Elias Title Defence Successfully Underway In Motor City USA

Fresh from last week's success at the Tournament of Champions in New York, Peruvian Diego Elias successfully began the defence of his Sturbridge Capital Motor City Open title in Michigan, USA.

The world No.4 looked in trouble when Egypt's Mohamed Abouelghar - who beat defending Motor City Open champion Elias in the final of the 2019 edition - took a fiercely-contested first game 12-10, before the Peruvian settled to close out the match with 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 wins.

Elias is bidding to become the first player to win three Motor City Open titles in a row.

Paul Coll, the top-seeded New Zealander who is expected to face Elias in Sunday's final, reached the quarter-finals after beating Abdulla Al-Tamimi.

The Qatari, who cemented his status as the Middle East's country's highest-ranked player of all-time when he celebrated a career-high world No.18 ranking this week, extended Coll to four games - but was unable to repeat his recent shock victory over the world No.3.

"It's very hard when we're both trying to impose a completely different game plan," said Coll after his 15-13, 11-7, 8-11, 11-1 win in 65 minutes. "He's very quick, very tricky, so I've got to be careful where I put the ball. It's a very tough match for me.

"I was a little bit annoyed in that third set, I let a lead slip," added the Kiwi. "I mean he's so skilled. He's probably one of the most skilful players on tour. It's always hard to get in a rhythm. There's shots and balls and flicks coming from everywhere. So it's kind of hard to get settled in there and he does a great job of mixing it up."

Elsewhere, both Colombia's Miguel Rodriguez and Egypt's Fares Dessouky came back from one game down to beat Aly Abou Eleinen and Cesar Salazar, respectively.