Marathon matches were the order of the day before second-seeded South African Stephen Coppinger finally clinched the PSA Sao Paulo Open, the $10,000 PSA World Tour event at the Academia Grupo Pão de Açúcar in Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil.
The Dublin-born 26-year-old survived a 69-minute semi-final against Christopher Gordon, the third seed from the USA, before coming up against top-seeded Brazilian – and home town favourite – Rafael F Alarcon in the final.
Alarcon had taken 79 minutes to dispose of Dutchman Bart Ravelli, the No7 seed, in a five-game quarter-final, before digging deep to quell English qualifier Chris Fuller in a 69-minute semi to reach his fifth Tour final of the year.
Despite the final ultimately being resolved in straight games, another 79 minutes elapsed before Coppinger finally emerged triumphant – the world No45 taking out the player now ranked just a single place lower 11-6, 13-11, 12-10.
The victory marks Coppinger’s first Tour title for almost a year, and the fifth of his career.
Final:
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [1] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) 11-6, 13-11, 12-10 (79m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt [Q] Chris Fuller (ENG) 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (74m)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [3] Christopher Gordon (USA) 6-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-4 (69m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt [7] Bart Ravelli (NED) 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 11-4 (79m)
[Q] Chris Fuller (ENG) bt [4] Esteban Casarino (PAR) 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (57m)
[3] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [6] Jose Facchini (ITA) 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 (31m)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [5] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-5, 11-2, 11-2 (26m)
1st round:
[1] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-3, 11-7, 11-5 (28m)
[7] Bart Ravelli (NED) bt Adam Murrills (ENG) 2-11, 13-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-6 (82m)
[4] Esteban Casarino (PAR) bt Josimar Silva (BRA) 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 (31m)
[Q] Chris Fuller (ENG) bt [8] Nahuel Hernan Ramos (ARG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (27m)
[6] Jose Facchini (ITA) bt [Q] Ronivaldo Santos (BRA) 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 (47m)
[3] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [Q] Max Camiruaga (CHI) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (29m)
[5] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt [Q] Vinicius Rodrigues (BRA) 13-11, 9-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9 (55m)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Colin Ramasra (TRI) 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (28m)
Qualifying finals:
Chris Fuller (ENG) bt Julio Caseiro (BRA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (35m)
Max Camiruaga (CHI) bt Pedro Veiga (BRA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-3 (30m)
Ronivaldo Santos (BRA) bt Jose Pl de Escobar (BRA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (32m)
Vinicius Rodrigues (BRA) bt Edilson Ribeiro Nunes (BRA) 4-11, 11-4, 8-11, 17-15, 11-8 (80m)
1st qualifying round:
Chris Fuller (ENG) bye
Julio Caseiro (BRA) bt Andre Sandrin (BRA) 11-4, 11-3, 11-7 (30m)
Max Camiruaga (CHI) bye
Pedro Veiga (BRA) bye
Jose Pl de Escobar (BRA) bye
Ronivaldo Santos (BRA) bt Winston Thiago (BRA) 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (45m)
Edilson Ribeiro Nunes (BRA) bt Antonio Jose Christovam Junior (BRA) 11-7, 11-9, 13-11 (40m)
Vinicius Rodrigues (BRA) bye
