Mexican World No.75 Alfredo Avila overcame United States No.1 Todd
Harrity in the final of the 2016 Wasatch Advisors Salt Lake City Open to
capture his first PSA World Tour title in over a year.
Avila, whose last PSA World Tour title saw him stun Indian No.1 Saurav
Ghosal to win the Abierto Colombiano PSA M50 tournament, was appearing
at the Salt Lake City Open for the first time since 2011, when he
reached the quarter-final stage.
The 25-year-old defeated United States duo Dylan Cunningham and
Christopher Gordon to advance past the last eight, and he dispatched New
Zealand’s Martin Knight to set up a final clash with Harrity, who
dropped a solitary game en route to the final.
Both players engaged in a series of well-constructed rallies in the
early parts of their final encounter, but Avila pulled away after
rattling off a number of winners to go a game ahead. Harrity responded
by varying the height and pace of his shots to start the second game on
the front foot, only to see Avila adapt and punish any loose shots from
the American to double his lead.
Harrity tightened up his game and managed to get in front of his
opponent to force a tie-break in the third but, at 12-12, he struck the
tin with an attempted drop, which gave Avila the momentum he needed to
close out it and wrap up an 11-5, 11-6, 14-12 victory – lifting his
eighth PSA World Tour title in the process.
“I think today, I played very good squash, my best squash of the
tournament,” said Avila.
“I came into the match with a plan, so I had a strategy against Harrity.
I had already played twice with him, so I knew how he plays and where he
is strong.
“I tried not to let him play his best, and I think I played my best
shots.”
