WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Evolution Squash Open, Mexico City, Mexico

Semi-finals:
[Q] Mauricio Sánchez (MEX) bt [3] Laurent Elriani (FRA) 5-15, 8-15, 15-8, 15-12, 15-4 (92m)
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [2] Dylan Bennett (NED) 15-9, 15-14, 13-15, 15-6 (82m)

Sanchez & Galvez Storm Into Dream All-Mexican Final

Qualifier Mauricio Sánchez and unseeded Eric Galvez thrilled the crowd watching the semi-finals of the Evolution Squash Open in Mexico City by dismissing two of the new PSA Tour event's top seeds to set up an all-Mexican final which earlier would have been beyond the organisers' wildest dreams.

Mauricio "Revelation" Sánchez defeated experienced Frenchman Laurent Elriani, the No3 seed, after coming back from two games down.  With deception as his main weapon, Elriani took the first two games, sending Sanchez to front court and back court repeatedly.  The Mexican looked beaten, but Elriani seemed tired at the end of the second game.

In the third, Sánchez started a new strategy, using more attacking shots, which changed the balance of the match.  Elriani fought bravely but Sánchez now had the upper hand and after more than one and a half hours claimed his dramatic 5-15 8-15 15-8 15-12 15-4 victory and a place in the final in his first appearance in a PSA Tour event.

In the other semi-final, Galvez faced European Junior Champion Dylan Bennett, from the Netherlands.  The Mexican took the opening game, forcing errors from Bennett, the No2 seed.  The second game was played at lightning speed, with the Dutchman making a comeback to bring the game to 14-14.  A perfect shot by Galvez gave him the lead 2-0.

Bennett salvaged some pride by taking the third game, but more unforced errors from the second seed in the fourth led 20-year-old Galvez to wrap up the match 15-9 15-14 13-15 15-6 in 82 minutes.