Challenger Tour Weekly Preview: Events In Portugal & the US

The Challenger Tour continues this week with three events, including two on American soil, all of which come to a conclusion on Sunday.

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, none of the events on the Tour this week have any entry restrictions on them, with all three being international tournaments.

Wednesday sees the start of two events, the Madeira International and the South State Bank Marietta Open, with the GWC Squash House Challenger 5 beginning on Friday.

Madeira International
The first event of the week begins on Wednesday on the Portuguese island of Madeira, with the Galo Active Health Club playing host to the Madeira International.

The Challenger 10 level event will feature several members of the top 100 amongst its 24-strong draw, with India’s Mahesh Mangaonkar as the tournament’s top seed.

The English trio of Richie Fallows, Joshua Masters and Robert Downer, Egypt’s Moustafa El Sirty, Colombia’s Juan Camilo Vargas, Austrian No.1 Aqeel Rehman and Welshman Emyr Evans are all in action, along with Portugal’s Rui Soares, who will be aiming for victory on home soil.

South State Bank Marietta Open
The first of two events to be held on American soil this week is the South State Bank Marietta Open, which also begins on Wednesday 8 September.

The Challenger 20 level tournament is the biggest of the week, with half of the draw currently sitting inside the top 100 of the World Rankings.

France’s World No.33 Victor Crouin is the top seed for the event, with Scotland’s Alan Clyne, England’s Nathan Lake and Mexican Leonel Cardenas all in close order in the top four seeds.

GWC Squash House Challenger 5
The final event of the week begins on Friday in Atlanta, Georgia, with the GWC Squash House Challenger 5 taking place across the weekend, with three days of action.

Like the other two tournaments on the Challenger Tour this week, the Challenger 5 level event features an international draw, with 11 nationalities in action in the 16-strong field.

Polish No.1 Karina Tyma will be the top seed for the tournament, with Frenchwoman Marie Stephan, Malaysia’s Wen Li Lai, Mexico’s Diana Garcia, US junior Lucie Stefanoni, India’s Sachika Balvani and the English duo of Alicia Mead and Lucy Beecroft amongst the top eight seeds.

This Week’s Schedule
Madeira International: Wednesday 8 – Sunday 12 September
South State Bank Marietta Open: Wednesday 8 – Sunday 12 September
GWC Squash House Challenger 5: Friday 10 – Sunday 12 September