[Q] Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (28m) [5] Omar Mosaad (Egy)
Omar Mosaad
9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 (88m) Max Lee
Max Lee (Hkg) 11-6, 11-5 rtd (11m)
[2] Amr Shabana (Egy)
Rodriguez
Seals Motor City Open Title
#PSAWorldTour
Colombian
Miguel Angel Rodriguez emerged victorious in a battle of training
partners as he got the better of Stephen Coppinger, the World No.18
from South Africa, in the final of the Suburban Collection Motor
City Open 2015, PSA International 70 tournament in Detroit, to
become the tournament's first ever South American winner.
The duo both train under the guidance of former Australian World
Champion David Palmer at his base in Orlando, but it was high-flying
Rodriguez who got the better of his powerful opponent, coming from a
game down to seal the championship after a gruelling 112-minute
encounter that brought to close a dramatic week of action in
Bloomfield Hills.
The victory sees Rodriguez claim his first ever PSA International 70
title, and the biggest tournament title of his career so far, to end
what has been the most successful month of his career to date,
having already broken into the top ten for the first time and
reached his first ever PSA World Series semi-finals at the recent
J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions.
“This is like a dream come true," said Rodriguez. "This is one of my
favourite International 70 tournaments not only for the prizes, but
for the squash community here.
“I’m really happy because this is one of my best months in my entire
career. It’s something I’ll never forget and I worked so hard to win
this tournament.
“I’m making history now not only in Colombia but in South America by
being the first Latin American to reach the Top 10. Winning this
game and seeing my name on that wall with all those champions and
former No.1s - I’m speechless.
"It’s a dream I always wanted to achieve as a kid and it’s happening
right now.”
The 29-year-old from Bogota got off to a slow start in the final as
Coppinger, who had ousted three higher seeds en-route to the final,
dictated the pace and moved into an early one game lead and he
continued in the ascendency during the second, but Rodriguez managed
to level the scores with a late flurry to avoid going two games
down.
The tide continued to change during the next two games as neither
man could hold on to the momentum until Rodruez burst out of the
blocks in the deciding game, opening up a 7-1 lead before showing
his composure to see out the match 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 and
collect his share of $70,000 and a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust
II watch courtesy of Greenstone’s Jewelers.
“I think that at 5-3 down in fourth game I handled it well," he
said.
"I was patient in that game and he made a lot of mistakes. I was
pushing and retrieving all of the balls, and had some excellent
winners in the fourth.
“In the fifth, I had to start pushing again and building that lead.
Once I was up 7-2 I didn’t want to leave it like that. I had to push
again and push again because Coppinger is playing very well right
now and he will be Top 10 soon.”
Rodriguez
And Coppinger In Motor City Showdown
#PSAWorldTour
Buoyed
by reaching his first ever PSA World Series event semi-final during
last week's J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions following a series
of giant-killing performances, high-flying Colombian Miguel Angel
Rodriguez will be aiming to continue his impressive start to 2015 by
winning the Suburban Collection Motor City Open 2015, PSA
International 70 tournament in Detroit.
The 29-year-old from Bogota booked his place in what will be the
biggest tournament final of his career with a controlled 3-2 victory
over Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet, who had beaten him on their last
two outings including the final of the Montreal Open, to ensure he
remains in with a chance of collecting his share of the $70,000
prize money and a Rolex watch courtesy of Greenstone’s Jewelers.
Rodriguez got off to a slow start against Castagnet and lost the
opening game, but quickly found his range and rhythm thereafter and,
despite dropping the forth game, used his pace and reflexes to cause
the World No.14 a host of difficulties.
“It’s difficult to win a point against Mathieu especially in the
beginning of games because he’s very accurate,” said Rodriguez
afterwards.
“The last two matches I played him, I lost on a glass court and I
wasn’t patient but I have always wanted to win this tournament and
it’s my fourth time here so I need to give one more big push
tomorrow."
Standing in his way of winning a first PSA World Tour title since
the Colombian Open in August 2014 is training partner Coppinger, who
works with Rodriguez under the tutelage of former Australian World
Champion David Palmer, after the South African got the better of a
third consecutive higher-ranked player, this time ending the run of
World No.16 Max Lee.
The tall figure of World No.18 Coppinger has come through every
round of the competition so far with 3-2 wins, with his shortest
match lasting 62-minutes, but he's hoping to step up his levels in
the finale.
“I’ve been hanging in every step of the way kind of limping through
the draw rather than slicing and dashing my way,” Coppinger said.
“Hopefully I’m saving the best for tomorrow.”
