Austria’s Daniel Lutz and Karina Seiner believe the inaugural European Squash Cup U23 in Lisbon will play an important role in their transition from junior squash to the PSA Tour.
Both players recently left the European junior circuit and are taking their first steps into the professional ranks. Mentally and financially this is often a tough adjustment period for aspiring pros.
Lutz was a bronze medallist at his last major U19 event, the 2025 European Junior Open, before he become a full-time professional. The transition has been especially difficult for him due to shin splints and a more recent quad injury. Since turning 19 he has played just one PSA Tour event, reaching the semi-finals at December’s Liechtenstein Open.
Now fit again, he is relishing the chance to compete for $2,000 prize money and PSA ranking points at the European Squash Cup U23 in Lisbon amongst players of his own age. The event’s full Monard format, with three matches guaranteed, is also part of the appeal.
“The event will really help the players who have stepped up from the juniors to the PSA,” he said.
“I have struggled for some time because at junior tournaments, from U11 up to U19, you have at least three matches — but in the PSA if you have a tough first round, your match is done in 25 minutes, you take your stuff and go straight home.
“That’s mentally tough at the beginning. It takes a long time to start getting into the second round and quarter-finals of each tournament so you can really benefit from the matches and start moving up in the rankings.”
Lutz, 20, is especially looking forward to an atmosphere which will evoke treasured memories of the European junior circuit.
“I’m looking forward to seeing players from the juniors again,” he says. “If you go to junior tournaments you see the same players over and over and soon make good friends. But in the PSA, you have people from all around the world, so it’s quite a different experience.”
Lutz’s international team-mate, Karina Seiner, will also be part of the Austrian contingent in Lisbon (along with Samuel Winkler and Gioia D’Alonzo).
Seiner is also grateful for the chance to compete with her peers, with $2000 prize money and ranking points up for grabs.
“I think it’s a really good idea,” said the 19-year-old. “I played in the juniors since I was nine and when it finished I was really sad. It was part of my life for such a long time and I met so many cool people. The vibe was really great.
“So when I heard about the European U23 I was really happy.”
Seiner has played three PSA Tour events so far as a senior player; in Ljubljana, Valencia and her hometown of Graz. Although she has enjoyed the experiences, there have been some stark realities.
“The biggest difference is that as soon as you lose, you’re out,” she reflects. “The travelling and hotel are really expensive, which is one of the most challenging things.
“At junior tournaments, we travelled as a whole group with a national coach, which is different to the PSA Tour. But at the European U23 someone will be there to coach me, and it will give me and the other Austrian players a chance to have that kind of experience again.”
- Entries for the European Squash Cup U23 close Friday 25 September 2026
