E.M. Noll Classic Preview: Turmel Not At Her Best Yet Despite Win

There is just the one tournament on the Challenger Tour this week, with the E.M. Noll Classic taking place at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia from Thursday, February 3 to Sunday, February 6.

The tournament that dates back to 2018, when Canada’s Nicole Bunyan and England’s Lyell Fuller were the victors. A year later, the event was a qualifier for the World Championships in Chicago, with home favourite Sabrina Sobhy and Egypt’s Youssef Ibrahim both booking their places at the sport’s premiere event.

Olivia Fiechter and Nathan Lake are the current reigning champions, after winning the titles back in 2020, but there will be new names on this year’s E.M. Noll Classic trophy.

It will be another American who leads the way in the men’s draw in Philadelphia this year. World No.52 Faraz Khan is one of four Americans inside the top eight seeds on home soil, along with Spencer Lovejoy, Chris Hanson and Timothy Brownell.

Hong Kong’s Henry Leung will be Khan’s nearest challenger, with compatriots Tsz Kwan Lau and Max Lee, along with England’s Sam Todd, making up the rest of the top eight seeds.

England’s Lucy Turmel will be the top seed in Philadelphia this week, and she will be hoping to take a second victory in as many weeks this weekend. Her nearest competition will be compatriot Jasmine Hutton, with fellow Englishwomen Julianne Courtice and Lily Taylor also in the top eight seeds, along with Egypt’s Hana Moataz and the Egyptian trio of Tze Lok Ho, Liu Tsz-Ling and Tsz-Wing Tong.

Turmel comes into the E.M. Noll Classic off the back of a strong performance last weekend, where she claimed the Equinox Women’s Boston Open, but she admits that she was not at her best despite the victory.

“It’s nice to start with a win, play, have a run and come through four matches,” she explained.

“I played okay [in Boston]. I couldn’t have had four more contrasting matches, each presenting different challenges and it felt good to come through. I have been working on some things and it was nice to feel it coming together.”

After the perfect start to her year, Turmel now focuses on the rest of 2022, and although the top 20 in the World Rankings and a spot at the Commonwealth Games are both on her target list, she admits that improving her squash is the best way to meet those goals.

“The top 20 sounds nice but I’m just focused on improving every day and with that I know I’ll get the results and ranking takes care of itself,” the Englishwoman said.

“The Commonwealth Games is a dream but the team is yet to be selected. Again, I’m focused on improving and playing well, knowing that puts me in a good place for selection.”

The event takes place from Thursday, February 3 to Sunday, February 6 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, where Lucy Turmel is the top seed for the women’s event. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on *Twitter* and *Facebook* for daily updates from the event.

Men’s First Round Draw: E.M. Noll Classic
[1] Faraz Khan (USA) v Velavan Senthilkumar (IND)
Israr Ahmed (PAK) v [7] Chris Hanson (USA)
[6] Sam Todd (ENG) v [WC] James Asher (ENG)
Noor Zaman (PAK) v [4] Spencer Lovejoy (USA)
[3] Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) v Charlie Lee (ENG)
Nick Sachvie (CAN) v [8] Timothy Brownell (USA)
[5] Max Lee (HKG) v Chi Him Wong (HKG)
Babatunde Ajagbe (NGR) v [2] Henry Leung (HKG)

Women’s First Round Draw: E.M. Noll Classic
[1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) v Kaitlyn Watts (NZL)
Anna Kimberley (ENG) v [6] Julianne Courtice (ENG)
[8] Lily Taylor (ENG) v Diana Garcia (MEX)
Amna Fayyaz (PAK) v [4] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG)
[3] Tze Lok Ho (HKG) v Nardine Garas (EGY)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) v [7] Hana Moataz (EGY)
[5] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) v Chan Sin Yuk (HKG)
Ali Loke (WAL) v [2] Jasmine Hutton (ENG)