Colombian Open: Baillargeon Reigns in Bogota

Canada’s David Baillargeon was victorious at the Colombian Open in Bogota this week, after defeating USA’s Christopher Gordon in a four-game battle in the final.

The Challenger 10 level tournament, which took place at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento Cancha de Squash in Bogota, was restricted to regional entries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with those currently based in North, Central or South America being permitted to enter the competition.

Baillargeon, who had reached the final of the Torneo Profesional Mexicano de Squash just two days prior to beginning his campaign in Colombia, received a bye through to the second round, courtesy of being the No.2 seed for the tournament.

The Canadian then defeated the Colombian duo of wildcard Juan Jose Torres and Andres Herrera in straight games to make it into the semi-finals, where he came up against Ronald Palomino. It took everything he had to come through that, after going two games down to the Colombian.

He did, though, and he made the final, which was a Canada v USA battle, between himself and Christopher Gordon. It was Baillargeon that came through to win it 3-1, to claim his first victory since winning the Guilfoyle PSA Squash Classic in February 2019.

Results: Colombian Open
Final
[2] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [1] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-1: 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5

Semi-Finals
[1] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [6] Guilherme Melo (BRA) 3-1: 11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9
[2] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [4] Ronald Palomino (COL) 3-2: 11-13, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6

Quarter-Finals
[1] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [8] Miled Zarazua (MEX) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-7
[6] Guilherme Melo (BRA) bt [3] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8
[4] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [5] Diego Gobbi (BRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-7
[2] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt Andres Herrera (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-5

Round Two
[1] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) 3-1: 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-2
[8] Miled Zarazua (MEX) bt [WC] Juan Hernandez (COL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
[6] Guilherme Melo (BRA) bt Nicolas Serna (COL) 3-1: 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9
[3] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) bt James Wyatt (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 13-11
[4] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt Rodolfo Vega (MEX) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-5
[5] Diego Gobbi (BRA) bt Matias Knudsen (COL) 3-1: 8-11, 12-10, 16-14, 11-6
Andres Herrera (COL) bt [7] Josue Enriquez (GUA) 3-2: 8-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6
[2] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [WC] Juan Jose Torres (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-8

Round One
Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) bt Francesco Marcantonio (PAR) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (40m)
[WC] Juan Hernandez (COL) bt Armando Olguin (MEX) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-1 (22m)
Nicolas Serna (COL) bt [WC] Jose Santamaria (COL) 3-1: 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5 (51m)
James Wyatt (ENG) bt Andres Villamizar (COL) 3-0: 12-10, 11-9, 11-8
Rodolfo Vega (MEX) bt Mateo Restrepo Pedroza (COL) 3-1: 11-7, 14-12, 10-12, 11-3
Matias Knudsen (COL) bt Sebastian Fonseca (GUA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-4
Andres Herrera (COL) bt Maximilien Godbout (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-5
[WC] Juan Jose Torres (COL) bt Allan Nunez (MEX) 3-2: 9-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 (54m)