Guatemala Open Squash Tournament: Palomino Takes Title

Colombia’s Ronald Palomino claimed his second title of the calendar year with a victory at the 1st 10k Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament, coming through as the No.6 seed.

The Colombian, who is at a career-high World No.132, had previously won the Colombia Squash Challenger 2 back in June, and came into this Challenger 10 level event in Guatemala as one of the top eight seeds.

Thanks to that, he received a bye through to the second round of the competition, before then getting the better of Mexico’s Rodolfo Vega inside of 25 minutes to get his campaign underway.

He then came through his quarter final contest with compatriot Edgar Ramirez Bautista after his fellow Colombian had to retire hurt in the second game. The semis saw Palomino come through his toughest contest, as he needed all five games to get the better of Ahsan Ayaz, the Pakistani who had taken out the tournament’s top seed to reach the last four.

In the final, the Colombian came up against USA’s Christopher Gordon, the event’s No.2 seed, and he was able to regain the momentum after losing the second game of their clash. Palomino got the job done in 58 minutes to claim his second title of 2021, and the biggest of his career.

Results: 1st 10k Guatemala Open Squash PSA Tournament
Final
[6] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [2] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-1: 12-10, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7 (58m)

Semi-Finals
[6] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) 3-2: 5-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-3, 11-4 (64m)
[2] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [3] David Baillargeon (CAN) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (48m)

Quarter Finals
Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt [1] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (35m)
[6] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [4] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) 3-1: 8-11, 5-6 rtd (25m)
[3] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt Alejandro Reyes (MEX) 3-0: 11-6, 12-10, 11-8 (50m)
[2] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [7] Josue Enriquez (GUA) 3-2: 7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 (65m)

Round Two
[1] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Sebastian Fonseca (GUA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (22m)
Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt [8] Miled Zarazua (MEX) 3-0: 11-4, 11-1, 11-7 (20m)
[6] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt Rodolfo Vega (MEX) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (24m)
[4] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) bt Angel Gabriel Enriquez Franco (GUA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 (16m)
[3] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-3 (31m)
Alejandro Reyes (MEX) bt [5] Guilherme Melo (BRA) 3-0: 11-5, 14-12, 11-4 (42m)
[7] Josue Enriquez (GUA) bt Andres Herrera (COL) 3-2: 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6
[2] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Allan Nunez (MEX) 2-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (37m)

Round One
Sebastian Fonseca (GUA) bt Cory McCartney (CAN) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (46m)
Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt [WC] Mauricio Sedano (GUA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 (38m)
Rodolfo Vega (MEX) bt [WC] Luis Quisquinay (GUA) 3-1: 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 (52m)
Angel Gabriel Enriquez Franco (GUA) bt Armando Olguin (MEX) 3-1: 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9 (31m)
Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) bt Bryan Cueto (MEX) 3-1: 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 (55m)
Alejandro Reyes (MEX) bt [WC] Jose Mendez (GUA) 3-1: 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4 (35m)
Andres Herrera (COL) bt Ricardo Toscano (GUA) 3-0; 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 (37m)
Allan Nunez (MEX) bt Andres Villamizar (COL) 3-1: 11-9, 1-11, 11-8, 11-7 (44m)