Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez emerged victorious in the final of the Tortugas Open between the event’s top two seeds to win the $18,750 PSA World Tour squash title at Tortugas Country Club in Tortuguitas, Argentina – successfully defending the crown he won in the last staging of the event in 2005.
The event favourite from Bogota faced second seed Julian Illingworth, the 26-year-old six-time US national champion from New York.
Rodriguez took advantage of a nervous start by the New Yorker to take a two-game lead.
But Illingworth regained the initiative from the beginning of the third and led throughout to reduce the deficit.
However, the Colombian sped to a 10-2 lead in the fourth and, despite twisting his ankle at this point, held his nerve and fought off the pain to clinch a remarkable 11-3, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10 victory after 56 minutes.
Rodriguez, the 24-year-old world No32, was celebrating his 20th Tour final – and now the 13th title triumph of his career.
Final:
[1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [2] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-3, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10 (56m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-9, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7 (75m)
[2] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [4] Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-8, 13-11, 3-11, 12-10 (80m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [8] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (30m)
[5] Yann Perrin (FRA) bt [3] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10 (73m)
[4] Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [6] Bernardo Samper (COL) 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 (38m)
[2] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [7] Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (32m)
1st round:
[1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Manoel Pereira (BRA) 11-3, 14-12, 11-7 (36m)
[8] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt [Q] Nahuel Hernan Ramos (ARG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-4 (20m)
[3] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 11-5 (42m)
[5] Yann Perrin (FRA) bt Esteban Casarino (PAR) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (38m)
[6] Bernardo Samper (COL) bt [Q] Hernan D’Arcangelo (ARG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (40m)
[4] Eric Galvez (MEX) bt [Q] Miled Zarazua (MEX) 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (35m)
[7] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 6-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9 (50m)
[2] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Tyler Hamilton (CAN) 11-0, 11-7, 11-6 (30m)