Youngster wins quick final in Argentina
By Squash Mad Reporter
Teenager Diego Elias beat local hope Leandro Romiglio in the final of the Regatas Resistencia Open – Tour de las Americas 2014 in Argentina to become the first player from Peru to win a PSA World Tour squash title.
Wild card Elias, a 17-year-old from Lima ranked 130 in the world, made his breakthrough in the quarter-finals of the PSA Challenger 10 event at Club Regatas Resistencia where he overhauled Andrew Wagih Shoukry, the top seed from Egypt ranked more than 60 places higher.
Elias then beat Argentina’s Hernan D’Arcangelo to reach his second Tour final in the month.
But his opponent was making his Tour final debut – as a qualifier! It was in the semi-finals that Romiglio, a 23-year-old from Mar Del Plata, upset second-seeded fellow countryman Gonzalo Miranda in straight games to achieve his breakthrough.
But Peruvian star Elias (pictured above) was determined to go one better than his final appearance earlier in the month in the USA – and despatched Romiglio 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 in 30 minutes to take the title.
“It’s very exciting to win my first PSA event, here in South America,” said the jubilant Elias later. “During the match I felt very strong and confident.
“Before the final I was nervous because I played a final two weeks ago and I didn’t go into it as confident as I should have done.
“I was nervous again on match ball and now I’m very proud and very thankful to all the people that helped me get to this point – especially my dad and coach Jose Manuel Elias.”
Romiglio was generous in his post-final comments: “I’m happy because, despite not playing since last December due to an injury, I got to play the final,” said the Argentinean.
“I congratulate Diego, his dad and his team for the good job and I’m sure this is the first of many to come.”
PSA Challenger 10 Regatas Resistencia Open, Resistencia, Argentina
1st round:
[1] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [Q] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (35m)
[WC] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Micah Franklin (BER) 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 (19m)
[6] Robert Downer (ENG) bt Jonas Daehler (SUI) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (33m)
Hernan D’Arcangelo (ARG) bt [3] Lewis Walters (ENG) 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 (42m)
[Q] Rodrigo Pezzota (ARG) bt [4] Alex Ingham (ENG) 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 13-11 (62m)
[Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [5] Michael McCue (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (35m)
Manoel Pereira (BRA) bt [7] Vinicius Rodrigues (BRA) 3-11, 11-7, 4-3 ret. (26m)
[2] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt [Q] Federico Cioffi (ARG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (33m)
Quarter-finals:
[WC] Diego Elias (PER) bt [1] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 12-10, 11-5, 12-10 (50m)
Hernan D’Arcangelo (ARG) bt [6] Robert Downer (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 (34m)
[Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [Q] Rodrigo Pezzota (ARG) 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (71m)
[2] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Manoel Pereira (BRA) 11-2, 11-8, 11-7 (47m)
Semi-finals:
[WC] Diego Elias (PER) bt Hernan D’Arcangelo (ARG) 11-5, 11-5, 12-10 (36m)
[Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [2] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (47m)
Final:
[WC] Diego Elias (PER) bt [Q] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 (30m)
Picture courtesy of PSA