Abierto Colombiana Club La Pradera: Avila Claims 15th Tour Title

It was another successful week for Mexico’s Alfredo Avila, as he claimed the 15th title of his professional career, beating home favourite Ronald Palomino in the final of the Abierto Colombiana Club La Pradera.

Avila, the World No.76, came into the Challenger 5 level competition as the top seed, and after receiving a bye through to the second round, he started with a commanding performance, beating compatriot Bryan Cueto in straight games. He then got the better of wildcard Juan Jose Torres in the quarter finals, also winning in three to move through to the last four.

The semi-finals saw the Mexican take on another Colombian, in No.7 seed Andres Herrera, for a place in the final. Avila lost the first game 11-7, but battled back to win the next three, dropping just eleven points in the process, as he advanced to another final.

In the last match of the tournament, the World No.76 took on the in-form Ronald Palomino, who had already claimed a Tour title in Argentina earlier this month. Avila won the first two games with ease, dropping just five points across them to hold a commanding advantage in the final.

However, the No.2 seed for the event fought back, and won the next two games by score lines of 11-6 and 11-8 to level the match up and send it into a decider. The fifth and final game could have gone either way, as the match went past the hour mark, but it was Avila that eventually won the Abierto Colombiana Club La Pradera crown, taking the fifth 11-9 to down the Colombian on home soil, and to win the 15th Tour title of his career.

Results: Abierto Colombiana Club La Pradera
Final
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [2] Ronald Palomino (COL) 3-2: 11-4, 11-1, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9 (68m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [7] Andres Herrera (COL) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-1 (42m)
[2] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [6] Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) 3-1: 3-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (52m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [WC] Juan Jose Torres (COL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (38m)
[7] Andres Herrera (COL) bt [WC] Juan Carlos Gomez (COL) 3-1: 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7 (78m)
[6] Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) bt Francesco Marcantonio (PAR) 3-1: 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (45m)
[2] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [8] Matias Knudsen (COL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-2 (38m)

Round Two
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Bryan Cueto (MEX) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-3 (40m)
[WC] Juan Jose Torres (COL) bt [5] Joeri Hapers (BEL) 3-2: 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 (72m)
[7] Andres Herrera (COL) bt Nicolas Serna (COL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-8, 11-6 (32m)
[WC] Juan Pablo Gomez (COL) bt [3] Josue Enriquez (GUA) 3-2: 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7 (68m)
Francesco Marcantonio (PAR) bt [4] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) 3-2: 11-9, 5-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 (75m)
[6] Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) bt Luis Quisquinay (GUA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 12-10 (30m)
[8] Matias Knudsen (COL) bt Mahmoud Abouelleil (EGY) 3-0: 11-1, 11-1, 11-0 (12m)
[2] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt Rodolfo Vega (MEX) 3-0: 11-1, 11-7, 11-6 (16m)

Round One
Bryan Cueto (MEX) bt [WC] Arturo Vidal (MEX) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 11-4 (20m)
[WC] Juan Jose Torres (COL) bt Ricardo Toscano (GUA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (25m)
Nicolas Serna (COL) bt Armando Olguin (MEX) 3-0: 11-1, 11-1, 11-0 (16m)
[WC] Juan Pablo Gomez (COL) bt Jeremias Azana (ARG) 3-2: 16-14, 11-9, 5-11, 9-11, 15-13 (80m)
Francesco Marcantonio (PAR) bt Petr Nohel (CZE) 3-1: 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4 (54m)
Luis Quisquinay (GUA) bt Andres Villamizar (COL) 3-1: 12-10, 11-7, 10-12, 11-3 (52m)
Rodolfo Vega (MEX) bt [WC] Noel Heaton (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (35m)