By Canadian Sporting NewsAMBATO, Ecuador – Altitude and bouncy balls hasn’t stopped Canada from having a terrific start at the Pan Am squash championships.
All three women’s entries and two of the three players in men’s competition after headed to the round 16 after a busy opening day on Saturday. All five players won their matches in straight games as well.
In women’s competition, Alexandra Norman of Montreal defeated Karol Gonzales of Colombia, Tara Mullins of Toronto eliminated Maria Petucci of Argentina and Samantha Cornett of Ottawa, the Pan Am junior champion last year, bounced Nicole Espinosa of Ecuador in first round play.
“I’m happy to get off to a good start,” said Cornett. “This match was an opportunity to get use the courts and play a match at altitude. The ball here is very bouncy and it requires some adjustment. And I’m progressively handling the altitude much better.”
Cornett and Mullins face each other on Sunday.
On the men’s side, David Phillips of Pointe-Claire, Que., beat Josue Recinos of El Salvador and Mike Reid of Montreal defeated Carlos Caballero of Paraguay. Phillips was a member of Canada’s squad that won team silver at the 2006 Pan Am Championships.
“I was well prepared,” said Phillips, Canada’s top seeded player at number-four. “I tried to set the pace early on. It’s hard to adapt to the altitude and often at tournaments like the South American players have an advantage on us because of that.”
Seventeen-year-old Andrew Schnell of Calgary won his first round match over Javier Castilla of Colombia 3-1 then lost his round of 32 to top-seed Eric Galvez of Mexico, ranked 37th in the world, 3-0. Phillips and Reid had first round byes.
“This was a great experience,” said Schnell, the reigning Canadian junior champion. “I played two very good players. I learned a lot from Galvez. He gets to the ball early and is very fast paced. I have to learn to slow it down and I did that a bit in the third game.”
Competition continues Sunday.
All three women’s entries and two of the three players in men’s competition after headed to the round 16 after a busy opening day on Saturday. All five players won their matches in straight games as well.
In women’s competition, Alexandra Norman of Montreal defeated Karol Gonzales of Colombia, Tara Mullins of Toronto eliminated Maria Petucci of Argentina and Samantha Cornett of Ottawa, the Pan Am junior champion last year, bounced Nicole Espinosa of Ecuador in first round play.
“I’m happy to get off to a good start,” said Cornett. “This match was an opportunity to get use the courts and play a match at altitude. The ball here is very bouncy and it requires some adjustment. And I’m progressively handling the altitude much better.”
Cornett and Mullins face each other on Sunday.
On the men’s side, David Phillips of Pointe-Claire, Que., beat Josue Recinos of El Salvador and Mike Reid of Montreal defeated Carlos Caballero of Paraguay. Phillips was a member of Canada’s squad that won team silver at the 2006 Pan Am Championships.
“I was well prepared,” said Phillips, Canada’s top seeded player at number-four. “I tried to set the pace early on. It’s hard to adapt to the altitude and often at tournaments like the South American players have an advantage on us because of that.”
Seventeen-year-old Andrew Schnell of Calgary won his first round match over Javier Castilla of Colombia 3-1 then lost his round of 32 to top-seed Eric Galvez of Mexico, ranked 37th in the world, 3-0. Phillips and Reid had first round byes.
“This was a great experience,” said Schnell, the reigning Canadian junior champion. “I played two very good players. I learned a lot from Galvez. He gets to the ball early and is very fast paced. I have to learn to slow it down and I did that a bit in the third game.”
Competition continues Sunday.
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