Peruvian Elias Powers To Historic Tour Title from PSA Media June 1, 2014
- Teenager Diego Elias beat local hope Leandro Romiglio in the final of
the Regatas Resistencia Open - Tour de las Americas 2014 in Argentina
to become the first player from Peru to win a PSA World Tour squash
title. Wild card Elias, a
17-year-old from Lima ranked 130 in the world, made his breakthrough in
the quarter-finals of the PSA Challenger 10 event at Club Regatas
Resistencia where he overhauled Andrew Wagih Shoukry, the top seed from
Egypt ranked more than 60 places higher. Elias then beat Argentina's Hernan D'Arcangelo to reach his second Tour final in the month. But his opponent was
making his Tour final debut – as a qualifier! It was in the
semi-finals that Romiglio, a 23-year-old from Mar Del Plata, upset
second-seeded fellow countryman Gonzalo Miranda in straight games to
achieve his breakthrough. But Peruvian star
Elias (pictured below) was determined to go one better than his final
appearance earlier in the month in the USA – and despatched Romiglio
11-3, 11-2, 11-8 in 30 minutes to take the title. "It's very exciting to
win my first PSA event, here in South America," said the jubilant Elias
later. "During the match I felt very strong and confident. "Before the final I
was nervous because I played a final two weeks ago and I didn't go into
it as confident as I should have done. "I was nervous again
on match ball and now I'm very proud and very thankful to all the
people that helped me get to this point - especially my dad and coach
Jose Manuel Elias." Romiglio was generous
in his post-final comments: "I'm happy because, despite not
playing since last December due to an injury, I got to play the final,"
said the Argentinean. "I congratulate Diego his dad and his team for the good job and I'm sure this is the first of many to come." RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Regatas Resistencia Open, Resistencia, Argentina 1st round: [1] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [Q] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (35m) [WC] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Micah Franklin (BER) 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 (19m) [6] Robert Downer (ENG) bt Jonas Daehler (SUI) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (33m) Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) bt [3] Lewis Walters (ENG) 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 (42m) [Q] Rodrigo Pezzota (ARG) bt [4] Alex Ingham (ENG) 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 13-11 (62m) [Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [5] Michael McCue (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (35m) Manoel Pereira (BRA) bt [7] Vinicius Rodrigues (BRA) 3-11, 11-7, 4-3 ret. (26m) [2] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt [Q] Federico Cioffi (ARG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (33m) Quarter-finals: [WC] Diego Elias (PER) bt [1] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 12-10, 11-5, 12-10 (50m) Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) bt [6] Robert Downer (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 (34m) [Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [Q] Rodrigo Pezzota (ARG) 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (71m) [2] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Manoel Pereira (BRA) 11-2, 11-8, 11-7 (47m) Semi-finals: [WC] Diego Elias (PER) bt Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) 11-5, 11-5, 12-10 (36m) [Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [2] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (47m) Final: [WC] Diego Elias (PER) bt [Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 (30m)
