Guatemala Open Squash Preview: Enriquez Looking Forward To Home Events

The first of two events to take place in the Americas this week is the 1st 10k Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament, which takes place between Wednesday 17 and Sunday 21 November.

The Challenger 10 level tournament will be held at the Asociación Deportiva Nacional de Squash, with regional entry restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, allowing those currently based in North, Central and South America to participate.

Mexico’s Arturo Salazar will be the top seed for the tournament, with USA’s Christopher Gordon, Canadian No.1 David Baillargeon and Colombia’s Edgar Ramirez Bautista as the rest of the top four seeds.

Brazil and Pakistan will be the other nations represented, with Guilherme Melo and Ahsan Ayaz in action, alongside the eight players from Guatemala featuring on home soil.

The Guatemalan No.1 is Josue Enriquez and we spoke to the tournament’s No.7 seed prior to the event starting, and he is up for the challenge of playing on home soil.

“I feel good, I have trained hard for the tournament, and I am excited to play again here in Guatemala,” Enriquez said.

“Playing at home is always more exciting, I hope to have a good tournament and perform well during all my matches, I won a couple of years ago and I really want to do it again.”

Enriquez has been as high as World No.115 in the rankings, but currently sits just outside the top 200 after playing just three times in 2021.

“I didn’t have many tournaments due to COVID-19 issues and Guatemala having restrictions. I have to start over and go up the rankings little by little. I want to go back and enter the top 100. That is the goal.”

The event takes place from Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 November at the Asociación Deportiva Nacional de Squash. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

First Round Draw: 1st 10k Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament
[1] Arturo Salazar (MEX) – [Bye]
Sebastian Fonseca (GUA) v [9/16] Cory McCartney (CAN)
[9/16] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) v [WC] Mauricio Sedano (GUA)
[8] Miled Zarazua (MEX) – [Bye]
[6] Ronald Palomino (COL) – [Bye]
[WC] Luis Quisquinay (GUA) v [9/16] Rodolfo Vega (MEX)
[9/16] Armando Olguin (MEX) v Angel Gabriel Enrqiuez Franco (GUA)
[4] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) – [Bye]
[3] David Baillargeon (CAN) – [Bye]
Bryan Cueto (MEX) v [9/16] Alejandro Enriquez (GUA)
[9/16] Alejandro Reyes (MEX) v [WC] Jose Mendez (GUA)
[5] Guilherme Melo (BRA) – [Bye]
[7] Josue Enriquez (GUA) – [Bye]
Ricardo Toscano (GUA) v [9/16] Andres Herrera (COL)
[9/16] Allan Nunez (MEX) v Andres Villamizar (COL)
[2] Christopher Gordon (USA) – [Bye]