"I am very pleased, satisfied for my results in the Colombian tour. I had an amazing 3 weeks," said Miguel Angel Rodriguez, the 26-year-old local hero (photo: Steve Cubbins, SquashSite) Colombian squash star Miguel Angel Rodriguez brought Alfredo Avila’s giant-killing run in the Cartagena Open to an end when he beat the Mexican qualifier in straight games in the final 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 4-game victory over top-seeded South African Stephen Coppinger.
Colombian No1 Rodriguez’s 11-8, 11-2, 11-2 in 37 minutes marks his 2nd Tour title in his 3rd successive final on home soil in 2 weeks and the 20th Tour title of his career.
Final:
[2] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-8, 11-2, 11-2 (37m)
Semi-finals:
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 8-11, 11-6, 11-13, 13-11, 1-0 ret. (104m)
[2] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-7 ret.
Quarter-finals:
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [1] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 (75m)
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6
[4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7
[2] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 (55m)
1st round:
[1] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (44m)
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 (34m)
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt [Q] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 12-10, 12-10, 11-9 (55m)
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt [3] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8 (48m)
[4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [Q] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (48m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Omar Garcia (COL) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (18m)
Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [Q] Johan Bouquet (FRA) 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 (43m)
[2] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Peter Creed (WAL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (26m)
Qualifying finals:
Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Josh Cardwell (AUS) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (40m)
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Hernan D’Arcangelo (ARG) 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4 (50m)
Johan Bouquet (FRA) bt Thomas Brinkman (CAN) 11-3, 5-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-2 (57m)
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt Anderson Cardona (COL) 11-3, 12-10, 11-3 (38m)
1st qualifying round:
Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bye
Josh Cardwell (AUS) bt Santiago Torres (COL) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (24m)
Hernan D’Arcangelo (ARG) bt Andres Gonzalez (COL) w/o
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Carlos Congote (COL) 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (11m)
Thomas Brinkman (CAN) bt Deison Ramirez (COL) 11-2, 11-7, 11-5 (14m)
Johan Bouquet (FRA) bt Armando Olguin (MEX) 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 (29m)
Anderson Cardona (COL) bt Fernando Lopez (MEX) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (46m)
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bye
