However, the Englishwoman fought back to win in five games, taking victory in just under 50 minutes, to knock out the draw’s highest-ranked player.

She will now face Japan’s Erisa Sano Herring, who also caused a second day upset. The Japanese woman defeated Egypt’s No.5 seed Menna Nasser in a four-game battle, winning two tie-breaks by a 12-10 scoreline. Herring and Mead will face off on Friday to guarantee an unseeded woman in the semi-finals in Chicago.

Egypt’s Sohaila Ismail and India’s Akanksha Salunkhe also defeated seeded players in the second round. Ismail overcame compatriot Nardine Garas, the No.6 seed, after coming from 2-1 down to win in five, while Salunkhe got the better of Egypt’s No.8 seed Rana Ismail in four games.

In the men’s draw, there was just the one surprise result, as Sam Todd defeated Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas. Todd, who claimed his biggest Tour title to date at the Concourse Athletic Club Open at the weekend, continued his form to take down the World No.29 on Thursday. The Englishman won in straight games, including a third game tie-break, to extend his winning run in the USA.

He will now face Egypt’s No.7 seed Zahed Salem in the quarters, after the former top 16 player came from behind to defeat Mexico’s Alfredo Avila in four games. Salem lost the first 14-12, but won 3-1, thanks to some controlled squash through the middle part of the contest.

Two home hopes, in Todd Harrity and Faraz Khan, made it into the last eight as well. Harrity came from a game down to defeat Egypt’s Seif Shenawy, while Khan had to fight his way back from two games down to win in five against German No.2 Yannik Omlor.

The quarter finals of the Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family will take place on Friday, October 21. You can keep up to date with live scores from the event here.

Men’s Second Round Results: Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-0: 11-0, 11-7, 11-7 (31m)
[8] Faraz Khan (USA) bt Yannik Omlor (GER) 3-2: 5-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-4, 11-9 (59m)
[7] Zahed Salem (EGY) bt Alfredo Avila (MEX) 3-1: 12-14, 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 (48m)
Sam Todd (ENG) bt [4] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 12-10 (47m)
[3] Ramit Tandon (IND) bt Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-1 (30m)
[6] Todd Harrity (USA) bt Seif Shenawy (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (48m)
[5] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt Nick Sachvie (CAN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (27m)
[2] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Timothy Brownell (USA) 3-1: 11-6, 3-11, 11-6, 11-7 (47m)

Men’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, October 21
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) v [8] Faraz Khan (USA)
[7] Zahed Salem (EGY) v Sam Todd (ENG)
[3] Ramit Tandon (IND) v [6] Todd Harrity (USA)
[5] Nathan Lake (ENG) v [2] Cesar Salazar (MEX)

Women’s Second Round Results: Life Time Chicago Open Walker & Dunlop – The Hussain Family
Alicia Mead (ENG) bt [1] Haley Mendez (USA) 3-2: 9-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 (49m)
Erisa Sano Herring (JPN) bt [5] Menna Nasser (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10 (35m)
[7] Anna Kimberley (ENG) bt Lea Barbeau (FRA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-0, 12-10 (31m)
[4] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt Alina Bushma (UKR) 3-2: 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7 (47m)
[3] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt Margot Prow (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-3 (26m)
Sohaila Ismail (EGY) bt [6] Nardine Garas (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 11-3, 3-11, 11-6, 12-10 (51m)
Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt [8] Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (35m)
[2] Hana Moataz (EGY) bt [WC] Reeham Sedky (USA) 3-0: 19-17, 10-6 rtd (31m)

Women’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, October 21
Alicia Mead (ENG) v Erisa Sano Herring (JPN)
[7] Anna Kimberley (ENG) v [4] Kenzy Ayman (EGY)
[3] Georgia Adderley (SCO) v Sohaila Ismail (EGY)
Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) v [2] Hana Moataz (EGY)