Christianson Classic: Avila Wins Without Dropping Game

Top seed Alfredo Avila came through to win the Christianson Classic this week without dropping a single game.

The Mexican was the highest-ranked player for the Challenger 5 level competition, which was played at the YMCA in Medicine Hat, Canada, and he was in imperious form all week.

He started with a resounding victory over Canadian Rohan Paliwal in the first round, dropping just eight points in a 23-minute 11-2, 11-4, 11-2 win. That was followed by a win over Colombia’s Nicolas Serna, also in straight games, in the quarter finals.

Avila then took on the last remaining home hope in the semis, in Canada’s Liam Marrison. He claimed the opening two games rather easily, before then having to fight to win the third. It went to a tie-break, with both men having their chances, but the Mexican came through it in the end, winning it 14-12 to advance.

The final saw the Mexican take on No.2 seed Emyr Evans, and he ran out into a two game lead rather comfortably once more, dropping just nine points across the opening two games. The Welshman fought back, and the third was tougher for Avila, but he took it 11-9 to secure the win, and to claim his 19th PSA Tour title.

Results: Christianson Classic
Final
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [2] Emyr Evans (WAL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (44m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [3] Liam Marrison (CAN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 14-12 (34m)
[2] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [7] Miled Zarazua (MEX) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (37m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Nicolas Serna (COL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-7 (28m)
[3] Liam Marrison (CAN) bt [8] Carlos Vargas (MEX) 3-1: 14-12, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 (54m)
[7] Miled Zarazua (MEX) bt Naveed Rehman (PAK) 3-2: 12-10, 11-3, 5-11, 8-11, 12-10 (58m)
[2] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [5] Connor Turk (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (38m)

First Round
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Rohan Paliwal (CAN) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-2 (23m)
Nicolas Serna (COL) bt [6] Cory McCartney (CAN) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 (29m)
[8] Carlos Vargas (MEX) bt Mahmoud Abouelleil (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 11-4 (16m)
[3] Liam Marrison (CAN) bt Muhammad Faraz (CAN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 (15m)
Naveed Rehman (PAK) bt [4] Leo Vargas (MEX) 3-1: 13-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9 (65m)
[7] Miled Zarazua (MEX) bt Aaron Allpress (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 14-12, 11-5 (38m)
[5] Connor Turk (CAN) bt Darosham Khan (CAN) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (26m)
[2] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt Brock Janzer (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-0 (20m)