Evolution Open 2003
27-30 Nov, Mexico

30-Nov, FINAL:
Eric Gálvez (Mex) bt [Q] Mauricio Sánchez (Mex)
   15-10, 15-9, 15-4 (55m)

Gálvez Grabs Evolution Glory
The all-Mexican final of the Evolution Open in Mexico City finally saw an end to the run of upsets, as Mexico's top player Eric Gálvez ended the spectacular run of qualifier Mauricio Sánchez to claim the title.

Sánchez started strongly showing his fitness, but made four unforced errors in a row that handed the first game to Gálvez.

Both players started the second game very tightly, making made very good shots but Gálvez applied enough pressure to Sánchez to take a two-game lead.

Gálvez attacked early during the third game, pressurising Sánchez, and continued the game with very tight shots. Sánchez fought till the end but the consistency and strength of Gálvez gave him the game and the tournament.

Gálvez, who reached the final of the Pan American Championships in August last year, and won the gold medal in the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador three months later, was making his first appearance in a PSA Tour final.
 

Official site from Mexico

Eric Galvez

Laurent Elriani

Eric Gálvez

Dylan Bennett

Qualifying, 26-Nov:
Mark Krajcsak beat Armando Zarazua, w/o
Nicholas Kyme beat Marcos Méndez  13-15, 11-15, 15-3, 15-9, 15-12
Mauricio Sánchez beat Romain Tenant  14-15, 15-12, 15-8, 15-7
David Phillips beat Juan Camacho 15-12, 15-14, 15-12

30-Nov, Semi-Finals:
[Q] Mauricio Sánchez (MEX) bt [3] Laurent Elriani (FRA)
      5-15, 8-15, 15-8, 15-12, 15-4 (92m)
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [2] Dylan Bennett (NED)
      15-9, 15-14, 13-15, 15-6 (82m)

Sanchez & Galvez Storm
Into Dream All-Mexican Final

Qualifier Mauricio Sánchez and unseeded Eric Galvez thrilled the crowd watching the semi-finals of the Evolution Squash Open in Mexico City by dismissing two of the new PSA Tour event's top seeds to set up an all-Mexican final which earlier would have been beyond the organisers' wildest dreams.

Mauricio "Revelation" Sánchez defeated experienced Frenchman Laurent Elriani, the No3 seed, after coming back from two games down. With deception as his main weapon, Elriani took the first two games, sending Sanchez to front court and back court repeatedly. The Mexican looked beaten, but Elriani seemed tired at the end of the second game.

In the third, Sánchez started a new strategy, using more attacking shots, which changed the balance of the match. Elriani fought bravely but Sánchez now had the upper hand and after more than one and a half hours claimed his dramatic 5-15 8-15 15-8 15-12 15-4 victory and a place in the final in his first appearance in a PSA Tour event.

In the other semi-final, Galvez faced European Junior Champion Dylan Bennett, from the Netherlands. The Mexican took the opening game, forcing errors from Bennett, the No2 seed. The second game was played at lightning speed, with the Dutchman making a comeback to bring the game to 14-14. A perfect shot by Galvez gave him the lead 2-0.

Bennett salvaged some pride by taking the third game, but more unforced errors from the second seed in the fourth led 20-year-old Galvez to wrap up the match 15-9 15-14 13-15 15-6 in 82 minutes.

29-Nov, Quarters:
More Mexican
Evolution Magic
Fernando Altamirano reports from Mexico

Mexican players continued to do perform well in the quarter-finals of the Evolution Open in Mexico City, with home fans delighted to see two local stars reach the semi-finals.

Qualifier Mauricio Sánchez, who beat the top seed in the first round, scored his first-ever tournament win over compatriot Jorge Baltazar in a marathon 94-minute battle. Baltazar tried everything in his armoury, but Sanchez remained cool as his greater maturity won out in a match featuring many long rallies to thrill the crowd.

Sanchez meets third seed Laurent Elriani in the semi-finals following the Frenchman's 3/0 win over qualifier Mark Krajcsak. There were many fine shots during the match, in the first set Krajcask seemed to be nervous and lost the game making some unforced errors. Elriani played more intelligent and strong squash than Krajcsak. Elriani  applied pressure to Krajcsak, tried to come back making an additional effort but it was too late.

Mexican fans will have a second hero to cheer in the other semi-final. Eric Gálvez completed a comfortable 3/0 win over qualifier David Phillips to set up a meeting with Holland's second seed Dylan Bennett.

Gálvez relentlessly performed masterful shots against Phillips, repeatedly putting in winning drop shots as Phillips became desperate. After the second game Phillips couldn't recover his pace and never came back. Gálvez wrapped up the the victory after 29 minutes.

Bennett beat Duncan Walsh 3/0. The tall Dutchman reached very difficult shots performed by Walsh, showing his control over the game and the ball, performing 'fantasy' shots to confuse Walsh. During the last game Walsh got more self confidence and almost won that game, but the consistency and speed of Bennett succeeded as he progressed to the semi-finals.

28-Nov, Round One:
Mexican Magic in Evolution
There was a Mexican revolution in the Evolution Open in Mexico City when three local players pulled off major upsets on the first day - with one guaranteed to earn a place in the semi-finals.

Qualifier Mauricio Sánchez created the biggest shock with a 15-12 15-13 15-12 dismissal of top-seeded Australian Cameron White. Sanchez now faces Jorge Baltazar for a place in the last four after his unseeded compatriot also overturned a seeded Australian in a 15-12 15-11 15-9 defeat of Paul Davis, the 8th seed.

Eric Galvez completed the local rout by beating Switzerland's sixth seed Andre Holderegger 15-7 15-5 15-9. The unseeded Mexican moves into the quarter-finals where he meets Canadian qualifier David Phillips, the 15-9 15-12 11-15 15-14 conqueror of Australia's fourth seed Tony James.