03-Oct, Final:

[1] Borja Golan (Esp) bt [2] Bradley Ball (Eng)
      11/10(2-0), 11/10(2-0), 11/8 (54m)

Golan Retains Brazilian Crown
Murilo Mori reports from Brasil

The 21 year old Spaniard from Santiago de Compostela, Borja Golan, won his second Brazilian Title in a row, beating Englishman Bradley Ball in straight games in a 54-minute final.

The match started equal, with players studying each other. The early rallies were long, and most ended in calls. After a couple nick shots Ball opened a 6/4 lead, but Golan tied it 8/8 and then the players traded points until Ball reached gameball at 10/9. Golan saved it, and after a mistake by Ball closed the game 12/10.

In the second game Ball started better again, opening an 8/4 lead and looking likely to level the match, but after three tin shots in a row by Ball, Golan survived and came back to life. Ball stayed just ahead, reaching game ball 10/9 once again.

At that point the crowd were treated to the best rally of the whole tournament. After a long rally and incredible powershots by Ball and Golan's amazing defence, Ball played an almost perfect dropshot to close the game - I say almost because while Ball turned back to celebrate the victory, Golan made an amazing dive to save the ball and tie the game to Ball's surprise. People were going crazy after that play which received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Golan took confidence from it and won the next couple points to close the game in 12/10 and take a 2-0 lead.

The third game began like the first with the powerful nickshots by Ball, who asked the crowd for applause and the people obeyed immediately. Once again Ball had an early advantage at 5/3, but was now looking more tired than Golan, who looked as if he could play for another 3 hours.

Golan won four straight points to take the lead in 7/5, after that, players changed points until Golan reached the matchball at 10/8. After a great cross-court Golan won the game in 11/8 and the match 3/0 to retain his Brazilian Crown to the delight of the Brazilian Crowd!

A great final for a great tournament. Borja promises to be back next year and players from all the world are invited to came here and try take the crown from Spanish hands.

Cheers from Brasil and see you next year ...

                                                            
 

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 11/10(2-0), 11/10(2-0), 11/8 (54m)

Bradley Ball

Qualifying:

Finals:
Ahmed M. Assann bt Savério Christovam   11/4, 11/3, 11/1
Niall Rooney vs Bertrand Tissot   11/8, 6/11, 11/8, 11/5
Jorge Gutierrez bt  Bruno Bolzan   8/11, 11/7, 11/10(2-0), 11/8
Rogério Silvestre bt Mohamed Elkeiy   11/8, 7/11, 11/9, 11/6

Round One:
Ahmed M. Assaan (EGY) bt Júlio Caseiro (BRA)  3/0
Savério Christovam (BRA) bt Rodrigo Silvestre (BRA)  3/1
Niall Rooney (IRL) bt Marcos Santana (BRA)  3/0
Bertrand Tissot (FRA) bt Renato Neto (BRA)  3/0
Jorge Gutierrez (ARG) bt Guilherme Castro (BRA)  3/1
Bruno Bolzan (BRA) bt André Moura (BRA)  3/1
Rogério Silvestre (BRA) bt Tiago Cabral (BRA)  3/1
Mohamed Elkeiy (EGY)bt Antonio Jose Christovam Jr. (BRA)  3/0

02-Oct, Semis:
Top Two in Brazilian Final
Murilo Mori reports from Brasil

[1] Borja Golan (Esp) bt  [3] Stephane Galifi (Fra)
       7/11, 11/4, 11/6, 11/6 (53m)
[2] Bradley Ball (Eng) bt Christopher Gordon (Usa)
      11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (38m)

Borja Battles Past Galifi

After 53 minutes of physical and verbal battle, top seed Borja Golan beat France's in-form Stephane Galifi in 4 games to reach his second successive Brazilian Open final.

Galifi started the better, and controlled the first game, making no errors and displaying incredible retrieving to frustrate the Spaniard. After another mistake from Golan, Galifi took the first 11/7.

But in the second game Galifi probably paid the price for his early success. After three tournaments in a row with excellent results, the Frenchman looked tired. In the second game Golan opened a 6/3 lead, at which point Galifi seemed to give up on the game and stopped running as Golan took it 11/4. In the 3rd game Galifi started in front 4/2, but began to stop the rallies many times asking for lets and complaining to the referee about Golan's shots. Almost every rally ended in a call. Galifi used his Gallic charm while  complaining, bringing smiles from audience while Golan seemed upset with the Frenchman's jokes. On some occasions the players were arguing on court and the referee needed to enter the court to stop the conversation.

