DailySquashReport.com

Mexicans Make Waves In Cartagena, Salazar Over Chris Gordon
by Howard Harding

8 September 2012 - Mexicans claimed three of the semi-final slots in the Grupo Maximo Cartagena Open after qualifier Alfredo Avila produced the biggest upset of the tournament when he toppled top seed Stephen Coppinger in the quarter-finals of the inaugural PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event at Cumplejo de Raquetas in the coastal city of Cartagena in Colombia.

In his second Tour meeting with world No24 Coppinger in ten days, Avila survived a first game tie-break, then recovered from losing the second game to beat the South African number one for the first time 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 in 75 minutes.

The 21-year-old from Mexico City, ranked 119 in the world, now goes on to face fellow countryman Arturo Salazar. After despatching third seed Shahier Razik in the opening round, Salazar continued his winning run against Canadians by beating Toronto's Dane Sharp 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6.

There was further Colombian success for the Salazar family when Arturo's twin brother Cesar Salazar also reserved a place in the last four after a 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 victory over US number two Christopher Gordon.

Fourth seed Salazar now takes on sole Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez, the No2 seed from Bogota who defeated Egypt's Andrew Wagih Shoukry 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 in 55 minutes.

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 Grupo Maximo Cartagena Open, Cartagena, Colombia

Quarter-finals:
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [1] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 (75m)
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6
[4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7
[2] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 (55m)

Semi-final line-up:
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[2] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [4] Cesar Salazar (MEX)