Georgia Open: Stewart Avoids Upset to Reach Semi-Finals

Three of the top four seeds progressed through to the semi-finals of the Georgia Open, with Malaysia’s unseeded Sanjay Jeeva joining them in the last four. 

No.2 seed Faraz Khan had already been knocked out by Ronald Palomino in round two, but top seed Rory Stewart, No.3 seed Juan Camilo Vargas and fourth seed Alfredo Avila all recorded wins on day three to reach the semi-finals. 

Scotland’s Stewart had a potentially tricky matchup against last year’s British junior champion Finnlay Withington who had knocked out fifth seed Christopher Gordon to reach this stage, but the more experienced Scot proved to be a step too far for the 19-year-old, running out a 3-1 winner in the day’s first match. 

Avila was the next to secure his semi-final berth in what was the longest of the day’s four matches. 

The Mexican dropped the opening game 11-8 but took control from there on in, losing no more than six points in any of the next three to wrap up victory in 43 minutes. 

Vargas also needed four games to see off Viktor Byrtus, and will now face Jeeva for a place in the final. 

Jeeva’s meeting with Palomino was the day’s only match to finish in straight games, with the Colombian unable to repeat his day-two heroics of knocking out Khan, going down in just 27 minutes. 

Results: Quarter-Finals 

[1] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 7-11, 11-2, 11-9 (34m) 
[4] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Veer Chotrani (IND) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (43m) 
[3] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 3-1: 11-2, 11-5, 3-11, 11-6 (38m) 
Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) bt Ronald Palomino (COL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (27m) 

Draw: Semi-Finals 

[1] Rory Stewart (SCO) v [4] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 
[3] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) v Sanjay Jeeva (MAS)