After another few calls the crowd started to support Golan, who showed that he wanted to play. Golan maintained his concentration, and was in better physical shape as he won the third 11/6. In fourth game Galifi came back more serious, showing he intended to recover the match. The game was a close until 5/5. After that, Galifi again made several complaints to the referee, stopping the game and receiving his first warning. At that moment he looked beaten and Golan won 5 points in a row to reach matchball, and in the end victory 11/6.

Ball Stops Gordon's Run

In the other semi-final, Bradley Ball lived up to his second seeding, beating the US teen sensation Chris Gordon in straight games after 38 minutes. Ball had the control of the match and denied Gordon any chances to win. Gordon won some great rallies and put pressure on Ball at times, but the experienced Englishman kept his consistency to win the games. Ball took the first 11/6 and the second 11/8.

In the third game Gordon went for 'all or nothing' and almost took the game, but after being tied at 9 all, Ball played an amazing cross-court return of serve directly into nick to reach the match ball. One more power shot from Ball closed out the game 11/9 and the match.

For the final the crowd can expect to see the consistency and power of Ball against the smooth and quick movement of Golan. The deserved final for both players!

---

01-Oct, Quarters:
New Year ... Same Story
Murilo Mori reports from Brasil

Just as he did last year, Spaniard Borja Golan defeated Brazil's Rafael Alarcon in the quarter-finals to end hopes of a home victory. Last year Golan went on to take the title and shows every sign of doing so again.

In a great match in front of a full crowd at the Flamboyant Mall, Golan showed his best squash and fitness. Rafael fought hard and made a brilliant game of it, but in the decisive moments the Spaniard showed why he is number 35 in the world.

Golan took the first game 11/6, and the second 11/7, finishing the game on an incredible shot - a tiny boast from Rafael looked to be a winner but Borja dived dramatically to reach the ball and put it into the nick. The Brazilian crowd, noisy in their support for their local hero, this time roared their appreciation of the Spaniard's skills.

At the start of the third Golan made several unforced errors as the noisy crowd got behind Alarcon. At 9/4 some were starting to celebrate, but a series of amazing drop shots from Golan brought the score back to 9/10 before a perfect cross-court from Alarcon won the game.

The fourth game was close, points traded up to 6-all, but in a tense finish with many lets Golan recovered his best form to take the game 11/8, and the match, to the disappointment of the home crowd.

Golan now faces Frenchman Stephane Galifi who scored a comfortable win over qualifier Niall Rooney.

Second seed Bradley Ball also won 3/0, against Argentinian Jorge Gutierriez, and meets the USA's teenage sensation Christopher Gordon who beat Greek champion Fabian Kalaitzis in straight games.

For the semi-finals we expect a great battle between Golan and the in-form Galifi, while Gordon must fight hard to beat the consistent Ball.

Seeds Tumble In First Round

The first round of main draw action saw half of the seeds depart as the Brazilian Open got under way on the glass court in Goiania's shopping mall.

Defending champion and top seed Borja Golan moved into the quarters where he will meet nome-town favourite Rafael Alarcon, the only Brazilian left in the draw, both beating Brazilian qualifiers in double-quick time.

France's third seed Stephane Galifi, looking to reach his fourth successive PSA final, took just 19 minutes to dispose of Brazilian qualifier Rogério Silvestre and faces another qualifier, Irishman Niall Rooney, in the quarters.

In the bottom half England's Bradley Ball is the only remaining seed. Ball struggled in the early stages of his match against 4-time Canadian champion Sabir Butt, but recovered, mixing long rallies with excellent kill-shots, to take the match in four games. Ball now meets Argentina's Pan-Am champion Jorge Gutierrez who beat eighth seed Ashley Flathers in the longest match of the day at 46 minutes.

Fourth and sixth seeds Dylan Bennett and David Phillips also fell, Phillips retiring injured against Greece's Fabian Kalaitzis while Bennett, the dutchman just out of junior ranks, lost in straight games to his American counterpart Chris Gordon.

Golan Goes for
Brazilian Double

Sapin's Borja Golan will be aiming to retain his Brazilian Open title as the 2004 event gets under way on the glass court in Goiania-Goias's Flamboyante shopping centre.

In a multi-national field, England's Bradley Ball, Netherland's Dylan Bennett and Frenchman Stephane Galifi, who has made three PSA finals in the last two months, will be Golan's main threats.

At fifth seed Brazil's top player Rafael Alarcon will enjoy local support and the advantage of playing in his home town.

 alanbrz@yahoo.com