How I Prepare for World #65

Here I take you through a day of preparation for a big match on the PSA Challenger Tour. From start to finish, I show you behind the scenes of what I eat, how I study opponents and form game plans, what I get up to in my morning practice, and how I warm-up for the match. The match in question is my second round match at the Vendée Open PSA 15k Challenger in Challans, France, where I play against Egyptian World Number 69, Mohamed Sharaf. You can find the FULL MATCH here: https://www.youtube.com/live/VFQZDmvh... Mohamed Sharaf Nationality: Egyptian 🇪🇬 Age: 24 Birthplace: Cairo Height: 187 cm (6'2") Plays: Right-handed PSA member since 2021 Current ranking: World No. 69 Collegiate career Before focusing fully on the PSA Tour, Sharaf starred for Trinity College Men's Squash in the United States. He: Won the 2023 CSA Individual National Championship. Was a two-time NESCAC Player of the Year. Earned multiple All-American honours. Helped Trinity reach national championship finals and compiled an outstanding collegiate record of 55–8. Playing style Sharaf is known for being: Athletic and physical around the court. Strong in attacking the front corners. Comfortable extending rallies when needed. A confident shot-maker who looks to take the ball early. Professional progress Since turning his attention to the PSA Tour, he has been moving through the Challenger-level events and earning wins over higher-ranked opponents. One notable milestone came in April 2025 when he recorded his first victory in a PSA World Event by defeating World No. 65 Ibrahim Elkabbani. What is The Vendée Open? The Vendée Open is a professional PSA Challenger Tour tournament held annually in Challans, in the Vendée region of western France. It takes place at the RedZone sports complex and has quickly become one of the stronger Challenger events on the French calendar. Key facts Location: Challans, France Venue: RedZone sports complex Tour level: PSA Challenger Tour Prize money: $15,000 in 2026 (up from $12,000 in 2025) Draw size: 24 players Features many players ranked inside or around the world's top 100. History The event was first launched in 2024, becoming the first PSA international squash tournament ever held in the Vendée region. It was created by Squash Challans and quickly attracted international players from Egypt, England, France, Australia, Pakistan, Belgium, Germany, Spain and beyond. 2025 Tournament The 2025 edition was a PSA Challenger 12 event worth $12,000. French player Melvil Scianimanico won the title, defeating Benjamin Aubert in the final. 2026 Tournament The current 2026 event has been upgraded to a $15,000 Challenger tournament. The top seeds include: Mohamed Sharaf (Egypt) Perry Malik (England) Henry Leung (Hong Kong) Yassin Elshafei (Egypt)