Rodriguez Stops Avila In Cartagena Final
Colombian squash star Miguel Angel Rodriguez brought Alfredo
Avila's giant-killing run in the Grupo Maximo Cartagena Open
to an end when he beat the Mexican qualifier in straight games in the
final of the inaugural PSA World Tour Challenger 15 event at
Cumplejo de Raquetas in Colombia's coastal city of Cartagena.
Avila,
a 21-year-old from Mexico City ranked outside the world top 100, had
reached the biggest PSA Tour final of his career after a succession of
upsets - none more notable than his four-game victory over top-seeded
South African Stephen Coppinger.
"The
first game of the final was super exciting with tremendous rallies,"
said tournament promoter Maxim P Weithers. "But not just long,
lots of variety, change of angles, pace and direction. Incredible gets
from both players lasted 17 minutes.
"By
the second game, we could see a sudden drop in energy from Avila as he
was punished 11-2 in only six minutes. And, with the final game only
taking a mere five minutes, it was obvious Avila had felt the effect of
the week in the tropical paradise of Cartagena de Indies."
Colombian number one Rodriguez's 11-8, 11-2, 11-2 in 37 minutes marks
his second Tour title in his third successive final on home soil in two
weeks. But the triumph also notches up the 20th Tour title of his
career.
"I am
very pleased, satisfied for my results in the Colombian tour," said the
26-year-old local hero later. "I had an amazing three weeks - not only
squash but great experience and activities with the players who decided
to come over and enjoy our friendly and happy country. All the matches I
played were a challenge for me during the weeks and now I am looking
forward to the upcoming events!
"The
Cartagena Open, the last one on the tour, provided great hospitality for
us, considering that the city is one of the busiest cities in Colombia.
Sun, beach and squash are the perfect complements!
"I am
happy to win the first PSA event in Cartagena and thank all the
organizers and specially Maxim Weithers for putting all his
effort to bring us this beautiful tournament."
Weithers also expressed his thanks: "As the main sponsor and promoter we
also wish to express our thanks to the PSA office and staff for
assembling such a great group of professionals - each one very happy to
be here.
"Also,
as it's our first PSA event, we look forward to the event growing in
leaps and bounds for next year. For a city like Cartagena, it's so
important to let people know how beautiful it really is and what a
special romantic and exciting place it can be.
"Thanks for helping us put Cartagena, Colombia, on the World Squash
map!"
Qualifier Avila Makes Cartagena Climax
Mexican qualifier Alfredo Avila reached the biggest PSA World
Tour final of his career at the Grupo Maximo Cartagena Open
in Colombia after surviving a five-game marathon against higher-ranked
compatriot Arturo Salazar in the inaugural PSA Challenger 15
squash event at Cumplejo de Raquetas in the coastal city of
Cartagena.
The
21-year-old from Mexico City had already produced the shock of the
tournament by ousting top-seeded South African Stephen Coppinger
in the previous round.
And in
the semi-finals, Avila twice came from behind to level the match against
Salazar before the world No66 from San Luis Potosi was forced to retire
injured after just a single point in the decider.
The
8-11, 11-6, 11-13, 13-11, 1-0 (ret.) win after 104 minutes takes Avila
into the fifth PSA World Tour final of his life, and his second this
year.
There
was a Salazar retirement in the other semi where Arturo's twin brother
Cesar Salazar, the No4 seed, was forced to concede the match
after just a single game to local hero Miguel Angel Rodriguez,
the second seed from Bogota, as the result of a knee injury.
Colombian number one Rodriguez is celebrating his third Tour final on
home soil in two weeks - and the 28th of his illustrious career.
Mexicans Make Waves In Cartagena
Mexicans claimed three of the semi-final slots in the Grupo Maximo
Cartagena Open after qualifier Alfredo Avila produced the
biggest upset of the tournament when he toppled top seed Stephen
Coppinger in the quarter-finals of the inaugural PSA World Tour
Challenger 15 squash event at Cumplejo de Raquetas in the
coastal city of Cartagena in Colombia.
In his
second Tour meeting with world No24 Coppinger in ten days, Avila
survived a first game tie-break, then recovered from losing the second
game to beat the South African number one for the first time 12-10,
8-11, 11-7, 11-3 in 75 minutes.
The
21-year-old from Mexico City, ranked 119 in the world, now goes on to
face fellow countryman Arturo Salazar. After despatching third
seed Shahier Razik in the opening round, Salazar continued his
winning run against Canadians by beating Toronto's Dane Sharp
7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6.
There
was further Colombian success for the Salazar family when Arturo's twin
brother Cesar Salazar also reserved a place in the last four
after a 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 victory over US number two Christopher
Gordon.
Fourth
seed Salazar now takes on sole Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez,
the No2 seed from Bogota who defeated Egypt's Andrew Wagih Shoukry
12-10, 11-7, 11-9 in 55 minutes.
Salazars Strike In Cartagena Open
Mexico's Salazar twins both claimed places in the quarter-finals of the
Grupo Maximo Cartagena Open after unseeded Arturo Salazar
pulled off a major shock by upsetting third-seeded Canadian Shahier
Razik in the opening round of the inaugural PSA World Tour
Challenger 15 squash event at Cumplejo de Raquetas in the
coastal city of Cartagena in Colombia.
It was
the pair's fifth Tour meeting since January 2008 - and 24-year-old
Salazar, ranked 66 in the world, celebrated his first ever win over
Razik by beating the world No27 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8 in 48 minutes.
Whilst
the lower-ranked of the pair early in their careers, Cesar Salazar
recently overtook his twin brother Arturo in the PSA world rankings -
and arrived in Cartagena as the event's fourth seed. The San Luis Potosi
squash star faced qualifier Erik Tepos Valtierra - but dismissed
his fellow countryman 11-9, 11-6, 11-4, also in 48 minutes.
Arturo
goes on to meet another Canadian Dane Sharp. The 27-year-old from
Toronto survived a tight game against Gonzalo Miranda, eventually
beating the qualifier from Argentina 12-10, 12-10, 11-9 in 55 minutes.
"It
was a closely contested match from beginning to end - which could have
gone either way," said tournament promoter Maxim P Weithers.
"Miranda actually had game balls in both the first and second games, but
was unable to convert. Sharp seemed to be able to keep his composure a
lot better in the critical points and found the mental edge in the
latter part of each game."
Cesar
takes on North American hope Christopher Gordon, the US number
two who beat local player Omar Garcia 11-3, 11-6, 11-4.
"What
an experience for local wildcard Omar from Cartagena to play with the
USA top player Chris Gordon," added Weithers. "The crowd favourite had
his opportunities and I am sure was a learning experience for him."
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