11 Aug, Final:

[1] Peter Barker (Eng) 3-1 [3] Omar Mosaad (Egy)
                 11/4, 11/4, 8/11, 11/3 (55m)

Barker bags fourth Bogota title
Juan Carlos Santacruz reports

The final between Barker and Mossad was vibrant, emotional and technical.

Barker took took the lead in the first game due to the continuous mistakes held by Mossad when on the contrary Barker played concentrated and firm.

It took only 12 minutes to finish the first game, and in the second game with anticipation and control Barker continued to force Mossad's mistakes.

Mossad began to generate rhythm in 1-7 but the English added points with his left hand cross courts to take the lead 2-0.

The audience was eager to see more squash in the third game so Mossad started to push with cross courts and precise drop shots.

Leading 8-6 Mossad seemed strong to close, yet Barker forced parity to 8-8 with his physical power.

A fantastic winning shot gave Mossad the lead to 9-8 and with his firm attack won the game.



In the final game Barker started with a lead of 5-0,Mossad began to pressure yet without control. Barker increased rhythm and added his fourth title in Bogota.

  

   12-10, 11-5, 11-4 (38m)

[4] Cameron Pilley

11/4, 11/4, 8/11, 11/3 (55m)

[3] Omar Mosaad

11-8, 11-7,11-5 (38m)

Miguel Angel Rodriguez

07-Aug, Qualifying Finals:

Cesar Salazar (Mex) 3-1 Shawn Delierre (Can)        12-10, 11-9,7-11, 12-10 (48m)
Leo Au (Hkg) 3-2 Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy)           8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8 (93m)
Alfredo Avila (Mex) 3-1 Henrik Mustonen (Fin)          10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (41m)
Max Lee (Hkg) 3-0 Chris Gordon (Usa)                              11-6, 12-10, 11-8 (39m)

06-Aug, Qualifying Round One:

Max Lee (Hkg)  bye
Chris Gordon (Usa) 3-1 Arturo Salazar (Mex)   4-11 ,12-10, 11-7, 11-6 (41m)
Cesar Salazar (Mex) 3-0 Juan Cardona (Col)             11-3, 11-9, 11-2 (18m)
Shawn Delierre (Can) 3-0 Andres de Frutos (Col)     16-14, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy) 3-0 Fernando Molina (Arg)      11-3, 11-5, 11-2 (19m)
Leo Au (Hkg) 3-0 Raphael Kandra (Ger)                    15-13, 11-6, 11-6 (41m)
Alfredo Avila (Mex) 3-0 Felipe Tovar (Col)                11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (21m)
Henrik Mustonen (Fin) 3-0 Jonathan Veloza (Col)      11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (33m)

Quarter-finals collage - all photos (60+)on Facebook

Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Alan Clyne
      13-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3 66m )

Imposing his stature and covering the court with agility the Australian Pilley played with patience and with a clear strategy filled with strong shots to the back and precise shots to the front of the court; it was his power to change the rhythm that won him the rallies.

In the first game Clyne took the lead 10-7, but Pilley recovered and forced the tie break which took 25 minutes yet he took the lead. Pilley played more secure in the second game and consolidated his advantage. In the third game Clyne attacked and won. In the final game Pilley won with successive rallies.

Very happy with my win today over Clyney. It was extremely tough conditions but I stuck in there well in the big points and managed to play my game for most of the match. The club here is amazing so a bit of hot-cold recovery and food and the body will be ready for the semi.

Cameron Pilley

Omar Mosaad bt Alfredo Avila
      11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6 (43m)

Avila seemed tired due to the wear out of the preliminary long matches in addition to the effort of the prior day against Richards. The Egyptian Mossad was solid and consistent; he imposed his rhythm and his size in the first two games.

In the third game, Avila was more precise in his drops and added points with his opponent’s unforced errors. In the fourth game Mossad constantly attacked and won the match.

I am really happy to win, actually Alfredo was so good today. I tried to keep focusing in my game because Alfredo is a very speedy guy and I tried to finish it in 3.0 but I couldn’t.

I am glad to won today. now I will try to relax for tomorrow and prepare myself for my match against Miguel . By the way I played him 4 years ago in Ecuador, he won but I will try to do my best inshallah.

Omar Mosaad

Miguel Rodriguez bt Ryan Cuskelly
        11-9, 4-11,11-5,11-3 (45m)

El colombiano Rodríguez encuentra en Bogotá un especial escenario para inspirarse en su squash, enfocarse en una estrategia de bolas profundas y fuertes cerca de la línea del out combinadas con certeros drops impulsados en los momentos más oportunos del rally.

Cuskelly amenazó constantemente con bolas ganadoras cruzadas de gran nivel, pero se encontró de manera permanente con la velocidad y dinámica de Rodríguez en el contra ataque. En el primero Cuskelly tuvo excelente control, para el drop impulsado por la mano izquierda, mientras Rodríguez lució inseguro al inicio, pero se enfocó, hizo los rallys largos, descontó y tras 18 minutos tomó la ventaja inicial.

Potentes anticipos le permitieron al australiano la igualdad parcial. Más profundo en el tercero, el colombiano volvió a tomar ventaja. Para el cuarto mantuvo el control el colombiano, atacó con precisión y frustró a Cuskelly.

I knew it was going to be tough match, Ryan has been improved a lot and I had to be ready for another battle. I had to play at my best in the fourth, picked up the pace a lot because did not wanna go to a 5th game.

Now am playing my first Semifinal in a 50 International, very proud of myself.

