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Brazil Open
2004
30-03
Oct, Goiania-Goias, Brazil, $10k |
03-Oct, Final:
[1] Borja Golan (Esp) bt
[2] Bradley Ball (Eng)
11/10(2-0), 11/10(2-0), 11/8 (54m)
Golan Retains Brazilian Crown
Murilo Mori reports from Brasil
The
21 year old Spaniard from Santiago de Compostela, Borja Golan,
won his second Brazilian Title in a row, beating Englishman Bradley
Ball in straight games in a 54-minute final.
The match started equal, with players studying each other. The early
rallies were long, and most ended in calls. After a couple nick shots
Ball opened a 6/4 lead, but Golan tied it 8/8 and then the players
traded points until Ball reached gameball at 10/9. Golan saved it, and
after a mistake by Ball closed the game 12/10.
In the second game Ball started better again, opening an 8/4 lead and
looking likely to level the match, but after three tin shots in a row
by Ball, Golan survived and came back to life. Ball stayed just ahead,
reaching game ball 10/9 once again.
At that point the crowd were treated to the best rally of the whole
tournament. After a long rally and incredible powershots by Ball and
Golan's amazing defence, Ball played an almost perfect dropshot to
close the game - I say almost because while Ball turned back to
celebrate the victory, Golan made an amazing dive to save the ball and
tie the game to Ball's surprise. People were going crazy after that
play which received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Golan took confidence from it and won the next couple points to close
the game in 12/10 and take a 2-0 lead.
The third game began like the first with the powerful nickshots by
Ball, who asked the crowd for applause and the people obeyed
immediately. Once again Ball had an early advantage at 5/3, but was
now looking more tired than Golan, who looked as if he could play for
another 3 hours.
Golan won four straight points to take the lead in 7/5, after that,
players changed points until Golan reached the matchball at 10/8.
After a great cross-court Golan won the game in 11/8 and the match 3/0
to retain his Brazilian Crown to the delight of the Brazilian Crowd!
A great final for a great tournament. Borja promises to be back next
year and players from all the world are invited to came here and try
take the crown from Spanish hands.
Cheers from Brasil and see you next year ...
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Photos bt
Murilo Mori
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Brazil Open 2004 |
1st Round
Thu
30th |
Quarters
Fri
1st |
Semis
Sat
2nd |
Final
Sun
3rd |
[1] Borja
Golan (Esp)
11/5, 11/4, 11/6 (32m)
[Q] Ahmed M Assann (Egy) |
Borja
Golan
11/7, 11/6, 9/11, 11/8 (62m)
Rafael Alarcon |
Borja
Golan
7/11, 11/4, 11/6, 11/6 (53m)
Stephane Galifi |
Borja
Golan 11/10(2-0),
11/10(2-0), 11/8 (54m)
Bradley Ball |
[5]
Rafael Alarcon (Bra)
11/4, 11/3, 11/4 (21m)
[LL] Saverio Christovam (Bra) |
[3]
Stephane Galifi (Fra)
11/6, 11/1, 11/4, (19m)
[Q] Rogério Silvestre (Bra) |
Stephane Galifi
11/6, 11/3, 11/6 (27m)
Niall Rooney |
[7] Jago
Nardelli (Eng)
11/8, 11/5, 9/11, 11/5 (40m)
[Q] Niall Rooney (Irl) |
Fabian
Kalaitzis (Gre)
11/5, 11/5, 2/0 rtd (17m)
[6] David Phillips (Can) |
Fabian
Kalaitzis
11/9, 11/6, 11/5 (32m)
Christopher Gordon |
Christopher Gordon
11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (38m)
Bradley Ball |
Christopher Gordon (Usa)
11/7, 11/4, 11/9 (25m)
[4] Dylan Bennett (Ned) |
[Q] Jorge
Gutierrez (Arg)
8/11, 11/10(2-0), 4/11, 11/2, 11/7 (46m)
[8] Ashley Flathers (Eng) |
Jorge Gutierrez
11/7, 11/5, 11/7 (40m)
Bradley Ball |
Sabir Butt
(Can)
7/11, 11/4, 11/5, 11/7 (56m)
[2] Bradley Ball (Eng) |
Qualifying:
Finals:
Ahmed M. Assann bt Savério Christovam 11/4, 11/3, 11/1
Niall Rooney vs Bertrand Tissot 11/8, 6/11, 11/8, 11/5
Jorge Gutierrez bt Bruno Bolzan 8/11, 11/7,
11/10(2-0), 11/8
Rogério Silvestre bt
Mohamed Elkeiy 11/8, 7/11, 11/9, 11/6
Round One:
Ahmed M. Assaan (EGY) bt Júlio Caseiro (BRA) 3/0
Savério Christovam (BRA) bt Rodrigo Silvestre (BRA) 3/1
Niall Rooney (IRL) bt Marcos Santana (BRA) 3/0
Bertrand Tissot (FRA) bt Renato Neto (BRA) 3/0
Jorge Gutierrez (ARG) bt Guilherme Castro (BRA) 3/1
Bruno Bolzan (BRA) bt André Moura (BRA) 3/1
Rogério Silvestre (BRA) bt Tiago Cabral (BRA) 3/1
Mohamed Elkeiy (EGY)bt Antonio Jose Christovam Jr. (BRA) 3/0
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Reports |
02-Oct, Semis:
Top Two in Brazilian Final
Murilo Mori reports from
Brasil
[1] Borja
Golan (Esp) bt [3]
Stephane Galifi (Fra)
7/11, 11/4, 11/6, 11/6 (53m)
[2] Bradley Ball (Eng) bt Christopher Gordon (Usa)
11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (38m)
Borja Battles Past Galifi
After 53 minutes of physical and verbal battle, top seed Borja
Golan beat France's in-form Stephane Galifi in 4 games to
reach his second successive Brazilian Open final.
