11 October 2013
Spanish giant-killer Alejandro Garbi Caro continued his progress in the PSA Valencia when he ousted fourth seed Joel Hinds to reach the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its third year at Club Olympia in the Spanish city of Valencia.
It was after his surprise first round defeat of experienced Frenchman Yann Perrin that wild card Caro faced Englishman Hinds (both pictured above) in the quarter-finals – where he took just 47 minutes to overcome the world No82 11-4, 11-5, 11-6.
Caro, ranked outside the world top 100, now faces top seed Karim Ali Fathi, the world No39 from Egypt who dismissed France’s Geoffrey Demont 12-10, 11-8, 11-6.
Both seeds in the lower half of the draw failed to make the last four. Germany’s No3 seed Jens Schoor went down 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 to Egypt’s Zahed Mohamed, while Denmark’s No2 seed Kristian Frost Olesen was unable to capitalise on a 2/0 lead against Joan Lezaud, ultimately crashing out 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 to the Frenchman in 77 minutes.
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) v [WC] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP)
Joan Lezaud (FRA) v Zahed Mohamed (EGY)
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 PSA Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Quarter-finals:
[1] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 12-10, 11-8, 11-6 (40m)
[WC] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt [4] Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (47m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt [3] Jens Schoor (GER) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (30m)
Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt [2] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (77m)