Arturo Salazar Makes Berkshire Semis

Mexico's fifth seed Arturo Salazar secured a surprise place in the semi-finals of the Berkshire Open after beating South African Regardt Schonborn in the quarter-finals of the $20,000 PSA World Tour squash event in its fifth year at Williams College in Williamstown in the USA.

Unseeded Schonborn made his breakthrough in the first round when he upset Egypt's fourth seed Omar Abdel Aziz in a 70-minute marathon.

But the 21-year-old from San Luis Potosi's superior quickness gave Salazar the edge over the South African as he clinched the match 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9 in exactly one hour.

Twin brother Cesar Salazar pushed US number one Julian Illingworth all the way in another quarter-final at Williams College. The third seed from New York ultimately won 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3.

"Cesar is truly one of the up-and-coming young players on the tour," said a relieved Illingworth afterwards.

Illingworth, 25, will now face top seed Omar Mosaad for a place in the final after the Egyptian beat England's No7 seed Robbie Temple 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9.

Mosaad was severely tested by the crafty left-hander from London, and was forced to draw on all of his skills to get through in a match that saw incredible pace and a lot of jockeying for court position and the referee's favour on numerous let calls.
There was English success, however, for Jonathan Kemp after the second seed from Halifax in Yorkshire beat Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira 11-7, 11-2, 11-5.

Left-hander Kemp made short work of his Mexican opponent, thoroughly outclassing the sixth seed with a dazzling variety of drops and drives in the shortest match of the evening in Williamstown.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [7] Robbie Temple (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (66m)
[3] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3
[5] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Regardt Schonborn (RSA) 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9 (60m)
[2] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt [6] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 (24m)