Sunday, October 24, 2010

2010 US Open - Rajsich defends title successfully

Rhonda Rajsich defeated Paola Longoria in the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) final of 2010 US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5, to successfully defend her US Open crown and win her 4th US Open. They have met in each of the last three US Open finals, with Rajsich winning the last two.

Afterwards, Longoria said "I was so close," as she had leads in the first three games, but lost two of them. She was up 6-4 in game one and looked to have the momentum. But Rajsich tied it at 8-8. After calling a timeout, she won three straight points for an 11-8 win.

Game two started with Rajsich ahead 4-0. Longoria came back to make it 5-4. Then Rajsich went ahead 7-6, but Longoria again came back, making it 9-7 and then finishing the game 11-8.

Longoria used that momentum in game three, as she went up 6-1. She was still ahead 9-6, when Rajsich again mounted a comeback and ties it at 9-9. Longoria calls time out, but to no avail as Rajsich wins the next two points, making it 11-9.

Game four was close early, as they were tied 3-3. But then Rajsich went ahead 5-3 and Longoria called a time out. Rajsich was charged though and kept going to make it 9-3. Longoria called another time out, and battled hard afterwards. There were a few side outs and she got a couple of points to make it 9-5.

Rajsich played the perfect rally to win the game and match. She hit a lob z to the right side. Longoria returned it down the line, but it came off the back wall setting up Rajsich, who hit a kill shot back down the line to win her 4th US Open.

Rajsich is the winningest women in US Open history and joins Sudsy Monchik (4) and Kane Waselenchuk (5) as the only pro players with four or more US Open titles.

2010 US Open, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Women's Final


Rhonda Rajsich d. Paola Longoria, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

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