England’s Anthony Graham recorded his maiden title success on the PSA World Tour after surviving a five-game final of the Tour De las Americas Costa Rica Open, the PSA Challenger 5 event in its third year at the Costa Rica Tennis Club in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The 22-year-old from Gloucestershire reached the final without conceding a game – then dropped the first two games as Arthur Gaskin, the No2 seed from Ireland, dominated the early play.
But Graham, the top seed ranked just four places above his 27-year-old opponent, began to reclaim the advantage – drawing level after two close games before romping to victory in the decider to record his historic 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 triumph after 77 minutes.
The success marked the first Costa Rica Open win by an Englishman and Graham’s first Tour title triumph in the third final of his career.
Final:
[1] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 (77m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (69m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt Michael McCue (CAN) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (42m)
[Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt [4] Thomas Brinkman (CAN) 9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9 (62m)
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt [3] David Letourneau (CAN) 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4 (88m)
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt [Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-5, 12-10, 11-4 (48m)
1st round:
[1] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt Micah Franklin (BER) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5
Michael McCue (CAN) bt Bryan Bonilla (GUA) 12-10, 11-5, 11-9
[Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Fernando Lopez (MEX) 11-9, 11-8, 11-5
[4] Thomas Brinkman (CAN) bt Andres Echeverria (CRC) 11-7, 11-3, 11-8
[3] David Letourneau (CAN) bt [Q] Sergio Lopez (MEX) 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt Tyler Hamilton (CAN) 9-11, 11-9, 11-1, 10-12, 11-5
[Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 12-10, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt [Q] Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX) 11-8, 11-8, 11-9
Qualifying finals:
Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Josue Enriquez (GUA) 11-4, 16-14, 11-5
Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX) bt Benjamin Fischer (SUI) 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3
Sergio Lopez (MEX) bt Maxime Blouin (CAN) 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6
Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt Phillip John Bull (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
1st qualifying round:
Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bye
Josue Enriquez (GUA) bt Gabriel Bravo (CRC) 11-13, 6-11, 11-5, 11-2, 16-14
Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX) bt Sebastian Jimenez (CRC) 11-5, 11-2, 11-1
Benjamin Fischer (SUI) bt Jose Paulo Mendez Solis (GUA) 11-4, 11-1, 11-7
Sergio Lopez (MEX) bt Mauricio Platteau (CRC) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5
Maxime Blouin (CAN) bt Victor Manuel Garcia Ramirez (MEX) 11-9, 11-4, 4-11, 11-8
Phillip John Bull (ENG) bt Mauricio Bravo (CRC) 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
Andrew McDougall (CAN) bye
