Elias and Khan Continue Tear in U.S. Pro Series Qualifying

(L-R) Elias, Pashley, and Serediak. (image: Andre Maur)
(L-R) Elias, Pashley, and Serediak. (image: Andre Maur)

Teenagers Diego Elias and Shajahan Khan have both qualified for their third 2014 U.S. Pro Series main draw after winning their Las Vegas Open qualifying finals Wednesday evening at Life Time Athletic.

Peruvian Elias, seventeen, qualified for his fifth main draw in his fifth PSA appearance of 2014 after defeating Cayman Island international Cameron Stafford 11-9, 11-8, 11-8. Elias, who rose seventy-two positions in May’s world rankings to 130, will face second-seeded world No. 42 Campbell Grayson in the main draw.

Seattle-based Khan, a Pakistani international, defeated fellow nineteen-year-old Josue Enriquez 11-9, 11-3, 6-11, 11-3. Khan now has the opportunity to avenge his New York Open quarterfinal loss against Australian Zac Alexander in the main draw. U.S.-based Alexander, world No. 107, has won his last eight PSA matches and two U.S. Pro Series tournaments–April’s PSA 5 Rochester Pro-Am and May’s PSA 5 Greenwich Challenger–since returning from a hiatus in 2013 due to injury.

English world No. 182 Tom Pashley ended local hopes in defeating Life Time Athletic professional Viktor Berg 11-7, 11-4, 11-4. Canadian world No. 128 Matthew Serediak reached the main draw in the longest qualifying final eliminating Indian international Supreet Singh 11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5.

First round play begins at 5:00pm local time.

Qualifying finals:
Diego Elias (PER) bt [4] Cameron Stafford (CAY) 11-9, 11-8, 11-8
[3] Shahjahan Khan (PAK) bt [7] Josue Enriquez (GUA) 11-9, 11-3, 6-11, 11-3
[2] Matthew Serediak (CAN) bt Supreet Singh (IND) 11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5
[5] Tom Pashley (ENG) v [L] Viktor Berg (CAN) 11-7, 11-4, 11-4

Main Draw
[1] Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [Q] Matthew Serediak (CAN)
[7] Zac Alexander (AUS) v [Q] Shahjahan Khan (PAK)
[6] Shawn Delierre (CAN) v Joan Lezaud (FRA)
[3] Julian Illingworth (USA) v [WC] Christopher Binnie (JAM)
[4] Alfredo Avila (MEX) v [Q] Tom Pashley
[8] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) v Todd Harrity (USA)
[5] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) v Joe Chapman (BVI)
[2] Campbell Grayson (NZL) v [Q] Diego Elias