24/03/2007
SASKATCHEWAN OPEN
Baltazar Ferreira Wins Saskatchewan Title
Saskatchewan Squash Open,
Regina Court & Fitness Club, Regina, Canada
Final:
[2] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [1] Bernardo Samper (COL) 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5 (56m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Bernardo Samper (COL) bt [3] Laurent Elriani (FRA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (48m)
[2] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [4] Ian Power (CAN) 10-11 (1-3), 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 (67m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Bernardo Samper (COL) bt [5] Darren Lewis (ENG) 11-10 (2-0), 10-11 (2-4), 11-1, 11-5 (48m)
[3] Laurent Elriani (FRA) bt [6] Rob Sutherland (WAL) 7-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-8, 11-3 (67m)
[4] Ian Power (CAN) bt [Q] Josh Struthers (CAN) 8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 (43m)
[2] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [Q] Tom Pashley (ENG) 11-4, 11-1, 11-8 (25m)
1st round:
[1] Bernardo Samper (COL) bt [Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-8 (23m)
[5] Darren Lewis (ENG) bt Keith Pritchard (CAN) 11-7, 11-1, 11-3 (25m)
[3] Laurent Elriani (FRA) bt Michal Reid (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (38m)
[6] Rob Sutherland (WAL) bt Armando Olguin (MEX) 11-3, 11-1, 11-3 (22m)
[Q] Josh Struthers (CAN) bt [7] Patrick Bedore (CAN) 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 (23m)
[4] Ian Power (CAN) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (32m)
[Q] Tom Pashley (ENG) bt [8] Neil Hitchens (ENG) 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 (38m)
[2] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [Q] Scott Fitzgerald (WAL) 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-10 (6-4) (37m)
Baltazar Ferreira Wins Saskatchewan Title
Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira claimed his third PSA Tour title in four successive events when he upset top seed Bernardo Samper in the final of the Saskatchewan Squash Open at the Regina Court & Fitness Club in Regina, Canada.
The 24-year-old Mexican, who survived a 67-minute semi-final, battled for a further 56 minutes to overhaul Colombian Samper 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5.
It was a remarkable climax for Baltazar Ferreira, the second seed, who clearly thrives on the PSA Tour in North America. Since reaching the final of the Saskatoon Boast Open - also in Saskatchewan - last October as qualifier, he went on to win the Bieber Securities Fall Classic in Winnipeg the following month, again as a qualifier.
In his first tournament of the New Year, Baltazar Ferreira picked up the Rochester Pro Open title in Rochester, New York - and was rewarded this month by a 100-position rise over the five months in the Dunlop PSA World Rankings.
Top Seeds Reach Saskatchewan Final
The final of the Saskatchewan Squash Open will feature the PSA Tour event's top two seeds after Bernardo Samper and Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira prevailed in the semi-finals at the Regina Court & Fitness Club in Regina, Canada.
After surviving a four-game quarter-final, Colombian favourite Bernardo Samper despatched Laurent Elriani in straight games in the semis, beating the third seed from France 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 in 48 minutes.
By contrast, Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira cruised through his quarter-final match against English qualifier Tom Pashley without dropping a game - but twice had to come from behind in a five-game semi-final marathon before overcoming Canadian Ian Power, the fourth seed, 10-11 (1-3), 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 in 67 minutes.
Ferreira, the 24-year-old second seed from Mexico City, is through to the fifth PSA Tour final of his career - and the second of the year after winning the Rochester Pro Open in the USA in January - while Bogotá-based Samper, also 24, is celebrating his third Tour final and looking for his maiden win.
Pashley & Struthers Stride Into Saskatchewan Quarters
Qualifiers Josh Struthers and Tom Pashley powered through to the quarter-finals of the Saskatchewan Squash Open after causing significant seeding upsets in the PSA Tour event at Regina Court & Fitness Club in Regina, Canada.
Struthers set up an all-Canadian quarter when he beat compatriot Patrick Bedore, the No7 seed, 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 in 23 minutes. The 29-year-old from Winnipeg will now face Ian Power, the 30-year-old fourth seed from Montreal who also despatched a fellow Canadian with his 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 victory over Matthew Serediak, a local Saskatchewan player in his first year on the PSA Tour.
Tom Pashley gave himself a confidence booster ahead of his England selection for next month's European Junior Championships in Belgium with an 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 win over compatriot Neil Hitchens, the No8 seed.
The 18-year-old from Sussex will now face second seed Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira after the Mexican battled for 37 minutes to overcome Welsh qualifier Scott Fitzgerald 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-10 (6-4).
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Bernardo Samper (COL) v [5] Darren Lewis (ENG)
[3] Laurent Elriani (FRA) v [6] Rob Sutherland (WAL)
[4] Ian Power (CAN) v [Q] Josh Struthers (CAN)
[2] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) v [Q] Tom Pashley (ENG)
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