Rafael Romps Into Ecuador Open Final

Brazilian outsider Rafael F Alarcon stunned the crowds at the Quito Tenis Y Golf Club when he secured his second successive straight-game upset in the Ecuador Open to reach the final of the $21,500 PSA Tour squash event in the Ecuador capital Quito.

The 32-year-old from Sao Paulo ousted second-seeded Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez 11-5, 16-14, 11-8 in the quarter-finals in his first Tour victory over his South American rival in more than three years.

But there was no stopping the No7 seed in the semis when he faced third seed Eric Galvez - and denied the event an all-Mexican final by despatching the world No41, ranked 23 places higher, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in 38 minutes.

Alarcon is rediscovering the form which saw him reach a career-high 36 in December 2006. The world No64 is celebrating the 19th Tour final of his career - and looking for his third title triumph this year.

His opponent in the final will be Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira, the fourth seed from Mexico City who ended Leandro Romiglio's run in just 22 minutes, beating the Argentina qualifier 11-3, 11-8, 11-4.

It marked the end of a fine run by Romiglio, an 18-year-old from Mar Del Plata in only his fourth appearance in a PSA Tour event.

But it takes Baltazar Ferreira into the Quito final for the second year in a row - and moves the 28-year-old into the 13th Tour final of his career.

Semi-finals:
[4] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 11-3, 11-8, 11-4 (22m)
[7] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt [3] Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (38m)