Life Time City Centre Preview: Khan Eager To Reclaim US No.1 Spot

The Life time City Centre Men’s Open Presented By NH Specialists takes place this week in Houston, United States, with a slightly more international feel than we have been used to on the Challenger Tour of late.

The event has been restricted to domestic entries only, meaning only players currently residing in the United States were allowed to enter, but there are still eight nationalities represented this week.

11 Americans will be on court this week at the Life Time City Centre club in Houston, with four Englishmen also in the draw. Colombia, Egypt, France, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan will also be represented in the 24-strong draw.

Three players inside the world’s top 100 will be in action, in World No.58 Shahjahan Khan, World No.86 Lyell Fuller and World No.96 Faraz Khan. Those three, along with Spencer Lovejoy, Mark Broekman, Babatunde Ajagbe, Timothy Brownell and Atticus Kelly, will all receive byes through to the second round.

We spoke to the top seed, Shahjahan Khan, ahead of this week’s event, with the American aiming to take back the US No.1 spot, having held it throughout the majority of 2020.

“I am really eager to reclaim my spot. I feel confident coming to the event, I have been working really hard these past months with my coaches. I feel blessed to have two legends of the game Zarak Khan and Rehmat Khan on my team, along with Gym Trainer Malcolm Chase from RPM Athletes,” the World No.58 said.

“A win will help boost my confidence for sure and [be a] good start for the upcoming events. Hopefully, everything gets back to normal soon with the pandemic, so according to plan I can achieve my goals that I have set for myself this season.”

The event takes place from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 at the Life Time City Centre in Houston, where Shahjahan Khan is the top seed for the tournament. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

First Round Draw: Life time City Centre Men’s Open Presented By NH Specialists
[1] Shahjahan Khan (USA) – [Bye]
Nick Sutcliffe (ENG) v [9/16] Asyraf Khan (MAS)
[9/16] Chris Fuller (ENG) v Matias Knudsen (COL)
[6] Babatunde Ajagbe (NGR) – [Bye]
[7] Timothy Brownell (USA) – [Bye]
[WC] Omar Cochinwala (USA) v [9/16] Abdul Malik Khan (PAK)
[9/16] Faizal Riaz (USA) v Muhammad Huzaifa Ibrahim (PAK)
[3] Faraz Khan (USA) – [Bye]
[4] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) – [Bye]
[WC] Vandrick Inman-Benavente (USA) v [9/16] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK)
[9/16] Lucas Rousselet (FRA) v Sebastian De La Vega (USA)
[5] Mark Broekman (ENG) – [Bye]
[8] Atticus Kelly (USA) – [Bye]
Haidar Jafry (USA) v [9/16] Charlie Johnson (ENG)
[9/16] Ismail Hafez (EGY) v [WC] Arsalan Saeed (USA)
[2] Lyell Fuller (ENG) – [Bye]