DailySquashReport.com

Rafa On Course In Dourados
by Howard Harding

2 June 2012 - Top-ranked Brazilian Rafael Alarcon extended home interest in the Cerdil Open into the semi-finals when he beat Argentinean Hernan D'Arcangelo in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its third year at the Shopping Avenida Center in Dourados.

Third seed Alarcon, the world No79 from Sao Paulo, fought back from a game down to beat D'Arcangelo 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5.

The 35-year-old Brazilian now faces Andrew Wagih Shoukry for a place in the final. The No2 seed from Egypt took just 25 minutes to see off Frenchman Fabien Verseille 11-5, 11-9, 11-1.

Unseeded New Zealander Evan Williams maintained his fine form in the event by overcoming Argentina's Gonzalo Miranda 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4 in a 75-minutes marathon.

The 22-year-old from Wellington, ranked outside the world top 120, will now face top seed Jan Koukal. The Czech world No50, bidding for a place in the final for the third year in a row, prevailed 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 in 70 minutes over France's Joan Lezaud.

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Cerdil Open, Dourados, Brazil

Quarter-finals:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Joan Lezaud (FRA) 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 (70m)
Evan Williams (NZL) bt Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4 (75m)
[3] Rafael Alarcon (BRA) bt Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (32m)
[2] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt Fabien Verseille (FRA) 11-5, 11-9, 11-1 (25m)

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) v Evan Williams (NZL)
[2] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) v [3] Rafael Alarcon (BRA)