Canadian Racquetball Championships - Singles Quarter Finals

Several top seeds were pushed hard in the quarter finals and some succumbed to the pressure Thursday at the 2009 Canadian National Racquetball Championships in Edmonton. Top seeds Mike Green and Jennifer Saunders survived, but barely.

In men's play, Green beat Lee Connell, 16-14, 15-13. Connell had a 14-11 advantage in game one, but was unable to close it out. However, it is progress for the 8th seed, who benefited from playing 9 events on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) this season.

Saunders easily won her first game against Christine Richardson, only to have Richardson storm back and take the second. However, Saunders took a lead in the tie-breaker and held that lead to win the match, 15-6, 10-15, 11-2.

Second seed Ryan Smith succumbed to the pressure, as he fell to 7th seed Francis Guillemette in two straight games, 15-10, 15-9. Guillemette will face 3rd seed Kris Odegard, who fought off a match point against Tim Landeryou in the tie-breaker before winning 13-15, 15-12, 14-12.

Landeryou had overcome a 10-3 deficit in the tie-breaker to lead 12-11, but he couldn't find the winning point.

The women's third seed Frédérique T. Lambert was equally pushed in her match against Denise Haynes. It was a battle of the reigning Canadian Junior Champion in Lambert versus the former Canadian Junior Champion in Haynes. Lambert won the first game, then lost game two and was down 8-7 in the tie-breaker.

At that point, Lambert called a timeout. When play resumed, Haynes faulted on her serve to let Lambert back in the service box. Lambert took advantage of the opportunity, not giving up another point as she won 15-6, 12-15, 11-8.

The Canadian Nationals singles competitions continue Thursday with the finals slated for Saturday.

Canadian National Championships
Men's Singles - Quarter-finals
Vincent Gagnon d. Eric Desrochers, 15-5, 15-7
Kris Odegard d. Tim Landeryou, 13-15, 15-12, 14-12
Francis Guillemette d. Ryan Smith, 15-10, 15-9
Michael Green d. Lee Connell, 16-14, 15-13

Men's Singles - Semi-finals (seedings)
(1) Michael Green vs. (4) Vincent Gagnon
(3) Kris Odegard vs. (7) Francis Guillemette

Women's Singles - Quarter finals
Jennifer Saunders d. Christine Richardson, 15-6, 10-15, 11-2
Brandi Jacobson Prentice d. Geneviève Brodeur, 15-7, 15-11
Frédérique T. Lambert d. Denise Haynes, 15-6, 12-15, 11-8
Josée Grand'Maître d. Brigitte Richard, 15-11, 15-1

Women's Singles - Semi finals (seedings)
(1) Jennifer Saunders vs. (4) Brandi Jacobson Prentice
(2) Josée Grand'Maître vs. (3) Frédérique T. Lambert

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