Avila stuns Saurav Ghosal as Victoria Lust takes women’s title
By Squash Mad Reporter
Mexico’s Alfredo Avila continued his amazing run of form to beat India’s Saurav Ghosal to win the Colombian Open in Bogota.
Avila triumphed 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 in 55 minutes to become the first player to come through from the qualifying competition to win the title in Bogota.
Ghosal started pressuring with his drive-drop combinations always slowing down the match’s rhythm. He started to exhaust the Mexican, who reached the final after five matches from the qualifiers and took out Farres Dessouki, Borja Golan and No.2 seed Peter Barker.
Rallies of over 40 hits were played in the first game with both players waiting with patience. Ghost looked to have things under control as he led 9-3 but then Avila played eight straight winning shots to win the first game and surprise the crowd.
Regaining his rhythm, Ghosal obtained parity, winning the second game 11-8. In the third game Avila played continuous winning shots to win 11-4 and gain the advantage.
In the fourth Avila maintained his rhythm by reaching every ball, like in all his previous matches, with an amazing physical strength that took Ghosal by surprise. It was a tough battle but a delighted Avila won 11-8 to take the title, which he marked with his now trademark celebration of jumping for joy on court.
After the final a delighted Avila said: “I am really, really happy to have won today, but not just today, also to have won every hard match during the tournament.
“This is my first title in a PSA 50 tournament and this is amazing for me and my people.”
Victoria Lust commented: “Really happy to have won today. I thought that I played well. I want to congratulate Catalina on a great tournament. I have really enjoyed my time here in Colombia and hope that I can come back next year.”
Victoria Lust won the women’s final, beating surprise finalist and home favourite Catalina Pelaez in straight games. Lust produced a display of controlled, intelligent squash to win 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in 20 minutes.
More mature in her game, in her second final in Bogota, the English player pressured from the start the inspired Colombian who was cheered by the crowd.
In the first game Catalina seemed anxious, less precise than the day before, and Victoria gained points without problems. The attacking rallies by the Colombian continued to be imprecise in the second game while Victoria gained more control.
Catalina played harder in the third game, but Victoria was focused in her goal to win this tournament in her second final. She maintained her rhythm and closed the match gaining her title.
Colombian Open, Bogota (M50).
Men’s Final:
Alfredo Avila (MEX) beat Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 (55m)
Women’s Final (W15):
Victoria Lust (ENG) beat Catalina Pelaez (COL) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (20m)