Cesar Salazar Battles To Bogota Quarter-Finals

Cesar Salazar became the only qualifier to progress beyond the first round of the XII Abierto Colombian Open when he upset fellow Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira, the No8 seed, in the $30,000 PSA Tour squash championship in its fifth successive year at Club El Nogal in the Colombia capital Bogota.

The 21-year-old from San Luis Potosi, ranked 81 in the world, fought back from two games down to beat last year's runner-up, the world No47, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 in 68 minutes.

Salazar will now face biggest match of his career when he takes on top seed David Palmer, the former world number one and world champion from Australia who is making his debut in the event.

Palmer, ranked six in the world, took just 17 minutes to despatch Mexican qualifier Erik Tepos Valtierra - ranked more than 150 places lower in the PSA list - 11-4, 11-3, 11-4.

Salazar will be joined in the last eight by his twin brother Arturo Salazar, the No7 seed who beat US opponent Gilly Lane 11-6, 11-8, 11-4.

Arturo - in the opposite half of the draw from his sibling - will now line up against Spaniard Borja Golan, the second seed who ousted Colombian wildcard Arturo Jaramillo 11-6, 11-4, 11-2.

Fifth seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez successfully began the defence of his title with an 11-3, 11-9, 11-3 victory over Irishman Liam Kenny. The Colombian number one now looks forward to a clash with third seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar, the Malaysian making his first appearance in the event since 2002.

Iskandar defeated Brazilian qualifier Rafael F Alarcon 11-5, 14-12, 11-9.

1st round:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt [Q] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 11-4, 11-3, 11-4 (17m)
[Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [8] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (68m)
[4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Rob Sutherland (WAL) 11-8, 13-11, 11-6 (31m)
[6] Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [Q] Robin Clarke (CAN) 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 (32m)
[5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-3, 11-9, 11-3 (25m)
[3] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [Q] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) 11-5, 14-12, 11-9 (39m)
[7] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Gilly Lane (USA) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (19m)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Arturo Jaramillo (COL) 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (19m)