English Junior Championships: Malik and Bryant lead star-studded line-ups

Under 19 top seeds Torrie Malik and Jonah Bryant of Sussex are seeded to claim a sixth national title each after the draws were released for the English Junior Championships due to be held in Surrey from 16-19 February.

A constellation of rising stars will vie for national stardom across 11 categories with a number of former champions in the mix.

Bryant, who defied seedings to reach the hotly-contested British Junior Open Under 19 final in January, is predicted to set up a tantalising BU19 final showdown with [2] Yusuf Sheikh (Essex) – in what would be a repeat of the 2020 BU15 final which went down to the wire.

Lurking in the bottom half of the draw and looking to mount a stern semi-final challenge against Sheikh is [3/4] Abdallah Eissa (Warks) who Eissa has overcome in their two most recent encounters.

World No.82 Torrie Malik could be rounding off a decorated junior career with another title to her impressive collection. Malik is predicted to square off once again with former champion [2] Asia Harris (Yorks) in what would no doubt be another scintillating showdown. They’ll likely face fierce competition in the last four against four-time champion [3/4] Amelie Haworth (Hants) and [3/4] Isabel McCullough (Kent).

Three-time national champion [1] Alex Broadbridge (Hants) is seeded to contest the BU17 final alongside [2] Dylan Roberts (Kent) in what will be their third national final encounter. Two other big names to keep an eye out for are [3/4] Jude Gibbins (Kent) and former British Junior champion [5/8] Ronnie Hickling (Oxon) with both capable of causing a huge upset.

GU17 top seed and current England No.1, Emily Coulcher-Porter (Bucks) will be hungry to improve upon her runner-up finish at the 2022 British Junior Championships in a likely clash against the 2021 English Junior champion [2] Charlie McCrone (Lancs).

Former national champion Ismail Khalil (Warks) is in prime position to capture the BU15 title as top seed but will first have to navigate past two-time British national champion [3/4] Jake Johnston (Surrey) in the semis before a potential final showdown with 2021 national champion [2] George Griffiths (Hants).

On the back of downing the top seed to claim the 2022 British Junior Championship title, GU15 top seed Mariam Eissa (Warks) is predicted to meet former British Junior National champion [2] Reka Kemecsei (Sussex) in the final.

Predicted to capture the BU13 title is England no.1 Zack Greengrass (Sussex) who’s seeded to meet [3/4] William Burton (Suffolk) in the last four before a potential final with England no.2 Ali Khalil (Warks).

England No.1 Ameerah Ismail (Warks) is seeded to take on [2] Phoebe Griffiths (Hants) in what would be a remarkable battle for the GU13 title between the 2022 and 2021 GU11 champions.

The Brown twins, [1] Oscar and [2] Finley of Leicestershire are favourites to contest the BU11 title in what would be a repeat of October’s hotly contested British National Championships BU11 final which saw Finley emerge the victor.

2022 British Junior Championships semi-finalist [1] Maya Goel (Surrey) and 2023 Karakal Chichester Silver champion [2] Sienna Hampshaw (Yorks) are favourites to challenge for the GU11 title.

Meanwhile, 2022 British National champion Thomas Earwicker (Surrey) is seeded to lift the inaugural under 9s title but will first have to battle past England no.2 James Swinden (Yorks) in a potential last two showdown.

The championships take place across five Surrey venues, with the quarter-finals onwards of all categories taking place at St George’s Hill Lawn Tennis Club in Weybridge.

Watch live action from the all-glass court at St George's Hill on the Saturday and Sunday.

View the full draws at englandsquash.com/ejc