Mustonen Marches Through In Bogota
by Howard Harding
30 August 2012 - Finland's unseeded Henrik Mustonen recorded the best win of his career in the opening round of the Club El Nogal Bogota Colombian Open when he beat Egypt's second seed Hisham Mohd Ashour in straight games to claim an unexpected place in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event at Club El Nogal in the Colombia capital Bogota.
Fresh from his semi-final appearance in last week's Medellin Open in Colombia, the young Finn dazzled experienced Ashour, the 30-year-old world No15 from Cairo, winning 11-4, 11-6, 15-13 in just 28 minutes.
"The 21 years old Mustonen was more conditioned to the altitude after playing in Medellin (at 1,600 metres)," explained tournament spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz. "The Finn imposed the rhythm, played to the back and was precise in his attack to the front court, wearing out Ashour who suffered from the altitude. But in the final tie-break game, his physical strength wasn't enough."
The world No49 from Hollola now faces another higher-ranked Egyptian for a place in the last four. Mohd Ali Anwar Reda, the world No35, survived a 72-minute marathon against fellow countryman Andrew Wagih Shoukry, ultimately beating the Medellin runner-up 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10.
Medellin champion Miguel Angel Rodriguez again leads home interest in his hometown event - and did so with distinction by overcoming former Mexican number one Eric Galvez 12-10, 11-6, 11-8.
"The tie break of the first game was vital in deciding the outcome of the match," said Santacruz.
Colombian number one Rodriguez, the event champion in 2008 and 2010, now takes on title-holder Mohamed El Shorbagy, the top seed from Egypt.
The world No8 "showed in three games that he is back in Bogota to repeat his title," said Santacruz. El Shorbagy brushed aside Mexican qualifier Arturo Salazar 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 in 26 minutes.
The jubilant 21-year-old tweeted shortly afterwards: "Won in 3...Felt good on court..It was my 1st match since May..Was so excited to play that I didn't even want to rest in between games.
RESULTS: PSA International 35 Club El Nogal Bogota Colombian Open, Bogota, Colombia
1st round:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (26m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Eric Galvez (MEX) 12-10, 11-6, 11-8 (42m)
[Q] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-5 (42m)
[4] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-4, 11-1, 3-11, 11-5 (47m)
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5 (39m)
Martin Knight (NZL) bt Andres Felipe de Frutos (COL) 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 (21m)
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10 (72m)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt [2] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-4, 11-6, 15-13 (28m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[4] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Q] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG)
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Martin Knight (NZL)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) v Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
Back To Main
