South Americans Prosper In Ecuador Open

There will be five South Americans in the quarter-finals of the Ecuador Open after Colombian Bernardo Samper, Argentinean Leandro Romiglio and local hope Mateo Guarderas prevailed against expectations in the opening round of the $21,500 PSA Tour squash event at Quito Tenis Y Golf Club in the Ecuador capital Quito.

Wildcard Mateo Guarderas became the luckiest quarter-finalist when top seed Borja Golan failed to recover from the knee injury sustained in last week's Colombian Open final.

"Golan felt his knee was still very unstable, and despite the effort he put in to play he didn't feel confident to continue," explained tournament spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz. "To the audience's dismay, he decided to retire."

Quito-based Guarderas, ranked 399 in the world, will face Leandro Romiglio after the Argentinean became "the grand revelation of the Ecuador Squash Open" by beating sixth-seeded Welshman Rob Sutherland 11-5, 11-7, 4-1 (ret.) in just 21 minutes.

"A surprised Sutherland ran out of air and couldn't find his game," said Santacruz.

Unseeded Colombian Bernardo Samper scored a notable scalp when he beat fifth seed Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan, twice stemming fight-backs by the Malaysian before clinching his 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-9 in 49 minutes after six match-balls.

Bogota-born Samper, now based in New York, will be joined by fellow countryman Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the last eight. In an emotive hour-long match, second seed Rodriguez beat Mexican opponent Cesar Salazar 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6.

Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira successfully began his bid to make the final for the second year in a row after beating fellow countryman Miled Zarazua, a qualifier, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9.

The 26-year-old from Mexico City will now meet Robin Clarke, the only North American in the draw. Clarke, the No8 seed from Ottawa in Canada, took just 21 minutes to despatch US-based South African Regardt Schonborn 11-2, 11-3, 11-7.

1st round:
Mateo Guarderas (ECU) bt [1] Borja Golan (ESP) w/o
[Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [6] Rob Sutherland (WAL) 11-5, 11-7, 4-1 ret. (21m)
[4] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [Q] Miled Zarazua (MEX) 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 (24m)
[8] Robin Clarke (CAN) bt Regardt Schonborn (RSA) 11-2, 11-3, 11-7 (21m)
Bernardo Samper (COL) bt [5] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-9 (49m)
[3] Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [Q] Rodrigo Torres (COL) 11-6, 11-1, 11-9 (24m)
[7] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt [Q] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (26m)
[2] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6 (49m)