Alarcon Wins Brazilian Battle In Sao Paulo

Six-times national champion Rafael F Alarcon survived an all-Brazilian battle against Ronivaldo Santos, also a former Brazilian champion - beating the eighth seed 11-4, 11-7, 11-10 (2-0) in the quarter-finals of the Companion Challenge Cup in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The 28-year-old second seed from Sao Paulo now meets Brazil-based Canadian Sabir Butt in a repeat of the Verao Open semi-final they played last month en-route to Alarcon's victory in the PSA Tour event in Santos.

Egypt's Tarek Momen eliminated further local interest in the event when he beat qualifier Luciano Alves Barbosa 3-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8.

The 18-year-old No6 seed from Cairo will now face top seed Jean-Michel Arcucci in the other semi-final after the Frenchman beat Argentina's Roberto Pezzota 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8

Quarter-finals:
[1] Jean-Michel Arcucci (FRA) bt [7] Roberto Pezzota (ARG) 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Luciano Alves Barbosa (BRA) 3-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
[3] Sabir Butt (CAN) bt [5] Tony James (AUS) 11-8, 11-10 (2-0), 11-8
[2] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt [8] Ronivaldo Santos (BRA) 11-4, 11-7, 11-10 (2-0)