Samper Secures Semi-Final Slot In Sporta Open

Unseeded Colombian Bernardo Samper produced his second successive upset in the Internacional Sporta Open by beating fourth-seeded Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira in five games to reach the semi-finals of the $15,000 PSA Tour squash event in its second year at Sporta in Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala.

After despatching sixth seed Gilly Lane in the opening round, the New-York-based 26-year-old battled to a 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 victory over Baltazar Ferreira, the world No55 from Mexico City.

Samper, the world No 111 competing in his first Tour event since November, will now face a further Mexican Eric Galvez. The second seed from Puebla dismissed Brazilian Rafael F Alarcon 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6.

The other semi-final will also be a Colombian/Mexican encounter. Miguel Angel Rodriguez, from the Colombian capital Bogotá, ended the run of Mexican qualifier Erik Tepos Valtierra, winning 11-9, 13-15, 11-2, 11-5. The top seed will now meet Arturo Salazar, the twin brother of his first round victim Cesar Salazar.

Third seed Arturo Salazar concluded European interest in the Guatemala event when he beat France's Yann Perrin, the No7 seed, 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-2.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 11-9, 13-15, 11-2, 11-5
[3] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt [7] Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-2
Bernardo Samper (COL) bt [4] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8
[2] Eric Galvez (MEX) bt Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6