Galifi started the better, and controlled the first game, making no
errors and displaying incredible retrieving to frustrate the Spaniard.
After another mistake from Golan, Galifi took the first 11/7.
But in the second game Galifi probably paid the price for his early
success. After three tournaments in a row with excellent results, the
Frenchman looked tired. In the second game Golan opened a 6/3 lead, at
which point Galifi seemed to give up on the game and stopped running
as Golan took it 11/4. In the 3rd game Galifi started in front 4/2,
but began to stop the rallies many times asking for lets and
complaining to the referee about Golan's shots. Almost every rally
ended in a call. Galifi used his Gallic charm while complaining,
bringing smiles from audience while Golan seemed upset with the
Frenchman's jokes. On some occasions the players were arguing on court
and the referee needed to enter the court to stop the conversation.
After another few calls the crowd started to support Golan, who showed
that he wanted to play. Golan maintained his concentration, and was in
better physical shape as he won the third 11/6. In fourth game Galifi
came back more serious, showing he intended to recover the match. The
game was a close until 5/5. After that, Galifi again made several
complaints to the referee, stopping the game and receiving his first
warning. At that moment he looked beaten and Golan won 5 points in a
row to reach matchball, and in the end victory 11/6.
Ball Stops Gordon's Run
In the other semi-final, Bradley Ball lived up to his second
seeding, beating the US teen sensation Chris Gordon in straight
games after 38 minutes. Ball had the control of the match and denied
Gordon any chances to win. Gordon won some great rallies and put
pressure on Ball at times, but the experienced Englishman kept his
consistency to win the games. Ball took the first 11/6 and the second
11/8.
In the third game Gordon went for 'all or nothing' and almost took the
game, but after being tied at 9 all, Ball played an amazing
cross-court return of serve directly into nick to reach the match
ball. One more power shot from Ball closed out the game 11/9 and the
match.
For the final the crowd can expect to see the consistency and power of
Ball against the smooth and quick movement of Golan. The deserved
final for both players!
01-Oct, Quarters:
New Year ... Same Story
Murilo Mori reports from
Brasil
Just as he did last year, Spaniard Borja Golan defeated Brazil's
Rafael Alarcon in the quarter-finals to end hopes of a home victory.
Last year Golan went on to take the title and shows every sign of
doing so again.
In a great match in front of a full crowd at the Flamboyant Mall,
Golan showed his best squash and fitness. Rafael fought hard and
made a brilliant game of it, but in the decisive moments the
Spaniard showed why he is number 35 in the world.
Golan took the first game 11/6, and the second 11/7, finishing the
game on an incredible shot - a tiny boast from Rafael looked to be a
winner but Borja dived dramatically to reach the ball and put it
into the nick. The Brazilian crowd, noisy in their support for their
local hero, this time roared their appreciation of the Spaniard's
skills.
At the start of the third Golan made several unforced errors as the
noisy crowd got behind Alarcon. At 9/4 some were starting to
celebrate, but a series of amazing drop shots from Golan brought the
score back to 9/10 before a perfect cross-court from Alarcon won the
game.
The fourth game was close, points traded up to 6-all, but in a tense
finish with many lets Golan recovered his best form to take the game
11/8, and the match, to the disappointment of the home crowd.
Golan now faces Frenchman Stephane Galifi who scored a comfortable
win over qualifier Niall Rooney.
Second seed Bradley Ball also won 3/0, against Argentinian Jorge
Gutierriez, and meets the USA's teenage sensation Christopher Gordon
who beat Greek champion Fabian Kalaitzis in straight games.
For the semi-finals we expect a great battle between Golan and the
in-form Galifi, while Gordon must fight hard to beat the consistent
Ball.
Seeds Tumble In
First Round
The first round of main draw action saw half of the seeds depart as
the Brazilian Open got under way on the glass court in Goiania's
shopping mall.
Defending champion and top seed Borja Golan moved into the
quarters where he will meet nome-town favourite Rafael Alarcon,
the only Brazilian left in the draw, both beating Brazilian qualifiers
in double-quick time.
France's third seed Stephane Galifi, looking to reach his
fourth successive PSA final, took just 19 minutes to dispose of
Brazilian qualifier Rogério Silvestre and faces another qualifier,
Irishman Niall Rooney, in the quarters.
In the bottom half England's Bradley Ball is the only remaining
seed. Ball struggled in the early stages of his match against 4-time
Canadian champion Sabir Butt, but recovered, mixing long rallies with
excellent kill-shots, to take the match in four games. Ball now meets
Argentina's Pan-Am champion Jorge Gutierrez who beat eighth
seed Ashley Flathers in the longest match of the day at 46 minutes.
Fourth and sixth seeds Dylan Bennett and David Phillips also fell,
Phillips retiring injured against Greece's Fabian Kalaitzis
while Bennett, the dutchman just out of junior ranks, lost in straight
games to his American counterpart Chris Gordon.
Golan
Goes for Brazilian Double
Sapin's Borja Golan will be aiming to retain his Brazilian Open
title as the 2004 event gets under way on the glass court in
Goiania-Goias's Flamboyante shopping centre.
In a multi-national field, England's
Bradley Ball, Netherland's Dylan Bennett and Frenchman
Stephane Galifi, who has
made three PSA finals in the last two months, will be Golan's main
threats.
At fifth seed Brazil's top player Rafael Alarcon will enjoy
local support and the advantage of playing in his home town.
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alanbrz@yahoo.com
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