10:06 am
6 Oct 2024

Bogota Boy Rodriguez Lands Place In Colombian Open Final

5 Sep 2010

Home hero Miguel Angel Rodriguez earned a surprise place in the final of the Colombian Open after an injury forced his higher-ranked opponent Shahier Razik to withdraw from their semi-final match in the $30,000 PSA World Tour squash event at Club El Nogal in the capital Bogota.

The third-seeded Colombian frustrated Canadian Razik, the second seed, throughout the first game and quickly went one game up for the loss of only three points.

In the second game, Razik showed his brilliance to tie the match at eight-all, after Rodriguez made three consecutive errors.

"Nonetheless, the Colombian took advantage of one error from Razik and played two fantastic drop shots that won him the game," explained tournament spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz.

However, increasing discomfort from a gluteus strain caused 32-year-old Razik to concede the match before the third game, giving Rodriguez a 11-3, 11-8 (ret) win which takes the 24-year-old from Bogota into his home country's Open final for the third time in five years.

Rodriguez will now face top seed Olli Tuominen, the 'flying Finn' who defeated Mexican Arturo Salazar, the sixth seed, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 in 34 minutes.

While Rodriguez is celebrating his 22nd appearance in a PSA Tour final, former world No10 Tuominen is marking his 16th - and each is looking for a third Tour title success of the year.

Semi-finals:
[1] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [6] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (34m)
[3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [2] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-3, 11-8 ret. (28m)