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XIV Colombian Open 2011
30 Sep - 05 Aug, Bogota, $20k |
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04-Sep, Final:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy
bt [2] Laurens Jan Anjema
7-11, 11-7, 11-8,
2-11, 17-15 (77m)
Shorbagy takes a thriller in Bogota
Juan Carlos Santacruz reports
From power to power the two finalists fought to finally give the
title of the XIV version of the Colombian Squash Open to the
Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy after a five game final with a tie
break in the last game.
A technical, deep and highly disputed match filled with winning
shots and followed with the behavior of gentlemen and courtesy; the
title was given to the Egyptian who showed his enormous capacity to
achieve a winning attitude on court.
The first game was for the Dutchman with El Shorbagy adapting and
trying to define a winner proposition, to the point that he
generated six unforced errors. For the second game the Egyptian was
more precise, took control of the attacking position and with left
hand drops tied the match to 1-1.
The third game was for El Shorbagy, who with the profound conviction
of his winning shots to the Dutch’s left hand took advantage. When
the match was 7-7 both players played such a long and disputed rally
that it finished with a hug of congratulations to the Egyptian who
after at least 30 shots won the point.
The fourth game was filled with contrast. El Shorbagy seemed
unfocused at the beginning and with unforced errors allowed the
Dutch to win.
The final game was highly emotional. The Dutch, who conquered the
public, entered the match cheered by the crowd and the game was
exciting. Winning shots and unforced errors committed by both
players looking for precision.
El Shorbagy needed four balls to finish the game in his favour, but
Laurens managed to keep the match tight and force a tie break that
seemed to last forever.
Great match, great level, great champion.
 "What
can I say after this brutal match ... this is the second long match
in the 5th I won this year ...
[our info said 15-13 but we trust Mohamed's memory!]
I came into this match and I know he had an advantage over me that
he trained in the high altitude this summer so I needed to play
clever squash to overcome that. First game he was just too good for
me. When it came to 1/1 and 8/8 we were both absolutely dead at that
time and I knew this game would make a lot of difference so I gave
it a big push ...
And the fourth I didn't try, I just thought I would take the risk
and save my energy for the fifth ... this is actually the first time
I let a game go but I guess that's what the altitude can do to you.
The fifth we both just gave it all and when I was 9/5 down I just
didn't want to give up, I wanted to win so badly so I gave a huge
push. I kept telling myself I need only six points and I can do it.
He had only one match point at 15/13 and I had all the rest, but
every time I was match point up he hit a stunning winner ... until
at 16/15 I hit that cross court which hit the nick at the back - I
think that's the only way I could win!
He is such a great guy and such a great player. That was our first
meeting but I'm sure we are going to have a lot of more hard
matches. The way he takes the loss, only champions can take it that
way...
"I loved the place here it was just amazing and it was such a great
experience to play in the high altitude ... AND NOW I NEED TO BE
BACK HOME AND SLEEP IN MY OWN BED!!!
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"Losing a final so close in the fifth
is painful. It hurts a lot. But at the same time I cannot be that
frustrated because I feel I put in a good performance and I hit a
bit of bad luck in the end.
"This invisible coin in life sometimes falls your way and sometimes
the other way. Today it fell was Shorbagy's way.
"We played hard and fair and although I lost today, I enjoy playing
well".
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  XIV
Colombian Open 2011
30 Aug - 04 Sep, $35k |
Round One
01 Sep |
Quarters
02 Sep |
Semis
03 Sep |
Final
04 Sep |
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy)
12-10, 11-4, 11-8 (40m)
Arturo Salazar (Mex) |
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy
3-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 (50m)
Max Lee |
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy
11-7, 4-11, 12-10, 12-10 (53m)
[3] Alister Walker |
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy
7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 2-11, 17-15 (77m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema |
Max Lee (Hkg)
11-9,16-14,12-10(56m)
[Q] Eric Galvez (Mex) |
Martin Knight (Nzl)
12-10,6-11,11-9,11-1 (69m)
[Q] Matthew Karwalski (Aus) |
Martin Knight
11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10(54m)
[3] Alister Walker |
Andres de Frutos (Col)
11-3,11-3,11-7 (22m)
[3] Alister Walker (Bot) |
[4] Miguel Angel Rodrigues (Col)
11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 11-2 (56m)
Cesar Salazar (Mex) |
[4] Miguel Angel Rodrigues
11-7, 10-12, 6-11, 11-2, 11-6 (67m)
Rafael Alarcon |
[4] Miguel Angel Rodrigues
11-3, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (57m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema |
