by Ian Marshall, Editor

However, there was no love lost amongst the four players who hail from Utuado, high in the hills in the centre of the island and badly hit by Hurricane Maria just under a year ago; a full distance five games outcome was the end result (7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8).

The appearance of Brian Afanador and Adriana Diaz in the final was no great surprise; they were the top seeds. At the quarter-final stage they accounted for Cuba’s Jorge Campos and Lisi Castillo, the no.7 seeds (11-13, 11-4, 11-7, 11-3), prior to securing their place in the final, courtesy of success in opposition to Colombia’s Joaquim Villegas and Paula Medina.

However, they almost came to grief. They had to recover from a two games to nil deficit, eventually securing victory by the very narrowest of margins (6-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8).

Conversely, the success recorded by Daniel Gonzalez and Melanie Diaz was somewhat unexpected; they commenced proceedings as the no.7 seeds.

After recording a second round win in opposition to the Dominican Republic’s Samuel Galvez and Yasiris Ortiz, the no.10 seeds (11-1, 12-10, 11-8), the duo progressed from strength to strength.

Most impressively at the quarter-final stage they accounted for Mexico’s Marcos Madrid and Yadira Silva, the no.2 seeds (11-9, 11-4, 11-9), prior to causing yet another upset by beating Cuba’s Andy Pereira and Idalys Lovet, the no.3 seeds (11-9, 11-8, 11-5).

Play now continues with the main draw in the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles events.