RESULTS: Baltimore Squash Cup, Baltimore, USA
Quarter-finals:
[1] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt [Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 4-11, 12-10
[4] Scott Arnold (AUS) bt [Q] Elvinn Keo (MAS) 11-8, 11-9, 11-9
[3] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt [6] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-5, 11-4, 11-9
[2] Amr Swelim (ITA) bt [5] David Phillips (CAN) 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11
Mexican twins Arturo Salazar and Cesar Salazar enjoyed mixed success in the quarter-finals of the Baltimore Cup, the $10,000 PSA World Tour squash event at Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, USA.
Top seed Arturo ended the magical run of Joel Hinds, beating the English qualifier who was competing in his 10th match in 11 days across two cities, having won the Pittsburgh Open as a qualifier last week.
Both players battled hard before Salazar sneaked through 11-4, 11-6, 4-11, 12-10.
Earlier Cesar, the 21-year-old sixth seed, went down 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 to Mohammed Abbas, the third seed and former world No13 from Egypt who is returning to the Tour after a long injury layoff.
"Abbas was mightily impressive tonight," said tournament organiser Ben Garner. "He dominated the first two games - hitting tight, dying lengths followed by some delightfully soft drop shots to keep Salazar moving around the four corners of the court.
"Salazar battled gamely but Abbas’s class was evident in his quality shot-making. The third game was much closer but his experience came through in the final couple of points."
Abbas now faces Italian Amr Swelim, though the Cairo-based second seed battled for five games before overcoming Canada's No5 seed David Phillips 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11.
"For the second night running, Swelim was 10-9 down in the fifth - and again he maintained his composure, saving three match balls to win 14-12 in the final game!" Garner explained.
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Arturo Salazar (MEX) v [4] Scott Arnold (AUS)
[2] Amr Swelim (ITA) v [3] Mohammed Abbas (EGY)