Life Time Plano Open: Cardenas Downs Khan For Title

Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas has taken the title at the Life Time Plano International Squash Open – Presented by Resolve Tech Solutions after defeating USA’s Faraz Khan in the final.

The Mexican was the No.2 seed for the tournament and was aiming to win the ninth title of his career, having had a breakout year in 2019, when he won five times on tour.

After a bye through to the second round, the World No.57 overcame England’s Chris Fuller in straight games, before taking down former World No.12 Alister Walker to reach the semi-finals.

The Mexican, who has been as high as No.53 in the World Rankings, then downed American Spencer Lovejoy, the No.4 seed, to reach the final, where he overcame Khan in straight games.

Cardenas came through the entire tournament without dropping a game, and now has nine titles to his name on the PSA Challenger Tour.

Results: Life Time Plano International Squash Open – Presented by Resolve Tech Solutions
Final
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [3] Faraz Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-7, 14-12, 11-8 (83m)

Semi-Finals
[3] Faraz Khan (USA) bt [1] Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-2 (32m)
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [4] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-7 (37m)

Quarter-Finals
[1] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt [5] Timothy Brownell (USA) 3-1: 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7 (60m)
[3] Faraz Khan (USA) bt Matias Knudsen (COL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (39m)
[4] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt [6] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) 3-0: 11-6, 12-10, 11-3 (50m)
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (42m)

Round Two
[1] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (50m)
[5] Timothy Brownell (USA) bt Allan Nunez (MEX) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (31m)
Matias Knudsen (COL) bt [7] Mark Broekman (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (33m)
[3] Faraz Khan (USA) bt Abdul Malik Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (37m)
[4] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt Alejandro Reyes (MEX) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 (31m)
[6] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt Juan Carlos Gomez (MEX) 3-1: 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 (51m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [8] Asyraf Azan (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (35m)
[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt Chris Fuller (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (31m)

Round One
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [WC] Salman Rafique (USA) 3-0: 11-1, 11-6 (17m)
Allan Nunez (MEX) bt Haidar Jafry (USA) 3-1: 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (34m)
Matias Knudsen (COL) bt James Wyatt (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 (33m)
Abdul Malik Khan (PAK) bt Nick Sutcliffe (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5 (36m)
Alejandro Reyes (MEX) bt [WC] Labeeb Ali (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-7 (20m)
Juan Carlos Gomez (MEX) bt [WC] Rana Thakkar (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (26m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt Lucas Rousselet (FRA) 3-2: 5-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-8, 11-0 (33m)
Chris Fuller (ENG) bt Vandrick Inman-Benavente (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-5 (25m)