Can Kiwis edge Adnan in Invercargill?

New Zealand's top players will be chasing top seed Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan at the NZ Southern Open this week.

Invercargill will play host to some of the world's best squash players this week as it holds the NZ Southern Open US$15k PSA event this week.  The event will be combined with the South Island Championships this year, ensuring an extravaganza of squash in the deep south.  All of the big matches will be played at the Squash City Invercargill Club on Onslow Street, with spillover matches also scheduled at Stadium Southland.

Malaysian WR#32 Moh'd Nafiizwan Adnan heads the field for the PSA event with New Zealand's Martin Knight, fresh from the sixth PSA Tour title of his career in Palmerston North ten days ago, seeded second.  Further New Zealand interest will be provided by fast-improving Kiwis Paul Coll (seventh seed) and Lance Beddoes in the main draw.  Adnan, as well as the top New Zealanders, are fresh from the Tri Nations Squash Doubles in Kuala Lumpur last week - a preparation event for this year's Commonwealth Games.  Transitioning back to singles from doubles is notoriously tricky, and is sure to test these players' adaptability.

Knight will open his account against Joe Chapman of the British Virgin Islands, and could play the winner of fellow Kiwi Lance Beddoes and Czech veteran Jan Koukal in the quarter-finals.  If he progresses smoothly, a rematch of last week's NZ International Classic final with Australian Matt Karwalski is on the cards in the semi-finals.  Paul Coll will open his tournament against Finn Matias Tuomi, and is on track to play fourth seeded Australian Rex Hedrick in the quarter-finals.

Several more New Zealand players are present in the qualifying draw.  Ben Grindrod, Chris van der Salm, Kashif Shuja and Luke Jones will be joined by 'locals' Shaun Madden and Corbin Faint attempting to win through to the main draw.  Qualifying gets underway on Tuesday evening from 5.30pm at the Squash City Invercargill courts, with qualifying finals to be played from 5.30pm on Wednesday.

Some losing qualifiers will drop down to play in the 'normal' tournament, ensuring tough competition for New Zealand's top players, as well as plenty of top squash for spectators throughout the weekend.

All of the PSA action will be live-streamed from the first round on Thursday.  Remember to click 'follow' so you get updates on all the upcoming action.

Draws

PSA Main Draw
NZ Southern Open Qualifying Draw

Live Streaming Link

https://new.livestream.com/NBLlivestreaming/events/3115695.