IRT - 2011 Mexico Open Semi finals

They'll be at it again, Kane Waselenchuk and Rocky Carson will, on Sunday as they'll face off in the final of the 2011 Mexico Open in Tijuana on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). It'll be their 9th meeting this season in a final, and Waselenchuk has won all of them.

Waselenchuk reached the final with a decisive victory over 4th seed Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0. Croft wasn't helped by taking three technicals during the match including two together in game one, when he was down 7-3. That made the score 7-1, and Croft didn't score again that game.

Croft said afterwards that it's frustrating that "no one else gets technicals" for doing things that should have warranted a technical referring to Waselenchuk hitting the ball in the direction of the referee after the rally. "I'm not saying I don't deserve mine," said Croft, but rather that it seemed unjust to be the only player getting t-ed up.

Nonetheless, Croft wasn't "going to make excuses" for the outcome by blaming the referee or the court conditions, as the cause of the loss was clear: "it was me today."

Waselenchuk agreed that it wasn't Croft's best day. "It seemed he wasn't seeing the ball that well," said Waselenchuk adding it "seems like the ball's moving in slow motion to me."

That sense contributed to the score line, but Waselenchuk felt "I didn't think I played as well as I could have." One only wonders how good THAT would be.

In the other semi-final, Carson defeated surprise semi-finalist Jose Rojas, 14-12, 11-8, 11-2. After winning a close first game Carson led all the way in game two, although Rojas did get within one point when he trailed 8-7, but that's as close as he got.

Rojas said he was "trying to shoot everything," but needs "a different game plan next time," as Carson is more than happy to rally with his opponents, waiting for his opportunity to hit a winner or an opponent's error.

Rojas has a powerful arsenal of shots but he's too inconsistent to win an entire tournament against the top players. More consistency will come with time, which the young player has on his side, and a realization that trying to shoot everything is not always the best strategy.

The final will begin at noon PDT Saturday and can be view via the IRT Network.

2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0
Rocky Carson d. Jose Rojas, 14-12, 11-8, 11-2

Finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Rocky Carson

Follow the bouncing ball....