Kinetic 3k Challenger QF: Azana and Herrera Gatecrash Semis

The shocks continued to arise at the Kinetic 3k Challenger Presented by Sundip Murthy on Thursday, with two of the top three seeds being dumped out of the Challenger 3 level tournament.

Argentina’s Azana caused an upset on the opening day, as he got the better of No.7 seed Jorge Gomez to make the quarter finals, and that run continued on Thursday evening, as he knocked out the No.3 seed.

The Argentinian, who currently sits at World No.470, got the better of Pakistan’s Ahsan Ayaz, who is more than 300 places higher in the World Rankings, and Azana was never behind in the contest.

He won both the first and third games, the latter coming in a tie-break, but the Pakistani levelled the match both times. However, Azana was able to regroup once more to win the fifth game 11-4 to secure a surprise victory in 71 minutes.

The World No.470 will now face the tournament’s No.6 seed, Andres Herrera, after the Colombian overcame the No.2 seed, Noor Zaman. He came from behind after losing the first game to record a 3-1 victory, to set up an all-South American contest in the semi-finals.

The other match in the last four will be an all-English affair, between Tom Walsh and Mark Broekman. Walsh, the top seed for the event, came through against No.5 seed Miled Zarazua in straight games, while Broekman defeated the unseeded Alexander Arader to make the last four.

The action continues with the semi-finals of the Challenger 3 level tournament in Boynton Beach on Friday, February 18, with just two men left at the Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club come the end of the evening’s play.

Quarter Final Results: Kinetic 3k Challenger Presented by Sundip Murthy
[1] Tom Walsh (ENG) bt [5] Miled Zarazua (MEX) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (30m)
[4] Mark Broekman (ENG) bt Alexander Arader (USA) 3-1: 15-13, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5 (45m)
Jeremias Azana (ARG) bt [3] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) 3-2: 11-8, 9-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-4 (71m)
[6] Andres Herrera (COL) bt [2] Noor Zaman (PAK) 3-1: 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-1 (58m)

Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, February 18
[1] Tom Walsh (ENG) v [4] Mark Broekman (ENG)
Jeremias Azana (ARG) v [6] Andres Herrera (COL)