Lezaud Upsets Atlas Khan in Chicago PSA Challenger
by Howard Harding

25 October 2013 - Unseeded Frenchman Joan Lezaud produced a significant upset in the first round of the Chicago Open when he upset second seed Danish Atlas Khan in straight games to secure an unexpected place in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event at Life Time Athletic in Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA.

The 27-year-old from Aix-en-Provence, ranked 114 in the world (pictured above with tournament organiser Franz Schwerer), defeated Khan, the world No75 from Pakistan, 11-6, 13-11, 11-7 to set up a last eight encounter with Canadian Graeme Schnell.

Qualifier Schnell, a 25-year-old from Calgary, booked a surprise place in the quarter-finals - alongside his younger brother Andrew Schnell - when he battled back from 2/1 down to overcome higher-ranked Englishman Lewis Walters 11-7, 4-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6.

Schnell junior, aged 21, claimed his anticipated place in the next round after seeing off fellow countryman David Letourneau 12-10, 11-6, 11-4.

"Pleased to get by Dave Letourneau 3-0 today," tweeted the world No98 later. "Now for the quarters against Martin (Knight)!"

New Zealander Martin Knight is the event's top seed. The world No47 from Auckland despatched Pakistan qualifier Muhammad Saqib Yousaf 11-6, 11-7, 11-8.

A notable upset took place in the top half of the draw where 17-year-old Egyptian qualifier Karim El Hammamy - the youngest and lowest-ranked player in the draw - defeated Canadian hope Michael McCue 11-5, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9.

Playing in only his second PSA Tour event since becoming the surprise winner of the World Junior Championship title in Poland in July, Cairo-based teenager El Hammamy now faces Pakistan's No3 seed Farhan Zaman for a place in the semi-finals.

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Chicago Open, Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA

1st round:
[1] Martin Knight (NZL) bt [Q] Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 12-10, 11-6, 11-4
[Q] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt Michael McCue (CAN) 11-5, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9
[3] Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt [WC] Karamatullah Khan (PAK) 11-7, 12-10, 11-9
[4] Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [Q] Benjamin Fischer (SUI) 11-9, 11-6, 11-3
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
[Q] Graeme Schnell (CAN) bt Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-7, 4-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6
Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt [2] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-6, 13-11, 11-7

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Martin Knight (NZL) v Andrew Schnell (CAN)
[3] Farhan Zaman (PAK) v [Q] Karim El Hammamy (EGY)
[4] Eric Galvez (MEX) v Clinton Leeuw (RSA)
Joan Lezaud (FRA) v [Q] Graeme Schnell (CAN)