Challenger Tour Weekly Preview: Action In Australia and Austria

Australia and Austria will both host Challenger Tour action this week, with just the two events taking place over the next seven days.

Over the last week, the Colombian duo of Laura Tovar and Catalina Pelaez both took titles. Tovar downed compatriot Bautista to win the Paraguay Open on the Latina Tour de las Americas, while Pelaez claimed her maiden Tour title with a win at the Brussels Dronsfields Mercedes Benz.

Elsewhere over the last seven days, England’s Asia Harris won the Danny Gamble Open, with Dutchman Rowan Damming sealing the victory at the ECP Open on the Tour de las Americas.

This week, there is action on the Challenger Tour from both Austria and Australia. The Heroes Austrian Open will be the biggest event of the week, a Challenger 10 level men’s competition. The other tournament this week will be the city of Kalgoorlie – Boulder Golden Open.

Here is what is taking place this week on Tour…

Heroes Austrian Open
The biggest tournament of the week will be the Challenger 10 level Heroes Austrian Open, which will return to the Tour calendar for the second time.

Egypt’s Moustafa El Sirty was the victor back in 2021 when he defeated compatriot Yahya Elnawasany to lift the trophy. This week’s edition will once again be held at the Heroes Squash-Bar in the Austrian city of Graz.

Egypt’s Mazen Gamal will be the top seed for an event which features a strong draw. Spain’s Bernat Jaume and Ivan Perez will both be among the top eight seeds. They will be joined by India’s Abhay Singh, the Czech Republic’s Martin Svec, Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue and the English part of Simon Herbert and Ben Smith.

Aqeel Rehman will be the leading home favourite as the Austrian No.1 with the three wildcards all featuring on home soil as well. They will be Jakob Dirnberger, Lukas Windischberger and Daniel Lutz.

City of Kalgoorlie – Boulder Golden Open
From Austria to Australia, and Friday, May 2 will see the start of the City of Kalgoorlie – Boulder Golden Open. The tournament returns for it’s 15th edition and will be held at the Ray Finlayson Sporting Club once again.

Mike Corren has won this tournament six times in the past, with another Australian, Rhys Dowling, as the defending champion. Corren will be in action again this week, aiming for a seventh victory in Kalgoorlie. He will be among the top four seeds for the trophy.

Joseph White, who won two weeks ago at the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland/Oceania Open, will be the top seed. Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Laksiri and fellow Australians Nicholas Calvert, James Lloyd, Oscar Curtis and Tate Zak Norris will all be seeded.

This Week’s Schedule:
Heroes Austrian Open: Wednesday, May 31 – Sunday, June 4
City of Kalgoorlie – Boulder Golden Open: Friday, June 2 – Sunday, June 4