Miguel Angel Rodriguez beat Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira in the final of the XI Abierto Colombian Open to become the first home winner of his country's national open squash title.

It was a double celebration for the 22-year-old from Bogotá - already the highest-ranked Colombian of all-time - whose ninth PSA Tour title success at the Club El Nogal in his hometown was also his biggest, his first 3-star $30,000 Tour trophy.

The second seed reached the final after surviving a marathon 99-minute semi-final against Arturo Salazar, the No7 seed from Mexico.  But unseeded Baltazar Ferreira strung together three successive upsets over high-ranked players to reach the Bogotá climax - including the scalp of top-seeded Englishman Adrian Grant in the quarter-finals.

But in the final, urged on by a packed partisan crowd at Club El Nogal, Rodriguez romped to an 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 victory over the Mexican in 48 minutes.

"The end came with the applause of close to 500 spectators, that gave their love to this exceptional athlete, that gave them back, to the audience and his club, a PSA title, that barely five years ago was a dream that seemed unreachable," commented event spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz.

Baltazar Ferreira Reaches Final In Bogotá

Colombia's second seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez will lead local interest in the final of the XI Abierto Colombian Open as expected - but his surprise opponent in the climax of the $30,000 PSA Tour squash event will be Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira after the unseeded Mexican staged his third upset in a row at Club El Nogal in the country's capital Bogotá.

Baltazar Ferreira, the world No76 from Mexico City, caused the event's biggest upset in the quarter-finals with a straight games defeat of England's top seed Adrian Grant, ranked 14 in the world. 

In the semis, the 25-year-old battled for 84 minutes to earn his first Tour win over Eric Galvez, beating his third-seeded fellow countryman 11-8, 3-11, 11-9, 14-12. 

After losing the first game, world No36 Galvez changed his tactics in the second to draw level.  But a series of unforced errors by the higher-ranked Mexican in the next two games led Baltazar to secure a place in his ninth PSA Tour final.

The other semi was also a marathon affair, in which Rodriguez twice had to come from behind before beating surprise opponent Arturo Salazar, the No7 seed from Mexico.

Indeed the third game alone lasted 44 minutes.  "It featured a vibrating tie break that seemed eternal at times," commented event spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz.  "Just when all the public thought the game was going to be won by the Colombian, the Mexican displayed his utmost level and courage to win the game!"

But 22-year-old Rodriguez struck back to take the next two games to claim his dramatic 9-11, 11-0, 16-18, 11-5, 11-4 victory after 99 minutes - to earn a place in the 16th Tour final of his career, and a second time in the Bogotá event's final in three years.

Baltazar Ferreira Battles Through In Bogotá

Unseeded Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira produced the only upset on the opening day of the XI Abierto Colombian Open when he defeated fifth seed Rafael F Alarcon to reach the quarter-finals of the $30,000 PSA Tour squash event at Club El Nogal in Bogotá, Colombia.

Baltazar Ferreira, a 25-year-old from Mexico City, despatched the Brazilian 13-11, 11-9, 11-3 in 47 minutes to set up a meeting with top seed Adrian Grant.  Englishman Grant recovered from a game down to beat Canadian qualifier Andrew McDonald 10-12, 11-6, 11-2, 11-2.

Mexico's Salazar twins had mixed fortunes in Bogotá:  Arturo Salazar, the No7 seed, defeated local player Mauricio Salinas 11-9, 11-5, 11-2 in just 22 minutes, while Cesar Salazar - who, unlike his 20-year-old brother, had to qualify - faced experienced third-seeded compatriot Eric Galvez for the third time on the PSA Tour in the last 12 months.

In an emotive game and widely-disputed match, Galvez always imposed his rhythm.  Salazar only threatened his supremacy in the final game, where he showed his constant improvement and talent - but it Galvez again that prevailed, winning 11-5, 11-7, 13-11 in 47 minutes.