Matthew Karwalski became the sole Australian to make the main draw of the Colombian Open in Bogota after seeing off Mexican Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas in the qualifying finals of the PSA World Tour International 35 event at Club El Nogal.
The 25-year-old from New South Wales defeated Islas 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 – but the draw will be boosted by two other Mexicans after both Eric Galvez and Erik Tepos Valtierra prevailed in the qualifying finals.
Argentinean Gonzalo Miranda completed the line-up of qualifiers following his five-game victory over local hope Javier Castilla Conde, a 30-year-old from Bogota.
Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy – fresh from his debut in last week’s World Team Championship in Germany, where Egypt successfully defended the title – is seeded to win the Colombian Open crown. The 20-year-old from Alexandria takes on top-ranked Mexican Arturo Salazar in the opening round.
Updated 1st round line-up:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
Max Lee (HKG) v [Q] Eric Galvez (MEX)
Martin Knight (NZL) v [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
[3] Alister Walker (BOT) v Andres Felipe de Frutos (COL)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
Rafael Alarcon (BRA) v [Q] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) v [Q] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Jan Koukal (CZE)
Qualifying finals:
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt Jorge Gutierrez (ARG) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (46m)
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt Jonathan Veloza (COL) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (26m)
Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Javier Castilla Conde (COL) 11-8, 1-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-8 (61m)
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (42m)
1st qualifying round:
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (25m)
Jorge Gutierrez (ARG) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 (39m)
Jonathan Veloza (COL) bt Francis Zemanate (BRA) 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-1 (32m)
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt Manuel Caro (COL) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (21m)
Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (24m)
Javier Castilla Conde (COL) bt Andres Gonzalez (COL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 (35m)
Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Esteban Casarino (PAR) 11-4, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6 (38m)
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Rodrigo Torres (COL) 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (19m)
