Rodriguez Celebrates Historic Colombian Open Success

In an outstanding performance at the Club El Nogal in Bogotá, fifth seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez upset the event favourite in the semi-finals of the IX Abierto Colombian Open to become the first Colombian in history to reach the country's national open event final.

"This is for sure an historic episode, taking into account that two years ago a Colombian player could only enter the main draw by receiving the wild card!" said tournament organiser Juan Carlos Santacruz.

Rodriguez, the No6 seed whose previous best effort in the event was a quarter-final appearance last year, recovered from a game down to beat top-seeded Canadian Graham Ryding 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8.

The 20-year-old from Bogotá is ranked 55 in the world, while Ryding boasts a top twenty ranking.

Rodriguez, now in his seventh PSA final, will meet defending champion Peter Barker, the No2 seed, in the climax of the 2-star PSA Tour event.

Barker, the 22-year-old England international from Essex, brushed aside Mexico's fifth seed Eric Galvez 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 to reach his tenth PSA final.

Semi-finals:
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [1] Graham Ryding (CAN) 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [5] Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3