24 Mar 2007

The final of the Saskatchewan Open will feature the PSA Tour event's top two seeds after Bernardo Samper and Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira prevailed in the semi-finals at the Regina Court & Fitness Club in Regina, Canada.

After surviving a four-game quarter-final, Colombian favourite Bernardo Samper despatched Laurent Elriani in straight games in the semis, beating the third seed from France 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 in 48 minutes.

By contrast, Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira cruised through his quarter-final match against English qualifier Tom Pashley without dropping a game - but twice had to come from behind in a five-game semi-final marathon before overcoming Canadian Ian Power, the fourth seed, 10-11 (1-3), 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 in 67 minutes.

Ferreira, the 24-year-old second seed from Mexico City, is through to the fifth PSA Tour final of his career - and the second of the year after winning the Rochester Pro Open in the USA in January - while Bogotá-based Samper, also 24, is celebrating his third Tour final and looking for his maiden win.

Semi-finals:
[1] Bernardo Samper (COL) bt [3] Laurent Elriani (FRA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (48m)
[2] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [4] Ian Power (CAN) 10-11 (1-3), 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 (67m)