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PSA: Barker rules in Colombia

Champion Peter Barker (right) and Omar Mosaad
Champion Peter Barker (right) and Omar Mosaad

Barker rules in Colombia

From HOWARD HARDING
Unbeaten in Bogota over the past eight years, England’s Peter Barker celebrated his fourth Abierto Colombiano de Squash Club El Nogal title in the Colombian capital today when he defeated Egypt’s world No11 Omar Mosaad in the final of the PSA World Tour International 50 squash event at Club El Nogal.

Winner of the title for three successive years from 2005, London left-hander Barker made a popular return to the South American country for the first time since 2007 – this time in his first appearance as top seed.

“The match between Barker and Mosaad was vibrant, emotional and technical,” reported event spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz. “Barker took the lead in the first game due to the continuous mistakes made by Mosaad when, by comparison, Barker played concentrated and firm.”

Barker went on to open up a two-game lead – but the third-seeded Egyptian delighted the packed crowd by extending the match into a fourth game after taking the third.

The world No7 leapt to a 5-0 lead in the fourth which Mosaad was unable to counter. Barker increased the pressure before closing out the match 11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 in 55 minutes to claim his fourth Bogota title.

The triumph marks Barker’s first PSA Tour title of the year and the 14th of the 29-year-old’s career.

11 August 2013

RESULTS: PSA International 50 Abierto Colombiano de Squash Club El Nogal, Bogota, Colombia

Final:
[1] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 (55m)

The presentation party on court
The presentation party on court

 

Home hero Rodriguez falls in the semi-finals
Home hero Rodriguez falls in the semi-finals

Mosaad & Barker To Contest Colombian Open Climax

11 August 2013

RESULTS: PSA International 50 Abierto Colombiano de Squash Club El Nogal, Bogota, Colombia

Semi-finals:
[1] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 12-10, 11-5, 11-4 (38m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (38m)

Egypt’s Omar Mosaad ended local hero Miguel Angel Rodriguez‘s run in the Abierto Colombiano de Squash Club El Nogal at Club El Nogal in Bogota to set up a final of the PSA World Tour International 50 squash event against top seed Peter Barker.

After upsetting Egypt’s title-holder Tarek Momen in the opening round, unseeded Bogota boy Rodriguez had a fifth Colombian Open final in his sights.

But third seed Mosaad (pictured above, right, with Rodriguez) proved to be an insurmountable Egyptian: “The strength and consistency of the Egyptian eventually wore out the Colombian,” explained tournament spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz. “Strong lengths to the back hand and killer drop shots from the back of the court gave Mosaad a 2/0 lead.

“In the third game, Mosaad’s attacking precision produced successive winning rallies against a tiring Rodriguez.”

The 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 victory brings up the 20th PSA Tour final appearance of world No11 Mosaad’s career – but the 25-year-old from Cairo’s first this year.

Mosaad was delighted with his triumph over the Colombian number one in his home city: “I am really happy that I won today. Everyone knows Miguel, he such a good player, he is no19 in the PSA rankings.

“Actually before this match, I was thinking what I was going to do in this match because he had three advantages here – first one the altitude, the crowd, and he is very fast,” explained Mosaad.

“So I prepared myself mentally to this match and I am really happy to win. So today I am going to have some spa and rest and wait for my match tomorrow!”

England’s Peter Barker celebrated his first appearance in Bogota since winning his third successive title in the event in 2007 by reaching his fourth final. The world No7 from London defeated top-ranked Australian Cameron Pilley, the No4 seed, 12-10, 11-5, 11-4.

World No13 Pilley led in the opening game, but Barker’s experience forced a tie-break to take the lead. After going 2/0 down, Pilley again led briefly in the third – but left-hander Barker raised his game to close out the match 3/0.

The win takes Barker into his second Tour final of the year – and the 22nd of his career.

Miguel Rodriguez powers past Ryan Cuskelly
Miguel Rodriguez powers past Ryan Cuskelly

Miguel Marches Into Bogota Semis

10 August 2013

RESULTS: PSA International 50 Abierto Colombiano de Squash Club El Nogal, Bogota, Colombia

Quarter-finals:
[1] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-6, 11-0, 3-0 ret. (19m)
[4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 13-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3 (66m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6 (43m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-9, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3 (45m)

Unseeded Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez continued to delight the packed crowds at Club El Nogal in his home city of Bogota as he marched into the semi-finals of the Abierto Colombiano de Squash Club El Nogal after overcoming Australian Ryan Cuskelly in the quarter-finals of the long-established PSA World Tour International 50 squash event in the Colombian capital.

“Now I’m playing my first semi-final in a 50 International – I’m very proud of myself,” exclaimed the 27-year-old world No19 after his 11-9, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3 victory over the Australian left-hander (both pictured in action above).

Rodriguez, who recently became the second highest-ranked South American player of all-time, made his breakthrough in the event when he toppled defending champion Tarek Momen, the world No10 from Egypt, in the opening round.

“I knew it was going to be tough match,” continued the Colombian who won bronze, his country’s first squash medal, at last week’s World Games in the Colombian city of Cali. “Ryan has been improved a lot and I had to be ready for another battle. I had to play at my best in the fourth, picked up the pace a lot because I did not want to go to a fifth game.”

Rodriguez now faces a second Egyptian for a place in the final. Third seed Omar Mosaad battled for four games to hold off impressive young Mexican qualifier Alfredo Avila 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6.

“Alfredo was so good today – I am really happy to win,” said Mosaad, the tall world No11 from Cairo who is making his maiden appearance in the event. “I tried to keep focusing in my game because Alfredo is a very speedy guy and I tried to finish it in 3/0 but I couldn’t.

“I am glad to won today. Now I will try to relax for tomorrow and prepare myself for my match against Miguel. I played him six years ago in Ecuador. He won, but I will try to do my best!”

The other semi-final will see top-seeded Englishman Peter Barker take on Australian number one Cameron Pilley, the No4 seed. Pilley, the world No13, had to toil for 66 minutes to see off Scotland’s determined Alan Clyne 13-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3, while Londoner Barker was on court for just 19 minutes when Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet conceded the match with score standing at 11-6, 11-0, 3-0.

It later transpired that world No31 Castagnet suffered an injury to his right leg in his marathon 94-minute five-game win over Mexican qualifier Cesar Salazar 24 hours earlier.

“Unfortunately Mathieu couldn’t recover from his tough match yesterday and retired in the third,” explained world No7 Barker. “I thought I started pretty well and will try and do the same tomorrow.

“Tough conditions here, but an excellent tournament as always,” added the left-hander who is a three-time champion of the event. “All the players are being very well looked after.”

Pilley added after his victory: “Very happy with my win today over Clyney. The conditions were extremely tough but I stuck in there well in the big points and managed to play my game for most of the match.

“The club here is amazing so a bit of hot-cold recovery and food and the body will be ready for the semi!”

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Peter Barker (ENG) v [4] Cameron Pilley (AUS)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY)

 

 

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