2010 Pan American Championships - Monroy surprise finalist

Bolivian Ricardo Monroy upset top seed Gil De Los Rios of Mexico in the semi-finals in San Pedro Sula, Honduras at the 23rd Pan American Championships. He'll face 2nd seed Polo Gutierrez of Mexico in the final, who defeated Canadian Kris Odegard, 15-3, 15-5 in the other semi-final on Friday.

In women's singles, #1 seed Paola Longoria ended the return of Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic) with a decisive win, 15-1, 15-9. That sets up a gold medal show down with the #2 seed Jennifer Saunders of Canada who beat Longoria's team mate Nancy Enriquez (Mexico), 15-12, 15-11.

In doubles, the stage is set for two Mexican-Canadian playoffs. On the women's side, the #1 seeded Mexicans Samantha Salas Solis and Susana Acosta-Mendoza got a default victory over Columbians Carolina Gomez and Cristina Amaya (Columbia) and the 2nd seeded Canadians Frédérique Lambert and Geneviève Brodeur defeated Claudine Garcia and Yira Portes of the Dominican Republic, 15-2, 15-4.

In men's play, Mexicans Ruben Estrada and Alejandro Landa squeaked out the first game of their match with Bolivians Ricardo Monroy and Carlos Keller Vargas, and then took a 6-0 lead in the second game and carried through to win the match, 15-14, 15-7.

Canadians Mike Green and Tim Landeryou needed a tie-breaker to beat the Columbian team of Andres Herrera and Francisco Gomez of Columbia, 15-5, 14-15, 11-1. The Canadians served everything to Gomez, who was playing the right side. Early they were serving lobs, but in the tie-breaker they switched to hitting drive z serves.

XXIII Pan American Racquetball Championship
San Pedro Sula, Honduras

MEN'S SINGLES

Semi Finals

Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia) d. Gilberto De Los Rios (Mexico), 15-10, 15-8
Leopoldo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Kris Odegard (Canada), 15-3, 15-5

Final

Leopoldo Gutierrez (Mexico) vs. Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Semi finals

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Claudine Garcia (Dom. Rep.), 15-1, 15-9
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Nancy Enriquez (Mexico), 15-12, 15-11

Final

Paola Longoria (Mexico) vs. Jennifer Saunders (Canada)

MEN'S DOUBLES

Semi-finals

Ruben Estrada & Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. Ricardo Monroy & Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia), 15-14, 15-7
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Andres Herrera & Francisco Gomez (Columbia), 15-5, 14-15, 11-1

WOMEN'S DOUBLES

Semi-finals

Samantha Salas Solis & Susana Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) d. Carolina Gomez & Cristina Amaya (Columbia), forfeit
Frédérique Lambert & Geneviève Brodeur (Canada) d. Claudine Garcia & Yira Portes (Dom. Rep.), 15-2, 15-4

Final

Samantha Salas Solis & Susana Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) vs. Frédérique Lambert & Geneviève Brodeur (Canada)

Follow the bouncing ball....