Coppinger Coasts Into Sporta Semis

Second-seeded South African Stephen Coppinger scored his second successive straight games win in the VI Torneo Internacional PSA Sporta to secure a semi-final berth in the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at Sporta in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The 28-year-old world No18 from Cape Town despatched Mexican qualifier Erik Tepos Valtierra 11-8, 11-5, 11-1 and will now face a further Mexican Cesar Salazar for a place in the final.

It was 12 months ago that Cesar defeated Arturo Salazar in the event's final to end his twin brother's two-year reign as Sporta champion!

Cruelly, the pair met again in this year's first round, with unseeded Cesar winning in three games to earn a quarter-final clash with fellow non-seed Eddie Charlton.

The 25-year-old Mexican had to recover from 2/1 down to topple the Englishman 10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-1, 11-2 to set up his meeting with Coppinger.

Top seed Laurens Jan Anjema was also taken the full distance by Campbell Grayson before beating the New Zealander 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 1-11, 11-6 in the top half of the draw.

The Dutchman ranked 17 in the world will now face third seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez following the Colombian's 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 defeat of US champion Christopher Gordon.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)