PAC Open RD1: Bautista, Jones and Veldkamp Down Seeds

The trio of Lucia Bautista, Ellie Jones and Sanne Veldkamp all got the better of seeded players in the opening round of the PAC Open de Squash.

The Challenger 5 level competition, is the second on the Latina Tour de las Americas, which is taking place across the month of May. The Paissandu Athletic Clube in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is playing host to this week’s event.

After taking her maiden Tour title at the Regatas Resistencia Open last week, Colombia’s Lucia Bautista is one of the favourites this week, despite being unseeded. She started her campaign in Brazil with a confident performance to defeat Ukraine’s Anastasiia Kostiukova in straight games.

She will be joined by two more unseeded players in the quarters. Sanne Veldkamp dropped just 12 points in her contest with No.7 seed Kincso Szasz, and will join top seed and fellow Dutchwoman Tessa ter Sluis in the last eight.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s Ellie Jones defeated England’s Polly Clark in a four-game contest. The Scot took the opening two games, and then regrouped well after seeing Clark win the third game. She took the fourth 11-9 to seal her place in the quarter finals.

Elsewhere, Egypt’s Sohaila Ismail downed Jones’ sister Carys to set up a last eight meeting with Tessa ter Sluis. Colombia’s Laura Tovar, Ukraine’s Alina Bushma and Japan’s Erisa Sano Herring are all into the quarter finals as well.

The PAC Open de Squash continues on Friday, May 19 with the quarter finals of the Challenger 5 level competition. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

First Round Results: Latina Tour de las Americas – PAC Open de Squash
[1] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) bt Maria Tovar (COL) 3-0: 12-10, 11-3, 11-4 (26m)
[5] Sohaila Ismail (EGY) bt Carys Jones (SCO) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-9 (29m)
Ellie Jones (SCO) bt [6] Polly Clark (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9 (31m)
[3] Alina Bushma (UKR) bt Ingy Hammouda (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 11-1, 7-11, 12-10 (59m)
Lucia Bautista (COL) bt [4] Anastasiia Kostiukova (UKR) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 (34m)
Sanne Veldkamp (NED) bt [7] Kincso Szasz (HUN) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 (15m)
[8] Erisa Sano Herring (JPN) bt [WC] Laura Silva (BRA) 3-0; 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 (26m)
[2] Laura Tovar (COL) bt Mary Mijas (GUA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-1 (24m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, May 19
[1] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) v [5] Sohaila Ismail (EGY)
Ellie Jones (SCO) v [3] Alina Bushma (UKR)
Lucia Bautista (COL) v Sanne Veldkamp (NED)
[8] Erisa Sano Herring (JPN) v [2] Laura Tovar (COL)