RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Tour de las Americas
Paraguay Open,
Asuncion, Paraguay
Haycocks Prevails In Paraguay
Almost seven years after first joining the PSA
World Tour, England's Jaymie Haycocks secured his
maiden title after beating Argentina's Robertino Pezzota
in the final of the Tour de las Americas Paraguay Open,
the long-established PSA Challenger 5 squash event at
Club Internacional de Tenis in the Paraguay capital
Asuncion.
Second seed Haycocks reached the final without
dropping a game. Awaiting the 29-year-old from Birmingham was
giant-killer Pezzota, a 30-year-old qualifier ranked outside the
world top 200 who had had upset both top seed Jan Koukal
and third-seeded compatriot Gonzalo Miranda to reach the
final - his third on the PSA Tour.
Both finalists were after a winner's podium
finish for the first time in their careers - and the clash duly
went the full distance, with underdog Pezzota recovering from a
game down to take a 2/1 lead.
But a determined Haycocks, now boasting a
career-high world No71 ranking, reclaimed the momentum to close
out the match 11-9, 10-12, 12-14, 11-5, 11-6 after 101 minutes
to get his hands on the trophy.
"I'm delighted to win my first Tour title," said
the Shrewsbury-born champion. "It's been a great week here in
Asuncion.
"I'd like to say a few thanks, firstly to Esteban
(Casarino) for putting on a great event; 'the uncle' for his
hospitality; and the Paraguayan national coach Luke
Butterworth for his tournament advice. I'd also like to
thank my coach Robert Owen (a finalist in the 1988
championship) who is well remembered here in Paraguay; and
finally my sponsors, Aston & Fincher, Sutton Squash Club, Harrow
& Ashaway."
1st round:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [WC] Leandro Romiglio
(ARG) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (21m)
[Q] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt Joe Chapman (IVB)
11-4, 11-8, 11-8 (29m) Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) bt Fernando Lopez (MEX)
11-8, 10-12, 3-11, 11-9, 11-2 (61m)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt [Q] Rodrigo Pezzota
(ARG) 11-9, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5 (65m)
[4] Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) bt [Q] Nicolas Caballero
(PAR) 10-12, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (51m) Michael McCue (CAN) bt Jonathan Geekie (SCO) 11-4,
11-6, 11-8 (36m) Matthew Serediak (CAN) bt Benjamin Fischer (SUI)
10-12, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (37m)
[2] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt [Q] Diego Elias (PER)
11-8, 11-4, 11-3 (32m)
Quarter-finals:
[Q] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt [1] Jan Koukal
(CZE) 11-3, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9 (67m)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Juan Pablo Roude
(ARG) 11-4, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3 (46m)
[4] Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) bt Michael McCue
(CAN) 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (61m)
[2] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt Matthew Serediak
(CAN) 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (26m)