By Canadian Sport News
AMBATO, Ecuador – Tara Mullins of Toronto completed an exhausting day of competition on Sunday with a five-game victory over number-two seed Sylvia Angulo of Columbia to advance to the semifinals at the Pan American squash championships.
Mullins beat Angulo 12-10, 11-5, 11-13, 1-11, 11-9 in the evening quarterfinal. Earlier Sunday she eliminated compatriot Samantha Cornett of Ottawa 12-10, 11-7, 3-11, 11-8 in the round of 16.
“In the second match I was starting to get tired a lot faster,” said Mullins, a member of Canada’s 2008 world championship team. “When we got to the fifth game I just wanted to play smart, focus on ball placement and keep her on the run. I also had a good match against Samantha. It’s never easy to eliminate another Canadian. I know she wanted to go deep in this tournament as well.”
Mullins faces third-seed Catalina Pelaez of Columbia in her semifinal.
Alexandra Norman of Montreal also played twice on Sunday. In the round of 16 she defeated Tatiana Borges of Brazil 11-2, 14-12, 11-7 but lost her quarterfinal to top-seed and world number-17 Samantha Teran of Mexico 11-5, 11-5, 11-8.
“This was a very good experience,” said Norman representing Canada for the first time at an international event since relocating from England. “I was happy to get the opportunity to play Samantha and I’m pleased with my overall performance at the tournament.”
In men’s play David Phillips of Pointe-Claire, Que., won two matches as well. In the round of 16 he beat Vinicius Costa of Brazil 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 11-2 and in the evening semifinal he ousted Esteban Casarino of Paraguay 11-7, 11-8, 11-4.
“There are no easy matches in this tournament,” said Phillips, a member of Canada’s world championship team last month. “It’s been a big challenge so far dealing with the altitude and the bouncier balls on the court. But I’m playing well and my goal is to win the gold here.”
Phillips plays top-seed Erick Galvez of Mexico in his semifinal.
Mike Reid of Montreal was eliminated in the round of 16 falling to Casarino 11-8, 11-4, 11-0.
The semifinals are on Monday evening.
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