Challenger Tour Round-Up: St Louis Open, Greenwich Open & La Classique De Gatineau

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

The St Louis Open presented by The King Family

The finalists have been decided at the Missouri Athletic Club, with top seed Curtis Malik and No.2 seed Spencer Lovejoy progressing through to the title decider following last night’s victories over Mohamad Zakaria and Edgar Ramirez Bautista, respectively.

Malik came back from 2-0 down to score a magnificent comeback against Zakaria, eventually downing the Egyptian by an 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-9 scoreline after 90 minutes of gruelling action.

Lovejoy also required five games to see off Colombia’s Bautista, eventually pulling through after 70 minutes following an 11-3, 9-11, 10-12, 11-2, 11-9 victory.

Malik and Lovejoy are yet to meet on the PSA Tour. Malik is targeting his eighth PSA title, while if Lovejoy wins he will be on the winner’s podium for the third time in his career.

Results – Semi-Finals: 2023 St Louis Open presented by The King Family

[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt [4] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-9 (90m)
[2] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt [3] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) 3-2: 11-3, 9-11, 10-12, 11-2, 11-9 (70m)

Draw – Final: To Be Played October 21st

[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) v [2] Spencer Lovejoy (USA)

Greenwich Open

The top four seeds in the women’s event – led by India’s Akanksha Salunkhe – have progressed through to the semi-finals at The Field Club Of Greenwich.

Salunkhe, the World No.73, dispatched Malaysia’s Heng Wai Wong by an 11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7 scoreline and her reward is a semi-final fixture with No.3 seed Xin Ying Yee, who got the better of Vanessa Raj.

On the opposite side of the draw, No.2 seed Menna Hamed earner her place in the last four after she defeated Wen Li Lai in four games.

Hamed’s semi-final opponent will be USA’s Caroline Fouts, who required five games and 58 minutes to overcome Hannah Craig.

Top seed Rowan Damming is the most high-profile player into the men’s semi-finals after he beat Mohammad Sharif in a tight five-game battle

Results – Men’s Quarter-Finals: 2023 Greenwich Open

[1] Rowan Damming (NED) bt [9/16] Mohamed Sharaf (EGY) 3-2: 5-11, 12-14, 11-2, 11-3, 11-5 (66m)
[7] Veer Chotrani (IND) bt [3] Emyr Evans (WAL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 14-12 (34m)
[9/16] David Costales (ECU) bt [4] Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-2: 8-11, 12-10, 11-2, 10-12, 11-4 (61m)
[2] Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt [6] Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) 3-2: 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 (59m)

Draw – Semi-Finals: To Be Played October 21st

[1] Rowan Damming (NED) v [7] Veer Chotrani (IND)
[2] Seif Shenawy (EGY) v [9/16] David Costales (ECU)

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

[1] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt [6] Heng Wai Wong (MAS) 11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7 (31m)
[3] Xin Ying Yee (MAS) bt Vanessa Raj (MAS) 11-2, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5 (31m)
[4] Caroline Fouts (USA) bt [8] Hannah Craig (IRL) 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 3-11, 11-3 (58m)
[2] Menna Hamed (EGY) bt [5] Wen Li Lai (MAS) 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4 (43m)

Draw – Semi-Finals: To Be Played October 21st

[1] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) v [3] Xin Ying Yee (MAS)
[2] Menna Hamed (EGY) v [4] Caroline Fouts (USA)

La Classique de Gatineau

World No.640 Blake Reinson caused the biggest upset in the last eight of La Classique de Gatineau as he took out No.3 seed Mitchell Kahnert at the Sporthèque club in Canada.

The 31-year-old won by a 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 scoreline to set up a semi-finals clash with top seed Salah Eltorgman.

Elsewhere, Amin Khan and Elliot Hunt also advanced to the last four and will take on each other courtesy of respective wins over Jayden Shortt and Sudesh Kannah Mohan.

Results – Quarter-Finals: 2023 La Classique de Gatineau

[1] Salah Eltorgman (CAN) bt [6] Maximilien Godbout (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (30m)

Blake Reinson (CAN) bt [3] Mitchell Kahnert (CAN) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (36m)

[4] Amin Khan (CAN) bt [7] Jayden Shortt (CAN) 3-1: 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7 (38m)

Elliot Hunt (CAN) bt Sudesh Kannah Mohan (CAN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-2 (25m)

Draw – Semi-Finals: To Be Played October 21st

[1] Salah Eltorgman (CAN) v Blake Reinson (CAN)

[4] Amin Khan (CAN) v Elliot Hunt (CAN)