Regatas Resistencia Open RD1: Wildcard Knudsen Through On Return

Tournament wildcard Matias Knudsen took an opening round win at the Regatas Resistencia Open, on his return to action after eleven months.

The Colombian last featured on the Tour on home soil in June 2022, at the Abierto Colombiano Club La Pradera, where he reached the quarter finals. He came into the Regatas Resistencia Open, the second event on this year’s Tour de las Americas, as the men’s wildcard.

In the opening round, Knudsen took on Guatemala’s Alejandro Enriquez, and came out the victor in straight games. The first game was tight, with the Colombian able to take it on a tie-break 13-11. That then gave him the momentum to go on to win in straight games, after 42 minutes of action.

Compatriot Nicolas Serna also advanced to the last 16 of the Challenger 10 level competition. Serna downed Belgium’s Joeri Hapers despite being more than 110 places below the Belgian in the world rankings. The pair went the distance, with the Colombian winning the fifth game 11-9 to secure the victory.

Mexico’s Jorge Gomez also knocked out a member of the 9/16 seeding bracket. He defeated Colombia’s Edgar Ramirez Bautista, winning in straight games. He will be joined by compatriot Leo Vargas in the second round, with the French duo of Toufik Mekhalfi and Maceo Levy also advancing.

In the women’s event, which is being held for the first time at the Regatas Resistencia Open, Scottish sisters Ellie and Carys Jones both took opening day wins. The pair both won in straight games, with Ellie beating Paraguayan Nicole Krauch Barreiro, while Carys defeated wildcard Candela Bernard.

The Colombian duo of Maria Tovar and Lucia Bautista are also among those through, with Paraguay’s Fiorella Gatti took an opening day win on her Tour debut. The Paraguayan, who is only 15-years-old, beat Guatemala’s Mary Mijas in straight games.

Egypt’s Ingy Hammouda continued her good form after reaching the final of the Open des Bretzels last week, while Argentine Pilar Etchechoury made it through on home soil. She got the better of another home hope, in wildcard Milagro Cima.

The Regatas Resistencia Open continues on Wednesday, May 10, with the seeded players coming into the draw. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. Live scores are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

Men’s First Round Results: Tour de las Americas – Regatas Resistencia Open
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt Francesco Marcantonio (PAR) 3-1: 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (46m)
Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) bt Ricardo Toscano (GUA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (32m)
Diego Gobbi (BRA) bt Valentin Torres Rolfi (ARG) 3-0: 11-1, 11-4, 11-3 (16m)
[WC] Matias Knudsen (COL) bt Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) 3-0: 13-11, 11-4, 11-8 (42m)
Maceo Levy (FRA) bt Carlos Vargas (MEX) 3-1: 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 (54m)
Nicolas Serna (COL) bt Joeri Hapers (BEL) 3-2: 8-11, 11-3, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 (68m)
Leo Vargas (MEX) bt [WC] Segundo Portabales (ARG) 3-1: 14-16, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (47m)
Jorge Gomez (MEX) bt Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) 3-0: 14-12, 11-9, 11-3 (37m)

Men’s Second Round Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, May 10
[1] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) v Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA)
Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) v [8] Jeremias Azana (ARG)
[6] Edwin Clain (FRA) v Diego Gobbi (BRA)
[WC] Matias Knudsen (COL) v [3] Yannik Omlor (GER)
[4] Tom Walsh (ENG) v Maceo Levy (FRA)
Nicolas Serna (COL) v [5] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI)
[7] Andres Herrera (COL) v Leo Vargas (MEX)
Jorge Gomez (MEX) v [2] Spencer Lovejoy (USA)

Women’s First Round Results: Tour de las Americas – Regatas Resistencia Open
Fiorella Gatti (PAR) bt Mary Mijas (GUA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 (20m)
Maria Tovar (COL) bt [WC] Milena Urbanija (ARG) 3-0: 11-1, 11-3, 11-1 (13m)
Sarahi Lopez (MEX) bt Paula Rivero (ARG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (24m)
Pilar Etchechoury (ARG) bt [WC] Milagro Cima (ARG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-3, 11-1 (14m)
Lucia Bautista (COL) bt Victoria Lischuk 3-0: 11-3, 11-1, 11-0 (12m)
Carys Jones (SCO) bt [WC] Candela Bernard (ARG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (24m)
Ingy Hammouda (EGY) bt [WC] Delfina Bravo (ARG) 3-0: 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 (15m)
Ellie Jones (SCO) bt Nicole Krauch Barreiro (PAR) 3-0: 11-3, 11-0, 11-3 (14m)

Women’s Second Round Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, May 10
[1] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) v Fiorella Gatti (PAR)
Maria Tovar (COL) v [7] Erisa Sano Herring (JPN)
[8] Sanne Veldkamp (NED) v Sarahi Lopez (MEX)
Pilar Etchechoury (ARG) v [3] Alina Bushma (UKR)
[4] Sohaila Ismail (EGY) v Lucia Bautista (COL)
Carys Jones (SCO) v [5] Polly Clark (ENG)
[6] Kincso Szász (HUN) v Ingy Hammouda (EGY)
Ellie Jones (SCO) v [2] Laura Tovar (COL)