Colombian Open Revenge For Rodriguez
by Howard Harding

9 August 2013 - Colombian squash star Miguel Angel Rodriguez thrilled the crowd at Club El Nogal in his home city of Bogota when he pulled off the biggest upset in the Abierto Colombiano de Squash Club El Nogal by beating defending champion and No2 seed Tarek Momen in the first round of the long-established PSA World Tour International 50 event to avenge his defeat in last year's final.

It was the highlight of the evening for the packed crowd, eager to see their hero who is the second highest-ranked player of all-time in South America - and keen to become the highest - and who arrived in Bogota after claiming an unexpected bronze medal in last week's World Games in the Colombian city of Cali.

Last year, again unseeded, Rodriguez battled through to the final only to lose in four games to rising Egyptian Momen in the pair's first meeting. But this time the Colombian (pictured above, left, in action with Momen) was in charge, taking just 39 minutes to earn his revenge in an 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5 victory over the world No10 from Cairo.

Rodriguez, now ranked 19 in the world, will next face fellow non-seed Ryan Cuskelly, the world No27 from Australia who despatched Hong Kong qualifier Max Lee 11-7, 2-11, 11-8, 11-8.

There was a further shock earlier in the day when young Mexican qualifier Alfredo Avila recorded one of the best wins of his career when he beat England's Tom Richards 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6. It was a disappointing outcome for world No17 Richards who is making his Tour comeback after a four-month layoff while recovering from a hamstring injury.

Avila, the 22-year-old world No64 from Mexico City and now the lowest-ranked player in the last eight, will face Omar Mosaad, the No3 seed from Egypt who had a straightforward 11-3, 11-7, 11-5 win over local wildcard Nicolas Valderrama.

Egypt's former world junior champion Marwan Elshorbagy took top seed Peter Barker the full distance before bowing out after 78 minutes. The 20-year-old from Alexandria recovered from 2/0 down and led 9-6 in the decider - but experienced Englishman Barker, the world No7 from London looking for a fourth Colombian Open crown, reclaimed the upper hand to win 11-7, 11-5, 11-13, 11-13, 11-9.

RESULTS: PSA International 50 Club El Nogal Colombian Open, Bogota, Colombia

1st round:
[1] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-13, 11-13, 11-9 (78m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 8-11, 12-10, 11-4, 4-11, 11-7 (94m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [Q] Leo Au (HKG) 5-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-8 (40m)
[4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-2 (30m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [WC] Nicolas Valderrama (COL) 11-3, 11-7, 11-5 (26m)
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6 (41m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [Q] Max Lee (HKG) 11-7, 2-11, 11-8, 11-8 (41m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [2] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5 (39m)

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Peter Barker (ENG) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)