Egyptian top seed faces wild card Joe Chapman as Boars Head event grows to $35k
By NATHAN CLARKE
The 2015 Charlottesville Open, PSA M35 tournament draw has been confirmed and sees some of the sport’s leading players faced with some enthralling first round fixtures.
The event, which starts at the McArthur Squash Center at Boar’s Head Sports Club on Wednesday September 16, will feature a number of highly-anticipated clashes with Cesar Salazar and Ali Farag facing each other in one of the day’s most exciting fixtures.
Botswana’s Alister Walker will meet Campbell Grayson in another eye-catching encounter while Stephen Coppinger, who has yet to claim a title in the United States, faces off against Ryan Cuskelly.
Top seed Karim Abdel Gawad will have to be wary of wild card Joe Chapman, who will be out to spring a surprise on the Egyptian.
Gawad will be looking forward to his return to the States after achieving a career-best victory over Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the Windy City Open in Chicago in March. Goad also won the $25k Pittsburgh Open in February, beating Scotland’s Alan Clyne in the final.
“The third iteration of the Charlottesville Open is sure to be the most exciting yet with an increase in the stature of both the event and the participating players compared to previous years,” said Tournament Promoter Mark Allen.
“Due to the fact that the tournament is now recognised as a PSA M35 event, it has allowed us to attract higher-calibre players which is sure to enhance the growth of the event for years to come.”
2015 Charlottesville Open – Main Draw:
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [WC] Joe Chapman (IVB)
Ali Farag (EGY) v [6] Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[8] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [3] Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[4] Alister Walker (BOT) v Campbell Grayson (NZL)
[Qualifier] v [5] Tom Richards (ENG)
[7 Alan Clyne (SCO) v [Qualifier]
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
The 2015 Charlottesville Open will take place at the McArthur Squash Center at Boar’s Head Sports Club from Wednesday September 16 – Saturday September 19.
Main picture by MARIAN KRAUS