2010 US Open - Women's Round of 16

All five top seeds are through to the quarter finals in Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) draw of the 2010 US Open in Minneapolis, although some had it easier than others in their Round of 16 matches. The top two seeds - Paola Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich - and 5th seed Samantha Salas Solis all won in three games, but 3rd seed Cheryl Gudinas and 4th seed Kerri Wachtel needed four games to advance.

Longoria defeated two time US Open Champion Jackie Paraiso, 11-5, 11-1, 11-8. Rajsich beat Angela Grisar, 11-4, 11-7, 11-4, and Salas Solis had a straight three game victory over Colombian Cristina Amaya, 11-2, 11-5, 11-1.

Wachtel was up against Mexican veteran left-hander Susana Acosta and Wachtel got 11 points in both of the first two games but the match was level as Acosta won the second game 13-11. Wachtel then won game three easily, 11-3, but found herself down 4-0 early in game 4.

Acosta extended that lead to 6-2 and it looked to be going tie-breaker, but then Wachtel - the 2001 US Open Champion - went on a run and got to 10 first, when she led 10-8. But Acosta fought off 8 match points before she drew even at 10-10.

Wachtel, who had been using a soft Z serve to the right side - Acosta's backhand, then changed serves and hit drive Zs to the right. That proved to be the winning formula as she won the next two points and took the match in four games, 11-8, 11-13, 11-3, 12-10.

Gudinas had a battle with young American Aubrey O'Brien, but ground out a four game victory, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8. O'Brien had her chances, as she led 6-2 in both games three and four.

But Gudinas came back in both games by using a variety of serves including a lob Z to the right - O'Brien's forehand. She hit that serve on match point, and O'Brien skipped an overhead return to end the match.

In other action, Christie Huczek, a three time US Open Champion, is also through to the quarters with a four game victory over Adrienne Fisher. After losing the first two games, Fisher came out on fire in game three as she stormed to 8-0 lead.

Huczek did get herself back in the game with lob serves to Fisher's backhand, and narrowed the gap to two points at 9-7. But Fisher was able to finish off the game, 11-7.

In game four, it was back to normal for Huczek as she went back to the drive serve, took a big 7-1 lead, and then won it 11-2. Fisher didn't go down without a fight though, as Huczek needed four match points to end the game and match.

In a battle of two young up and coming players, Mexican Jessica Parrilla defeated American Sharon Jackson in four games, 11-5, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7. She next play 2nd seed Rhonda Rajsich, who defeated Angela Grisar, 11-4, 11-7, 11-4.

Finally, Aimee Ruiz defeated Nancy Enriquez in four games, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7. The leftie won the match with a drive serve to the right side that caught in the corner for an ace.

Ruiz - the 2009 US National Singles Champion - is playing in her first US Open since 1999. She recently began working for Ektelon, so being in Minneapolis is a career opportunity both on court and off.

The women's quarter finals will begin at 5 PM CDT at the Lifetime Fitness - Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2010 US Open, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Round of 16

Paola Longoria d. Jacqueline Paraiso, 11-5, 11-1, 11-8
Aimee Ruiz d. Nancy Enriquez, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7

Samantha Salas Solis d. Cristina Amaya, 11-2, 11-5, 11-1
Kerri Wachtel d. Susana Acosta, 11-8, 11-13, 11-3, 12-10

Cheryl Gudinas d. Aubrey O'brien, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Christie Huczek d. Adrienne Fisher, 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2

Jessica Parrilla d. Sharon Jackson, 11-5, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7
Rhonda Rajsich d. Angela Grisar, 11-4, 11-7, 11-4

Quarter-finals

Paola Longoria vs. Aimee Ruiz
Samantha Salas Solis vs. Kerri Wachtel

Cheryl Gudinas vs. Christie Huczek
Jessica Parrilla vs. Rhonda Rajsich

Follow the bouncing ball....