Unseeded Mexican teenager Alfredo Avila celebrated a stunning success in the Rochester Pro-Am in the USA when he upset fourth-seeded Australian Wade Johnstone in the final of the PSA World Tour Challenger 5 event at the University of Rochester in Rochester.
The 19-year-old from Mexico City, ranked 115 in the world, made his breakthrough in the quarter-finals where he ousted top-seeded local hope Gilly Lane, the US No2 from Philadelphia, 6-11, 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 in a 90-minute battle.
After then surviving a 101-minute marathon against fellow Mexican Erik Tepos Valtierra, the third seed, Avila reached the third Tour final of his career.
Johnstone, the world No107 from Perth, had also reached the final unexpectedly, after despatching England’s No2 seed Eddie Charlton in a 90-minute five-game semi.
And it took more than an hour to settle the title, with Avila ultimately prevailing 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 after 70 minutes to clinch the second Tour title of his career.
Final:
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [4] Wade Johnstone (AUS) 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (70m)
Semi-finals:
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [3] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 20-18 (101m)
[4] Wade Johnstone (AUS) bt [2] Eddie Charlton (ENG) 7-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 (90m)
Quarter-finals:
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [1] Gilly Lane (USA) 6-11, 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 (90m)
[3] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2 (73m)
[4] Wade Johnstone (AUS) bt [Q] Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX) 11-2, 11-9, 12-10 (45m)
[2] Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 (40m)
1st round:
[1] Gilly Lane (USA) bt Maxym Leclair (CAN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-1 (20m)
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [Q] Justin Todd (CAN) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (23m)
Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) bt [Q] Omar El Kashef (EGY) 12-10, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6 (56m)
[3] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt [Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (72m)
[4] Wade Johnstone (AUS) bt Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 12-10 (45m)
[Q] Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX) bt Thomas Brinkman (CAN) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 (50m)
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (76m)
[2] Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (45m)
Qualifying finals:
Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Benjamin Fischer (SUI) 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
Omar El Kashef (EGY) bt Joe Chapman (IVB) 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (27m)
Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX) bt Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (50m)
Justin Todd (CAN) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 14-12 (52m)
1st qualifying round:
Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Adam Perkiomaki (USA) 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
Benjamin Fischer (SUI) bt William Newnham (ENG) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (39m)
Joe Chapman (IVB) bt Hameed Ahmed (FIN) 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3 (48m)
Omar El Kashef (EGY) bt Maxime Blouin (CAN) 11-9, 13-11, 11-7 (39m)
Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX) bt Oscar Lopez Hidalgo (MEX) 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9 (53m)
Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt Matt Domenick (USA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (35m)
Justin Todd (CAN) bt Lyall Paterson (SCO) 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 (80m)
David Letourneau (CAN) bt Graham Bassett (USA) 11-9, 13-11, 14-16, 3-11, 11-4 (60m)
