Challenger Tour Round-Up: Malik Wins in St Louis, Finalists Decided in Greenwich & Gatineau

Here’s our roundup of last night’s action at the St Louis Open, Greenwich Open and Le Classique De Gatineau.

The St Louis Open presented by The King Family

World No.51 Curtis Malik captured the eighth – and biggest – title of his career after he stormed to a 3-0 victory over USA’s Spencer Lovejoy at the Missouri Athletic Club.

Malik and Lovejoy were meeting for the first time on the PSA Tour and it was the No.1 seed who emerged victorious, winning 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 in 35 minutes to win his first PSA Challenger Tour 12 event.

Next up for Malik is the PSA Gradignan in France between November 1-5 where he has also been seeded first.

Result – Final: 2023 St Louis Open presented by The King Family

[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt [2] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (35m)

Greenwich Open

The finalists are decided in both the men’s and women’s events, with No.2 seed Seif Shenawy and No.7 seed Veer Chotrani progressing to the title decider of the former at The Field Club Of Greenwich.

Shenawy received a walkover against Ecuador’s David Costales, while Chotrani scored a surprise win against former World Junior Champion Rowan Damming in straight games.

Shenawy and Chotrani met for the only time at the 2021 2nd HCL SRFI Indian Tour – Chennai Leg 1, with the former winning 3-1 on that occasion. Both players are searching for their second PSA titles.

The women’s final will see No.2 seed Menna Hamed and No.3 seed Xin Ying Yee go head-to-head for the title following their wins over No.4 seed Caroline Fouts and top seed Akanksha Salunkhe, respectively.

It will be their first meeting on the PSA Tour, and Hamed will look to add to her collection of eight PSA titles. Xin has one title to her name, secured 14 months ago in Australia.

Results – Men’s Semi-Finals: 2023 Greenwich Open
[7] Veer Chotrani (IND) bt [1] Rowan Damming (NED) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 (39m)
[2] Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt [9/16] David Costales (ECU) w/o

Draw – Final: To Be Played October 22nd

[7] Veer Chotrani (IND) v [2] Seif Shenawy (EGY)

Results – Women’s Semi-Finals: 2023 Greenwich Open

[3] Xin Ying Yee (MAS) bt [1] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) 3-2: 11-8, 8-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4 (47m)
[2] Menna Hamed (EGY) bt [4] Caroline Fouts (USA) 3-1: 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (43m)

Draw – Final: To Be Played October 22nd

[3] Xin Ying Yee (MAS) v [2] Menna Hamed (EGY)

La Classique de Gatineau

The unseeded Elliot Hunt has reached his first PSA Tour final after continuing his giant-killing run with a dominant 3-0 victory over No.4 seed Amin Khan.

His final opponent will be No.1 seed Salah Eltorgman, who stormed past Blake Reinson 3-0 after just 19 minutes of action.

The winner will secure their first PSA Tour title, while it will be the first time the pair have played each other on tour, meaning it’s all to play for at the Sporthèque club.

Results – Semi-Finals: 2023 La Classique de Gatineau

[1] Salah Eltorgman (CAN) bt [9/16] Blake Reinson (CAN) 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 (19m)
Elliott Hunt (CAN) bt [4] Amin Khan (CAN) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (31m)

Draw – Finals: To Be Played October 22nd

[1] Salah Eltorgman (CAN) v Elliot Hunt (CAN)