Arturo Salazar Claims Quito Crown

Fifth seed Arturo Salazar celebrated his second successive win over a higher-seeded fellow Mexican in the final of the Ecuador Open to win the second PSA Tour title of his career in the $20,000 squash event at Quito Tenis Y Golf Club in the Ecuador capital Quito.

Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira, the fourth seed, took the opening game after a series of unforced errors by Salazar, 20, from San Luis Potosi.  The 25-year-old from Mexico City's advantage continued as he tightened up his shots in the second game and frustrated Salazar who couldn’t find a way to fight back.

However by the third game, Salazar began to gain confidence and played consistent shots that allowed him to win the game.

The younger Mexican was leading 4-1 in the fourth when Baltazar Ferreira twisted his ankle.  After an injury break, the fourth seed returned to the court and tried to play on - but, after a few further points, decided to give Salazar the match.

The 7-11, 4-11, 11-2, 8-1 (ret.) victory extends Salazar's 100% success rate in PSA Tour finals after also winning the first final he reached - the Saskatoon Boast Open in Canada exactly a year ago.

The defeat was a bitter blow to Baltazar Ferreira on the eve of his 26th birthday - and following his impressive success in last month's Hi-Tec World Open in England where he reached the second round as a qualifier.

Ecuador Open Reaches All-Mexican Final

Mexicans dominated the penultimate day of action in the Ecuador Open after Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira and Arturo Salazar upset higher-ranked opponents in the semi-finals of the $20,000 PSA Tour squash event at Quito Tenis Y Golf Club in the Ecuador capital Quito.

Both players were maintaining the superb form which saw them qualify for the Hi-Tec World Open in Manchester last month for the first time. Baltazar Ferreira caused the bigger upset by removing top-seeded Canadian Shahier Razik.

The 25-year-old from Mexico City romped to a two-game lead before Razik, the world No22 from Toronto, reduced the deficit by taking the third game.

But Baltazar Ferreira restored his advantage to close out the match 11-4, 11-2, 6-11, 11-6 in 39 minutes - and claim his 11th appearance in a PSA Tour final, and his third this year.

After claiming his first Tour win over national rival Eric Galvez - the Mexican number one and the event's second seed - in the quarters, fifth seed Arturo Salazar faced four-time US champion Julian Illingworth in the semi-finals.

After dropping the first two games, third seed Illingworth took control of the match to draw level.

But in the decider, 20-year-old Salazar was stronger and imposed his extraordinary speed in every rally - ultimately emerging the 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6 winner after 87 minutes.

Salazar, from San Luis Potosi, is celebrating his second Tour final appearance.

Salazars Sail Into Quito Quarters

Mexican twins Arturo Salazar and Cesar Salazar secured quarter-final berths in the Ecuador Open after contrasting first round wins in the $20,000 PSA Tour squash event at Quito Tenis Y Golf Club in the Ecuador capital Quito.

While fifth seed Arturo despatched Germany’s Jens Schoor in straight games to earn his anticipated place in the last eight, unseeded Cesar battled for four games to upset Canada’s sixth seed David Phillips 7-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-3 to take an unexpected place in the quarters.

Esteban Arroyo, who became the first Ecuador player in history to earn a place in the main draw of a PSA Tour event, was unable to match the skills of eighth seed Regardt Schonborn – and went down 11-3, 11-6, 11-2 to the South African in 29 minutes.