Rafael Alarcon (Bra)
11-7,11-4,11-4 (22m)
[Q] Gonzalo Miranda (Arg) |
Henrik Mustonen (Fin)
14-12, 11-3, 11-9 (39m)
Erik Tepoz (Mex) |
Henrik Mustonen
12-10,11-0,11-4 (28m
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema |
Jan Koukal (Cze)
11-2, 7-11, 11-3, 11-3 (47m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) |
31-Aug, Qualifying Finals:
Eric Galvez (MexX) bt Jorge
Gutierrez (Arg)
11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (46m)
Erik Tepoz (Mex) bt Jonathan Veloza (Col)
11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (26m)
Gonzalo Miranda (Arg) bt Javier Castilla (Col)
11-8, 1-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-8 (61m)
Matthew Karwalski (Aus) bt Jonathan Ramos (Mex)
5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (42m)30 Aug, Qualifying Round One:
Erik Tepoz (MEX) bt Manuel Caro (COL) 11-5, 11-5,11-5
(21m )
Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-8, 11-8,
11-7 (24m)
Jonathan Veloza (COL) bt Francis Zemanate (Col)
11-5,9-11,11-9,11-1 (32m)
Javier Castilla (COL) bt Andrés González (COL) 11-7,
11-8, 11-3 (35m)
Jorge Gutiérrez (ARG) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL)
12-10,9-10,11-7,11-8 (39m)
Jonathan Ramos (MEX) bt Esteban Casarino (PAR)
11-4,11-9,4-11,11-6 (38m)
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) -Rodrigo Torres (COL)
11-5,11-3,11-4 (19m)
Eric Gálvez (MEX) bt Dane Sharp (CAN)
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03-Sep, Semis:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy) bt [3] Alister Walker (Bot)
11-7,
4-11, 12-10, 12-10 (53m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt [4] Miguel Rodrigues (Col)
11-3,
4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (57m)
Top seeds in Bogota final
based on reports from Juan Carlos Santacruz
As per the seedings, Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy and
Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema will play the final of the
Colombian Open after defeating Bostwanian Alister Walker and
Colombian Miguel Rodriguez in the semi-finals. Both matches
displayed great level and cheered the public of Court No.6 of El
Nogal Club in Bogota. The final tomorrow will be an excellent match
between the No.9 and 12 of the world
Shorbagy imposed an exceptional game against Walker. The Egyptian
started the first game by studying his opponent; he was precise in
his attacks and took the lead 11/7. For the second game, Walker was
faster and attacked with strength; it was a game of high physical
standard with highly disputed shots that wore out the Egyptian,
Walker won 11/4.
The 1-1 parity seemed to give the match a new direction.
Nonetheless, two successive tie break wins demonstrated the enormous
concentration by the Egyptian in the crucial moments.
The two final games were tied with attacking shots from Walker with
drops and tight lengths that pressured the Egyptian. The pressure
passed on from one player to another and at some moments each was
forced into errors. In the fourth game the advantage was for Walker
and he was cheered by the public who wanted a fifth game. Yet, once
again in the crucial moments El Shorbagy played beautifully.
The Egyptian passed to the final and Walker’s heart won over the
public.
 "I
am really happy to win… its my first time playing Alister…
"I think we both played well, it was a good fair match ... today is
finally my first day that I felt fine on court so I am happy about
that...
"Tomorrow is the last day of the tournament and there are two things
I hate in this sport which is losing after being 2-0 up and losing
in a final…so I know I am going to be giving it my all tomorrow as I
am sure LJ will as well ..."
 Dutchman
Anjema's fluency neutralized the Colombian favourite Miguel Angel
Rodrigues' tactics of playing long rallies at the beginning, but
Anjema imposed speed and started to finish rallies with drops and
cross court nicks that gave him the victory. The Colombian was firm
with his best shots, avoided unforced errors, but the winning shots
by the Dutch made the difference.
Anjema attacked in the precise moments, covered all the court to
neutralize his opponents skills and a played with millimetre
precision. This was the portrait of the first game, long and deep
with constant boasts where the Dutch won 11/3.
For the second game Rodriguez changed the rhythm by imposing speed,
attacking with firmness and tied the match to one-all, 11/4.
The third game was tight until 7-7 when Anjema played winning shots
and took the advantage of 2-1, 11/8. For the final game the fatigue
of both players was evident, but the Dutch managed to put the
Colombian in a defensive position all the time and eventually gave
in to the solid Dutch who won the match, taking the fourth 11/7.
 "I
am very proud of myself, I did not expect the result due to the
injury I had , on the other hand of course I wanted to do great at
home with my home crowd, Laurens was very patient and I think we
really played a great squash today.
"It is a good start of the season and looking forward to next
upcoming tournaments."
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"The first tournament of the season is always tricky!
"However I can’t be upset with how I played but perhaps somewhat
frustrated with opportunities missed in the 3rd and 4th games today.
