04-Sep-04:

Final:
[2] Liam Kenny (IRL) bt [3] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA)
      11/5, 8/11, 11/3, 11/4 (61m)

Kenny Captures Brasilia Open Crown
Murilo Mori reports from Brasilia

Ireland's Liam Kenny disappointed local crowds at the Brasilia Open when he beat Brazilian number Rafael F Alarcon in the final to lift the new PSA Tour event title in the country's capital city.

It was the second time in a week that an Irishman had upset the chances of a Brazilian victory - after Cornelius Horan invaded the men's marathon in Athens and prevented Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima from winning a possible gold medal.

Kenny dominated the match from the beginning, appearing to be in better physical condition that his opponent after Alarcon's marathon upset over top-seeded Australian Glenn Keenan in the previous round. The former Irish national champion dominated the 'T' and pushed the Brazilian star to all the corners of the court.

After a faultless first game, Kenny took a 1/0 lead - but, in the second, Alarcon fought back to draw level.

The 26-year-old Irishman struck back in the third and, despite vociferous support from the crowd for the local hero, Kenny cruised to a 2/1 lead. Alarcon seemed determined to turn the match in the fourth game in a bid to maintain his unbeaten PSA record in Brasilia. He led 4-3, but Kenny came back with perfect tactics and discipline to win eight points in a row to close the game and the match 11-5 8-11 11-3 11-4 in 61 minutes.

The victory marked Kenny's first PSA Tour win in South America, but the seventh of his career.
 

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Rafael Alarcon

11/5, 8/11, 11/3, 11/4 (61m)
 

Liam Kenny

Liam Kenny

Qualifying:
Luciano Barbosa (BRA) BYE
Rogério Silvestre (BRA) bt André Sá (BRA) 11/8, 5/11, 11/4, 11/5 (40 m)
Vinícius Costa (BRA) bt Renato Neto (BRA) 10/11(0-2), 11/2, 11/4, 11/4 (37 m)
Bruno Bolzan (BRA) be Marcelo Isaías (BRA) 11/9, 10/11(1-3) 11/8 11/9 (47m)

Pre-qualifying finals:
Rogério Silvestre (GO) bt Guilherme Castro (GO) 15/9 15/7 15/3
Renato Neto (GO) bt André Moura (DF) 15/11 12/15 15/12 2/15 15/9
André Sá (DF) bt Marco Demartini (DF) 15/10 15/10 15/7

03-Sep-04:
Alarcon Advances
to Brasilia Final
Murilo Mori reports from Brasilia

After a thrilling and incredible 108 minutes of high quality squash, local hero Rafael Alarcon gained his revenge against Glenn Kennan, after losing to the Australian in the final of the MAA Invitational in Montreal last year.

Supported by a huge and noisy crowd, Rafael started well, controlled the game and won the first 11/9. Keenan recovered and took the second 11/8, by which time the match had already lasted 45 minutes.

Both players seemed tired and a mental battle started, with both players push the referee seeking easy points as they worked to open an advantage. A Keenan tin gave the third game to Alarcon, 11/9.

In the fourth game Rafael tried to extend every rally, betting on his good shape and the Brazilian heat - he has never lost a match playing on the professional circuit in Brasília. But Keenan could stay with the pace and held on to a small lead to close the game 11/9.

On final point of that game there was an accidental collision, and although Keenan won the game but he left court complaining of a leg injury. He took a medical time-out before starting the fifth game. But after the second rally he started to limp and clearly couldn't move well. Alarcon received 4 stroke calls in a row, but Keenan would not surrender and still to fought until the end.

The Brazilian crowd recognized his effort, acclaiming both players at the end of and an amazing 108-minute victory for Rafael by 11/3 in the fifth.

In the other semi-final match Brazilian qualifier Vinícius Costa played well to take a game from second seed Liam Kenny, but, employing a series of exceptional nickshots and dropshots, the consistent Kenny was in control throughout the remainder of the match.

The seed number 2 seed  advances to final and he looks in great shape, but the Irishman will need more to beat Rafael and the noisy Brazilian supporters.

02-Sep-04:
Vini and Rafael in Brasilia Semis
Hosts Brasil will have a representative in each of the semi-finals of the Brasilia Open.

Brazilian number one Rafael Alarcon survived a close encounter with Argentina's Jorge Gutierrez, the Pan American Champion, to set up a meeting with top seed Glenn Keenan, while Brazil's top junior, 'Vini' Costa, continued his fine run and meets second seed Liam Kenny in the other half of the draw.

Classic South American Clash
in prospect in Brasilia

Murilo Mori reports from Brasilia

With the last-minute withdrawal of the two Pakistani players Wakeem Khan and Waseem Shad, two more Brazilians made the draw as 'Lucky Losers', leading to a series of 'David v Goliath' encounters ... tonight all won by Goliath! All the matches were 3/0, with only two extending past half an hour.

Young Brazilian Vinícius Costa ("Vini"), the 3 times brazilian junior national champion and current brazilian number 5 caused the only upset, beating England's fourth seed Duncan Walsh. The power and youth of Vini was just too much for Walsh to handle, with the ball hot and bouncy in the 27° Brazilian winter.

The quarter-finals will see a classic encounter between Brazil and Argentina, with Brazilian number one Rafael Alarcon facing Argentinain number one and three-times Panamerican Champion Jorge Gutierrez. Only one can survive ...

 alanbrz@yahoo.com