Home hope Alejandro Enriquez is through to the semi-finals of the 1st Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament, joining three of the top four seeds in the last four of the competition.
Enriquez was one of three Guatemalans in action in the last eight of the competition, and came up against compatriot Ricardo Toscano for a place in the semi-finals.
He won the first game 15-13, in a game which saw both players give up game balls, before seeing his fellow countryman battle back to take the second and tie the match at 1-1. However, Enriquez was able to wrestle back the momentum and go on to win the next two games to book his place in the semi-finals.
He will face No.2 seed Ronald Palomino in the last four, after the Colombian came through another tense five-game battle, his second in as many days. Palomino got the better of the other Guatemalan left in the event, Josue Enriquez, with his victory including a lengthy second game tie-break, one he won 16-14. He eventually won out in just over an hour to book his place in the last four.
The other semi-final in Guatemala will be between Mexico’s Alfredo Avila, the tournament’s top seed, and No.4 seed Tom Walsh, the Englishman who won in Florida last week. Avila got the better of Diego Gobbi in straight games to advance, while the Englishman defeated Paraguayn No.1 Francesco Marcantonio 3-1 to make his way into the last four.
The semi-finals of the Challenger 5 level tournament will take place at the Asociación Deportiva Nacional de Squash on Saturday, February 26.
Quarter Final Results: 1st Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [8] Diego Gobbi (BRA) 3-0: 11-1, 11-6, 13-11 (32m)
[4] Tom Walsh (ENG) bt Francesco Marcantonio (PAR) 3-1: 11-9, 12-14, 11-9, 11-6 (52m)
Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) bt Ricardo Toscano (GUA) 3-1: 15-13, 9-11, 11-4, 11-1 (46m)
[2] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt Josue Enriquez (GUA) 3-2: 6-11, 16-14, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5 (61m)
Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, February 25
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) v [4] Tom Walsh (ENG)
Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) v [2] Ronald Palomino (COL)