I could have had either and maybe ought to have.
"Mohammed played more consistently than in his previous round with
fewer errors and came up with some big shot at 10 all in both of the
last to games.
"It was a good game and I enjoyed playing. The Columbian crowd got
very involved which made for an exciting event with a promising
final tomorrow.
"I am sure I’ll be back playing this event in the future."
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Top seeds through to
semis
in Bogota
Based on reports by Juan Carlos Santacruz
 The
quarter-finals of the Colombian Open at Club el Nogal saw he top
four seeds progress to the semi-finals, but not without drama.
Second seed Laurens Jan Anjema was the only one of the four
to progress in straight games as the Dutch champion beat Henrik
Mustonen 12/10, 11/0, 11/4 with the young Finn unable to match LJ's
exceptional movement and stunning precision as he hit the nick,
particularly on the left-hand side of the court, with regularity.
 Anjema
is now a firm candidate for the title, but will have to get past
Colombia's own Miguel Angel Rodrigues in the semis.
Rodrigues played out a sensational match with Brazilian Rafael
Alarcon, which ebbed back and forwards between the two. Rodrigues
took the first easily but Alarcon stormed back to take a 2-1 lead,
gaining in confidence. The Colombian champion changed his tactics at
the start of the fourth, lengthening the rallies before adding
attack to his resolute defence as he took the final two games to
reach yet another Colombian Open semi-final, with a 11-7, 10-12,
6-11, 11-2, 11-6 scoreline.
 Third
seed Alister Walker made continuous unforced errors at the
start of his match with Kiwi Martin Knight, but the Botswanan made
huge efforts to adjust his game to win 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10,
finishing with an immense rally which Walker closed out with a
volley nick to seal his place in the semi-finals.
Top seed Mohamed El Shorbagy was, in his own words, "the
luckiest person ever to win a match like that," as he got past Hong
Kong's Max Lee by the narrowest of margins, losing the first and
then coming from behind in each of the next three games to clinch an
unlikely-looking win.
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Round One
in Bogota
Alister Walker, the former Englishman making his first PSA
appearance for his country of birth Botswana, cast aside Colombian
teenager Andres Felipe de Frutos to reach the quarter-finals of the
Colombian Open at Club El Nogal in Bogota.
 Wildcard
player De Frutos was making his PSA debut - and, aged just 17, was
the youngest player ever to compete in the long-established
Colombian Open.
But third seed Walker, the former England international now flying
the flag for Botswana, needed just 22 minutes to overcome the rising
Colombian star 11-3, 11-3, 11-7.
New York-based Walker, ranked 21 in the world, will now face Martin
Knight for a place in the semi-finals. Knight, the world No46 from
New Zealand, battled for 69 minutes to overcome Australian qualifier
Matthew Karwalski 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, 11-1.
Miguel Angel Rodriguez led local interest into the last eight after
beating Mexican Cesar Salazar 11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 11-2 in 56 minutes.
The No4 seed from Bogota, returning from the injury which ruled him
out of last week's world team championship in Germany, will now line
up against Rafael Alarcon.
 The
top-ranked Brazilian brushed aside Gonzalo Miranda, a qualifier from
Argentina, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 in 22 minutes.
Top seeds Mohamed El Shorbagy and Laurens Jan Anjema secured their
quarter-final berths in contrasting styles. Egyptian El Shorbagy,
the 20-year-old event favourite, defeated Mexican Arturo Salazar
12-10, 11-4, 11-8, while second-seeded Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema
needed four games to see off Czech champion Jan Koukal 11-2, 7-11,
11-3, 11-3.
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The best will meet in Bogota
Preview from Juan Carlos Santacruz
With four top 20 players and the presence of top 100 players in the
main and qualifying draws, Bogota will experience the best PSA
tournament in Colombian Open history as the tournament comes to its
XIV version.
The entry list contains eight No.1 players in their countries.
Holland’s No.1 Laurens Jan Anjema (PSA No.15), Bostwana’s
No.1 Alister Walker (PSA No.1), Colombia’s No.1 Miguel
Angel Rodriguez (PSA No.26), Mexico’s No.1 Arturo Salazar
(PSA No.43), New Zealand’s No.1 Martin Knight (PSA No.48),
Czech Republic No.1 Jan Koukal, Brazil’s No.1 Rafael
Alarcon (PSA No.57), and Hong Kong No.1 Max Lee (PSA No.
63).
More than 50 players tried entering the tournament, but only 12
entered the main draw with additional 12 for the qualy draw. The
remaining spots in the qualy draw were left for 4 local players that
will have to win the pre-qualy draw in the Colombian Squash Open
2011.
An unforgettable week for world squash in El Nogal Club in Bogota.
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