Trinity graduate Vikram Malhotra earned his twelfth career PSA title and sixth career U.S. Pro Series title–the $20,000 Oregon Open–Sunday, February 16, at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland.
Malhotra, the tournament’s top seed defeated Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas in the final. The Indian fell behind in the final, as the three seed Cardenas won the first game on a tie-break. However, Malhotra fought back to win the next three games 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 to win his twelfth PSA World Tour crown, and his second in the last three months.
It was not all plain sailing for the World No. 57 in Portland though, as he had to go to a fifth game tie-break to overcome one of the home favorites, Andrew Douglas, in the second round of the tournament.
Having lost the fourth game in a lengthy tie-break, the decider also went the distance, with the Indian eventually getting the better of Douglas 8-11, 11-4, 11-8, 13-15, 14-12. Malhotra then downed Welshman Peter Creed and Mexico’s Jesus Camacho to reach the final in Portland.