Miguel Angel Rodriguez

Peter Barker bt Mathieu Castagnet
       11-6,11-0,3-0 rtd (19m)

Both players had tough matches the day before winning 3-2, it was clear that the winner between Barker and Castagnet would be the one with the most capacity to recover. The English Barker identified with a classic game sent his shots consistently to the back in the first game.

In the following two games Castagnet felt his right leg spasm; as a result he decided to walk over.

Unfortunately Mathieu couldn’t recover from his tough match yesterday and retired in the third. I thought I started pretty well and will try and do the same tomorrow.

Tough conditions here but excellent tournament as always, all the players are being very well looked after.

Peter Barker

Frogs' Talk

Coucou Framboise,

Petit message de la Colombie.

J'ai abandonné contre Barker suite à une douleur importante au mollet. J'ai eu cette douleur à la suite du match contre Rosner aux World Games. Sur une action à l'avant du court, il m'a mis une béquille et je pense qu'avec l'altitude, je n'ai pas suffisamment guéri.

J'ai besoin de récupérer et de prendre quelques jours d'arrêts.
A bientôt
                                 

Draw & Results

The first round of the PSA $50k Colombian Open at the Club el Nogal in Bogota featured some lengthy matches and a pair of stunning upsets.

Local favourite Miguel Angel Rodriguez, always a handful but never more so than when at home, delighted the home crowd as he took out second seed Tarek Momen in four games. Rodriguez's next opponent is Australian Ryan Cuskelly.

Top seeded Peter Barker almost suffered a similar fate as he saw a two-game lead disappear against Marwan El Shorbagy, but the Englishman reasserted to squeeze home 11-9 in the fifth after 78 minutes. Barker now faces Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet, whose 3-2 win over qualifier Cesar Salazar was the longest of the day at 94m.

Mexican qualifier Alfredo Avila made sure that Barker was the only Englishman to progress as he pulled off a shock four-game win over Tom Richards to set up a meeting with Egyptian third seed Omar Mosaad.

Third seed Cameron Pilley beat Ong Beng Hee in three, and the Australian now meets tenacious Scotsman Alan Clyne who came from a game down to deny qualifier Leo Au.

Draw & Results

07-Aug, Qualifying Finals:
Hong Kong and Mexico share the spoils
 
Max Lee and Leo Au from Hong Kong, and Mexico's Cesar Salazar and Alfredo Avila won their qualifying finals at Bogota's Club El Nogal to claim places in the main draw.

Juan Carlos Santacruz reports

Cesar Salazar bt Shawn Delierre 12-10,11-9,7-11,12-10

With ease and playing to the back, waiting for the right moment to attack and with professional maturity the Mexican Salazar controlled the notable experience of the Canadian Delierre, who after being 0-2 tied the match. Delliere was 10-6 in the fourth game yet Salazar played his best shots. Both players were stars tonight and played an excellent match.

Leo Au bt Omar Abdel Aziz 8-11, 11-4, 12-10,9-11,11-8

With great mental strength Au imposed his game against the Egyptian Aziz in a vibrant match. With 93 minutes and a 3-2 match, the 29 years old Egyptian took the lead in the first game playing with precision in his attack, yet it was Au’ capacity to focus and in spite of his low height to play with physical strength and concentration. The 2-1 tie break seemed to summarize the end of the match but it ended with a 2-2 tie. It was another great match.

Alfredo Avila bt Henrik Mustonen 10-12,11-6,11-4,11-7

Precise and fast, the 22 years old Mexican managed to surprise the Finnish consistency. Mustonen couldn’t end the rallies in the right moment given the dynamic and administration the Mexican was imposing. It is by far one of the best moments of the Mexicans career.

Max Lee bt Chris Gordon 11-6,12-10,11-8 (39m)

It was a match filled with deep long rallies, yet it was Lee who changed the rhythm and attacked with precision. Gordons constant cross courts where his best shots, but weren’t enough against the player from Hong Kong. Excellent match from Lee.

06-Aug, Qualifying Round One:
Colombians fall in Bogota qualifying
Juan Carlos Santacruz reports

The Qualy finals are ready. The Colombian lost their opportunity while the Mexicans advanced to the final round. The best matches of the evening were Leo Au v Raphael Kandra and Chris Gordon v Arturo Salazar.

Leo Au bt Raphael Kandra 15-13, 11-6,11-6

The player from Hong Kong demonstrated the remarkable advance of squash in his country. Kandra played with a classic deep game but Au was more effective in the rallies.

Chris Gordon bt Arturo Salazar  4-11,12-10,11-7,11-6

It is clear that Gordon is in the best moment of his professional career. Both players had never played in a PSA, yet today the match was in favor of Salazar who played with strength and definition.

Alfredo Avila bt Felipe Tovar  11-3,11-8,11-7

The Mexican wore out the Colombian with his consistency and won the match in three straight games.

Henrik Mustonen bt Jonathan Veloza  11-6,11-3,11-9

The Finnish Mustonen showed his category and level against the Colombian who couldn’t find the way to defeat him in spite of his delivery in court.

Shawn Delierre bt Andres de Frutos  16-14, 11-6,11-8

The Canadian's experience was strong against the Colombian Junior in the opening match of the tournament. It was De Frutos best match in a PSA tournament.

Omar Abdel Aziz bt Fernando Molina 11-3,11-5,11-2

The Argentinean Molina gave it all against the Egyptian Azis yet couldn’t defeat his control and game.

Cesar Salazar bt Juan Cardona 11-3,11-9,11-2

The Mexican won in three straight games against the 20 years old Colombian, who played with motivation but without a winning offer.
 

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