Costa Rica Hailed As New PSA Tour Stopover
8 Sep 2010
Andres Echeverria leads local interest in the 'Tour De Las Americas' Costa Rica Squash Open, the first PSA World Tour event ever to be staged in Costa Rica.
The $6,750 Super Satellite championship gets underway today at the Costa Rica Tennis Club in the Central America country's capital San Jose following the completion of the qualifying competition.
"We are delighted to have another Pan American country venue on the PSA Tour," said Professional Squash Association Tour Executive Sheila Cooksley. "The PSA is very keen to get PSA players into as many countries as we can to showcase the PSA World Tour.
"We look forward to helping the organisers build the tournament over the years to come."
Andres Echeverria, a 27-year-old from San Jose ranked 431 in the world, has twice represented Costa Rica in the Pan American Championships - but is making his Tour debut in this inaugural PSA event in his hometown.
Echeverria, who will be joined by 'lucky loser' Lucas Restrepo in the main draw following the late withdrawal of third-seeded Mexican Erik Tepos Valtierra, will face Canada's top seed Robin Clarke in the opening round.
Updated 1st round draw:
[1] Robin Clarke (CAN) v Andres Echeverria (CRC)
[8] Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) v Salvador Martinez (MEX)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) v Lucas Restrepo (CRC)
[7] Lekgotla Mosope (BOT) v [Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX)
[5] Manoel Pereira (BRA) v [Q] Byron Garcia (ESA)
[4] Tom Pashley (ENG) v Sergio Lopez (MEX)
[6] Fabien Verseille (FRA) v [Q] Jamie MacAulay (SCO)
[2] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) v [Q] Bryan Bonilla (GUA)
Qualifying finals:
Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Lucas Restrepo (CRC) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
Byron Garcia (ESA) bt Gabriel Bravo (CRC) 11-5, 11-7, 11-0
Bryan Bonilla (GUA) bt Carlos Schonenberg (CRC) 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 11-7
Jamie MacAulay (SCO) bt Tomas Restrepo (CRC) 11-3, 11-2, 11-5