Alvaro Beltran did what many thought wouldn't be done this International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season. He beat Kane Waselenchuk at the California Open, 2-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7. It's Waselenchuk's first loss of the season.
Waselenchuk has been so dominant in his return to the IRT, winning four IRT events including the US Open, after a two year absence that people were talking of an undefeated season. But that talk ended Saturday.
Beltran will play in his 18th IRT final on Sunday, but his only win came in 2003 when the event was played under duress, as the courts were wet and the players agreed to split the points. Hence, Beltran is still looking for his first 'real' IRT tournament win.
Although Beltran hasn't won the IRT, he was the IRF World Champion in 2000, and is the reigning Pan American Champion having won that title in 2008 and 2007.
Beltran's opponent in the finals with be the IRT's #1 player Rocky Carson who ended 18 year old Jose Rojas's great run in California by winning their semi-final 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Semi finals
(1) Rocky Carson d. Jose Rojas, 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9
(3) Alvaro Beltran d. (8) Kane Waselenchuk, 2-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7
Final
(1) Rocky Carson v. (3) Alvaro Beltran
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, January 10, 2009
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1 comment:
Glad to see you were right when you wrote that Beltran had great chances of beating Kane...
Now, why do you think he hasn't been able to win an IRT tournament yet??
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