2010 Pan American Championships - Monroy closes the deal

Ricardo Monroy became the 1st Bolivian to capture the men's singles title at the Pan American Championships Saturday as he defeated Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) in the final, 15-11, 15-7, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, at the 23rd Pan American Championships. In fact, Monroy is the first Bolivian to reach the final.

It was a magical tournament for Monroy, as he defeated 4th seed Vincent Gagnon, 1st seed Gil De Los Rios and then 2nd seed Gutierrez en route to the title. Moreover, those three victories were each in two straight games.

For Gutierrez, he seems destined to be a Pan Am bridesmaid but not the Pan Am bride as he was runner up for the third year in a row. Mexican Alvaro Beltran defeated Gutierrez in each of last two years. Beltran missed this tournament as he's still recovering from a knee injury that has prevented him from playing at all this season.

On the women's side, Paola Longoria of Mexico won women's singles by defeating Jennifer Saunders of Canada in Saturday's final, 15-10, 15-11. It's Longoria's third Pan Am title, as she previously won it in 2008 and 2006. For Saunders, it's her first international final in singles since the 2002 World Championships, which she lost to American Cheryl Gudinas.

Mexico also beat Canada in women's doubles, as Samantha Salas Solis and Susana Acosta-Mendoza defeated Frédérique Lambert and Geneviève Brodeur, 15-11, 15-4.

But the Canadians won gold in men's doubles, as Mike Green and Tim Landeryou defeated the Mexican team of Ruben Estrada and Alejandro Landa, 15-9, 12-15, 11-9. It's Landeryou's first gold medal for Canada in his first international appearance on Team Canada, and Green's second gold at the Pan Am Championships. Green won singles at the 1999 Pan Ams.

Overall, it's the third time Canada has won gold at this event in men's doubles. Vincent Gagnon and Francois Viens won it in 2006, and Mike Ceresia and Roger Harripersad were gold medalists back in 1992 when this event was called the Tournament of the Americas.

XXIII Pan American Racquetball Championship
San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Women's Singles Final

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-10, 15-11

Men's Single Final

Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia) d. Leopoldo Gutierrez (Mexico), 15-11, 15-7

Men's Doubles Final

Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Ruben Estrada & Alejandro Landa (Mexico), 15-9, 12-15, 11-9

Women's Doubles Final

Samantha Salas Solis & Susana Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) d. Frédérique Lambert & Geneviève Brodeur (Canada), 15-11, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball....