Mexican twins Arturo Salazar and Cesar Salazar are on course to meet in a surprise final of the Torneo Internacional Sporta Open after battling through the quarter-finals of the men’s PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event at Sporta in Santa Catarina Pinula in Guatemala.
After upsetting second seed Ryan Cuskelly in the opening round, Cesar continued his impressive run by overcoming New Zealand's higher-ranked Campbell Grayson 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.
The 23-year-old from San Luis Potosi will now meet fellow countryman Eric Galvez, the world No90 from Puebla who defeated Frenchman Yann Perrin, ranked almost 30 places higher, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8.
Arturo Salazar will be hoping to make it an all-Mexican final when he lines up against top-seeded Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the other men's semi.
The fourth seed defeated compatriot Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 4-11, 11-7, while favourite Angel Rodriguez twice came from behind to beat South African qualifier Clinton Leeuw 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 11-4.
There is a guaranteed Mexican finalist in the women’s WISPA World Tour 4 championship where seventh seed Imelda Salazar Martinez upset Thaisa Serafini, the No2 seed from Brazil, 11-13, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6.
Martinez, sister of the Salazar twins, will now face compatriot Graciela Lopez Perez for a place in the final. The unseeded 19-year-old upset fourth seed Nayelly Hernandez 12-10, 11-9, 11-7.
Canada's Samantha Cornett will be hoping to prevent an all-Mexican climax. The fifth seed from Ottawa beat US giant-killer Kristen Lange 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 and will now line up against Mexican Ivonne Diaz in the other semi-final.
Third seed Diaz battled to an 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-9 win over Philadelphia-born US opponent Elpiniki Clement, the No8 seed from the USA.
RESULTS: Torneo Internacional Sporta Open, Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala
Men's quarter-finals:
[1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 11-4
[4] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt [Q] Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 4-11, 11-7
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9
Women’s quarter-finals:
[5] Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Kristen Lange (USA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-8
[3] Ivonne Diaz (MEX) bt [8] Elpiniki Clement (USA) 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-9
Graciela Lopez Perez (MEX) bt [4] Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) 12-10, 11-9, 11-7
[7] Imelda Salazar Martinez (MEX) bt [2] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-13, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6
Men’s semi-final line-up:
[1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [4] Arturo Salazar (MEX)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Eric Galvez (MEX)
Women’s semi-final line-up:
[5] Samantha Cornett (CAN) v [3] Ivonne Diaz (MEX)
[7] Imelda Salazar Martinez (MEX) v Graciela Lopez Perez (MEX)