Brilliant Effort from Williams in Brazil

A sensational effort from rising New Zealand squash star Evan Williams over the weekend.

Williams made it through to the semifinals of the PSA World Tours Cerdil Open in Brazil.  The 22-year-old Kiwi is ranked 126th in the world, but caused the biggest upset in the first round when he knocked over fourth seeded American Chris Gordon, ranked more than 50 places above him.  He then accounted for 113th ranked Argentine Gonzalo in a 75 minute marathon to move through to the last four.

Unfortunately, Czech world number 50 Jan Koukal proved a bridge too far in the semifinals, but Williams still made the top seed work for his place in the title decider, pushing Koukal to four games before going down 11-13, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5.

Results
Round one
1)Jan Koukal (CZE) def Q)Arnaldo Vasconcellos (ARG) 11-2, 11-2, 11-7 (16 minutes) Joan Lezaud (FRA) def Q)Juan Pablo Roude 11-5, 11-13, 11-5, 11-5 (38 minutes) Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) def Q)Manoel Pereira (BRA) 5-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6 (63 minutes) Evan Williams (NZL) def 4)Chris Gordon (USA) 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-8 (63 minutes) 3)Rafael Alarcon (BRA) def Q)Luke Butterworth (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (25 minutes) Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) def Vinicius Rodriguez (BRA) 10-12, 13-11, 11-9, 11-4 (55 minutes) Fabien Verseille (FRA) def Fernando Lopez (MEX) 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 13-11 (65 minutes) 2)Andrew Wagih (EGY) def Leandro Romiglio (ESP) 11-6 3-1 rtd (11 minutes)

Quarterfinals
1)Jan Koukal (CZE) def Joan Lezaud (FRA) 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 (70 minutes) Evan Williams (NZL) def Gonzalo Miranda (ARG)  11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4 (75 minutes) 3)Rafael Alarcon (BRA) def Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (32 minutes) 2)Andrew Wagih (EGY) def Fabien Verseille (FRA) 11-5, 11-9, 11-1 (25 minutes)

Semifinals
1)Jan Koukal (CZE) def Evan Williams (NZL) 11-13, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 3)Rafael Alarcon (BRA) def 2)Andrew Wagih (EGY) 3-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9

Full draws/results available from: http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/cerdil_open_2012.htm.