Galvez Foils Farhan In Saskatoon Upset
by Howard Harding

23 November 2013 - Unseeded Mexican Eric Galvez claimed his first appearance in the semi-finals of the Prairie Auto Haus Saskatoon Boast Open since winning the title in 2006 after producing the only upset in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event celebrating its 12th successive year at the Saskatoon YMCA in Saskatoon, Canada.

Ranked 76 in the world, 30-year-old Galvez despatched Pakistan's No 3 seed Farhan Zaman - ranked 12 places higher - 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 in 49 minutes.

The former world No 33 from Puebla will now face second seed Martin Knight. But the world No 50 from New Zealand had to call upon all his experience to overcome unseeded Canadian Andrew Schnell - fighting back from two games down to beat the 22-year-old world No 93 from Calgary 5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 in 84 minutes.

"Schnell dominated Knight to go up 7-1, two games up in the third," reported tournament promoter Brad Birnie. "An incredible, error-free comeback by Knight to win game three turned the match around. Schnell wasn't done, however, as they battled closely in the fourth and fifth. Great, close, late-night squash!"

Fellow Canadian pro David Letourneau tweeted later: "Best I've seen @a_schnell91 play!"

But there will be Canadian interest in the other semi-final where Toronto's Dane Sharp will take on top seed Karim Ali Fathi.

Fourth seed Sharp was taken the full distance before overcoming unseeded Englishman Michael Harris 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-1 in an 86-minute marathon.

Egyptian Ali Fathi, the 20-year-old world No 41, put paid to an all-Canadian semi when he despatched Toronto-based Matthew Serediak 11-1, 11-4, 11-6.

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Prairie Auto Haus Saskatoon Boast Open, Saskatoon, Canada

Quarter-finals:
[1] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 11-1, 11-4, 11-6 (33m)
[4] Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Michael Harris (ENG) 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-1 (86m)
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [3] Farhan Zaman (PAK) 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 (49m)
[2] Martin Knight (NZL) bt Andrew Schnell (CAN) 5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (84m)

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) v [4] Dane Sharp (CAN)
[2] Martin Knight (NZL) v Eric Galvez (MEX)