Mexicans Excel In Atlanta Open

Qualifier Cesar Salazar twice came from behind to upset eighth seed Rafael F Alarcon on the opening day of action in the Atlanta Open to ensure that the quarter-finals of the $10,000 PSA World Tour squash event at the Concourse Athletic Club in Atlanta, USA, will feature four Mexicans.

Cesar, 21, from San Luis Potosi, saved a match-ball in the fourth game before going on to beat experienced Brazilian Alarcon 5-11, 11-7, 4-11, 15-13, 11-5 to set up a quarter-final meeting with fellow Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira, the fourth seed.

It was a double Salazar success - as Cesar's twin brother Arturo Salazar also prevailed in a five-game marathon, overcoming Egypt's Amr Mansi 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7.

But, according to tournament promoter Andre Maur - celebrating his 10th staging of the event - the best game of the day was between Pakistan's former number 14 Shahid Zaman and Welshman Scott Fitzgerald. "It was a long battle for 60 minutes - and Shahid just squeezed through in the fifth," said Maur.

1st round:
[1] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Regardt Schonborn (RSA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-3
[7] Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt Scott Fitzgerald (WAL) 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6
[3] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Amr Mansi (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7
[6] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [Q] TG Raubenheimer (RSA) 11-4, 11-9, 11-5
[Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [8] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) 5-11, 11-7, 4-11, 15-13, 11-5
[4] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6
[5] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt [Q] Stuart Crawford (SCO) 10-12, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8
[2] Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 12-10, 11-7, 11-9