Ecuador Open Reaches All-Mexican Final

Mexicans dominated the penultimate day of action in the Ecuador Open after Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira and Arturo Salazar upset higher-ranked opponents in the semi-finals of the $20,000 PSA Tour squash event at Quito Tenis Y Golf Club in the Ecuador capital Quito.

Both players were maintaining the superb form which saw them qualify for the Hi-Tec World Open in Manchester last month for the first time. Baltazar Ferreira caused the bigger upset by removing top-seeded Canadian Shahier Razik.

The 25-year-old from Mexico City romped to a two-game lead before Razik, the world No22 from Toronto, reduced the deficit by taking the third game.

But Baltazar Ferreira restored his advantage to close out the match 11-4, 11-2, 6-11, 11-6 in 39 minutes - and claim his 11th appearance in a PSA Tour final, and his third this year.

After claiming his first Tour win over national rival Eric Galvez - the Mexican number one and the event's second seed - in the quarters, fifth seed Arturo Salazar faced four-time US champion Julian Illingworth in the semi-finals.

After dropping the first two games, third seed Illingworth took control of the match to draw level.

But in the decider, 20-year-old Salazar was stronger and imposed his extraordinary speed in every rally - ultimately emerging the 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6 winner after 87 minutes.

Salazar, from San Luis Potosi, is celebrating his second Tour final appearance.

Semi-finals:
[4] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [1] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-4, 11-2, 6-11, 11-6 (39m)
[5] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt [3] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6 (87m)