Regatas Resistencia Open SF: Top Two Women’s Seeds Beaten

The finals are set at the Tour de las Americas – Regatas Resistencia Open, with both of the top two seeds in the women’s draw being knocked out.

Both women’s semi-finals saw surprising results on Friday in Resistencia, as top seeds Tessa ter Sluis and Laura Tovar were dumped out of the Challenger 10 level competition.

Ukraine’s Alina Bushma got the better of top seed ter Sluis on Friday evening. The Ukrainian took a two-game lead after winning the second on a tie-break 12-10, but the Dutchwoman fought back to level the match and send it to a deciding game. Bushma was able to regroup after blowing that lead, fighting through to win the fifth 11-8 to reach just her second final on Tour.

She will now take on Lucia Baustita on Saturday evening after the unseeded Colombian got the better of compatriot and No.2 seed Laura Tovar. Bautista had already downed two seeded players to make it to the semis, and that run continued on Friday evening.

The all-Colombian clash was tight throughout, with the unseeded 20-year-old taking the opening game 11-9. She then doubled her advantage after clinching the second on a tie-break 14-12, but saw Tovar fight back to halve the deficit. Bautista was strong, though, and a quick start in the fourth took her to the victory, getting revenge on Tovar after losing in the final of the SACC Costa Rica Open.

Neither of the two female finalists has won a title on the PSA Tour so far in their careers, so a new winner is guaranteed in Resistencia on Saturday evening.

In the men’s event, top seed and home favourite Leandro Romiglio had no issues in reaching the final. The Argentine came up against tournament wildcard Matias Knudsen, who had already taken out three higher-ranked players. Romiglio put a stop to that, though, winning in straight games in under half an hour to make the final on home soil.

He will now take on Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi, the winner of last week’s Villa la Angostura Patagonia Open. The Swiss No.3 also won in straight games on semi-finals night in Resistencia, but his match went over the hour mark with Colombia’s Andres Herrera. 

A tight first game went the way of the tournament’s No.5 seed, as he took it 13-11, before both the second and third games were also won by Wilhelmi, both with an 11-8 scoreline. The Swiss man is through to his second final in as many weeks, where he will face the Argentinian No.1.

The finals of the Tour de las Americas – Regatas Resistencia Open will take place on Saturday, May 13. All the action from the Club de Regatas Resistencia will be streamed live on the PSA Challenger Tour YouTube channel, where you can watch Challenger Tour action, and interviews with rising stars.

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 Semi-Final Results: Tour de las Americas – Regatas Resistencia Open
[1] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [WC] Matias Knudsen (COL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (28m)
[5] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [7] Andres Herrera (COL) 3-0: 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 (63m)

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, May 13
[1] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) v [5] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: Tour de las Americas – Regatas Resistencia Open
[3] Alina Bushma (UKR) bt [1] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) 3-2: 11-8, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-8 (48m)
Lucia Bautista (COL) bt [2] Laura Tovar (COL) 3-1: 11-9, 14-12, 8-11, 11-5 (53m)

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, May 13
[3] Alina Bushma (UKR) v Lucia Bautista (COL)