by Ian Marshall, Editor

The winner in 2015 in Mendoza, the following year in Medellin and in 2017, as today in Buenos Aires (there was no tournament in 2018, the South American Games taking preference), Alberto Miño justified his top seeded position.

At the semi-final stage he accounted for the host nation’s 17 year old Santiago Lorenzo (10-12, 11-13, 11-3, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8), before overcoming Chile’s Manuel Moya, the no.15 seed (11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3) to seal the title.

This tournament was extremely hard. We played the qualification tournament for the Panam Games; then the South American tournament. The matches were very close, I was able to adapt at the right moment. Overall, good tactics won the day. In the final Manuel would not give up; all the time I needed to be aggressive.” Alberto Miño

A splendid performance by the 28 year old from Guayaquil; pertinently, Manuel Moya was a player in form. At the semi-final stage he had beaten colleague, Felipe Olivares, the no.2 seed (11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6).

Success for Alberto Miño, followed women’s singles success for Paulina Vega, the no.2 seed. She accounted for colleagues Judith Morales, the no.6 seed (11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8) and Daniela Ortega, the no.3 seed and defending champion (11-5, 13-15, 12-10, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5) to reserve the podium’s top step.

Notably in the counterpart semi-final, Daniela Ortega had ended the progress of Colombia’s Paula Medina, the top seed (8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8).

Gold for Chile, earlier in the afternoon, Daniela Ortega and Valentina Rios, the no.4 seeds, had beaten Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi and Laura Watanabe (10-12, 15-13, 11-8, 11-9) to secure women’s doubles gold. Similarly, Nicolas Burgos and Felipe Olivares, the no.3 seeds, after ousting Alberto Miño and Ecuadorian colleague, Emiliano Riofrio, the top seeds (11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-6), accounted for Argentina’s Santiago Lorenzo and Francisco Sanchi, the no.9 seeds (11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8) to be crowned men’s doubles champions.

The top step of the podium for Nicolas Burgos, a very prosperous day, in the morning session play he had won the under 21 men’s singles event beating Peru’s Rodrigo Hidalgo in the final (11-9, 12-11, 11-1).

A fine performance from Nicolas Burgos, it was the same from Venezuela’s Neridee Niño; she secured the under 21 women’s singles top prize. She beat Giulia Takahashi in the final (11-5, 11-6, 11-8).

Successful endeavours for Nicolas Burgos and Neridee Niño as it was for Paulina Vega but no-one could match Alberto Miño. He is the South American master.

South American Championships – Schedule

South American Championships: Schedule of Play (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships – Seeding

South American Championships: Men’s Team & Women’s Team – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)
South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships: Men’s Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)
South American Championships: Women’s Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)
South American Championships: Mixed Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships: Under 21 Men’s Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)
South American Championships: Under 21 Women’s Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships – Draws & Results – Individual Events

South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 5th April)
South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Results (Sunday 7th April)

South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 5th April)
South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Results (Sunday 7th April)

South American Championships: Men’s Doubles – Results (Sunday 7th April)
South American Championships: Women’s Doubles – Results (Sunday 7th April)
South American Championships: Mixed Doubles – Main Draw (Saturday 6th April)

South American Championships: Under 21 Men’s Singles – Results (Sunday 7th April)
South American Championships: Under 21 Women’s Singles – Results (Sunday 7th April)

South American Championships – Results – Team Events

South American Championships: Men’s Team – Complete Results (Thursday 4th April)
South American Championships: Women’s Team – Complete Results (Thursday 4th April)

South American Championships: Synopsis

South American Championships: Overall Standings (Sunday 7th April)

South American Championships: Roll of Honour (Sunday 7th April)