Georgia Open: Avila Beats Stewart to Set Up Vargas Final

Alfredo Avila knocked out top seed Rory Stewart to set up a final showdown with Juan Camilo Vargas at the Georgia Open, and keep his hopes alive of winning back-to-back titles. 

Avila came into this event having won the Copa Mexico Temazcal a fortnight ago, his third title of 2023, and now has a chance at a fourth, after beating the Scot in four games. 

The first two games were nip-and-tuck, with the No.4 seed taking the first on a tie break before Stewart levelled things up 11-8 in the second. 

From there, though, it was largely one-way traffic, with the Mexican racing through the third to take it 11-2, before closing out the win 11-5 in the fourth. 

Vargas, meanwhile, ended the run of Sanjay Jeeva, inflicting a fourth semi-final defeat on the Malaysian this year. 

Jeeva had upset Jeremias Azaña and Ronald Palomino to reach the final four, but was no match for the third seed, who won 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 in 39 minutes. 

Avila and Vargas will now face off for glory in what will be there first meeting for almost four years. 

The pair met three times across 2018 and 2019, but have not played since December 2019. 

Avila won all three of those matchups, but Vargas has climbed the rankings since then, now sitting at No.57, just one spot shy of his career high and 13 places above Avila. 

Results: Semi-Finals 

[4] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [1] Rory Stewart (SCO) 3-1: 12-10, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5 (61m) 
[3] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (39m) 

Draw: Final 

[4] Alfredo Avila (MEX) v [3] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL)