Torneo Internacional: Soares Survives Scare from Baillargeon to reach Last 16

The first round of the XII Torneo International PSA Sporta saw 16 players battle it out for a spot in the second round of the tournament in Guatemala.

Rui Soares’ route into the second round was much tougher than he would have expected, as he had to come from two games down to beat Canada’s David Baillargeon.

The World No.109 won the first two games relatively comfortably before Soares started his comeback. Portugal’s No.1 then won the third and fourth to take it into a decider, before then winning the fifth to scrape into the second round.

\Alfredo Avila overcame England’s Robert Downer to reach the second round in straight games, making it three Mexicans in the last 16 of the tournament.

Juan Camilo Vargas overcame US No.3 Christopher Gordon to reach the second round, while Gordon’s compatriot, Shahjahan Khan, won his first round clash to set up a match with No.1 seed Miguel Rodriguez

There is also a pair of Frenchman through to the last 16, as Auguste Dussourd and Victor Crouin succeeded against Josue Enriquez and Jesus Camacho, respectively.

Switzerland’s Dimitri Steinmann and Mexico’s Mario Yanez are the other two men into the last 16, the stage of the competition where the seeded players enter the fray.

Yanez set up a battle with World No.8 Diego Elias, while the Salazar brothers, Karim El Hammamy, Chris Hanson and Mazen Gamal also start their campaigns later today.

Results – First Round
Shahjahan Khan (USA) bt Sean Conroy (IRL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-8
Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt Michael McCue (CAN) 3-2: 11-8, 10-12, 11-3, 7-11, 11-4
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt Josue Enriquez (GUA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Rui Soares (POR) bt David Baillargeon (CAN) 3-2: 6-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Robert Downer (ENG) bt Alfred Avila (MEX) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Jesus Camacho (MEX) 3-1: 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-6
Mario Yanez (MEX) bt Martin Svec (CZE) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6

Draw – Second Round
[1] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) v Shahjahan Khan (USA)
Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) v [6] Karim El Hammamy (EGY)
[8] Chris Hanson (USA) v Auguste Dussourd (FRA)
Rui Soares (POR) v [3] Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[4] Greg Lobban (SCO) v Robert Downer (ENG)
Christopher Gordon (USA) v [7] Mazen Gamal (EGY)
[5] Arturo Salazar (MEX) v Victor Crouin (FRA)
Mario Yanez (MEX) v [2] Diego Elias (PER)