2011 Pan Am Games - Singles Playoffs Day 2

Mexico and the USA have chances to sweep men's and women's singles gold medals at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, as both finals are Mexico-USA showdowns. The women's final will be a repeat of the US Open from two weeks ago, as Paola Longoria will face Rhonda Rajsich, while on the men's side it's Rocky Carson versus Gilberto Mejia.

Longoria got there with a semi-final win over American Cheryl Gudinas - the gold medalist in women's singles at the two most recent Pan Am Games racquetball competitions: 2003 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and 1999 in Winnipeg, Canada. Longoria won 15-7, 15-10.

Rajsich defeated Bolivian Maria Vargas, 15-6, 15-7, in the semi-finals, and will try to carry on the tradition of American Pan Am Games gold medalists in women's singles that began with Michelle Gould in 1995 and continued with Gudinas in 1999 and 2003.

Carson's got a similar tradition to continue, as previous Pan Am Games gold medalists in men's singles have all been American: John Ellis in 1995, Adam Karp in 1999, and Jack Huczek in 2003.

In the semi-finals, Carson beat Alavro Beltran, 15-12, 15-12, and Mejia defeated Canadian Vincent Gagnon, 15-11, 14-15, 11-5.

The racquetball competition's individual competition will conclude Saturday October 22 and a team competition will run Sunday October 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Men Singles - Semi finals (Friday)

Rocky Carson (USA) d. Alvaro Beltran (Mex), 15-12, 15-12
Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Vincent Gagnon (Can), 15-11, 14-15, 11-5

Men Singles - Finals

Rocky Carson (USA) vs. Gilberto Mejia (Mex)

Women Singles - Semi finals (Friday)

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Cheryl Gudinas (USA), 15-7, 15-10
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Vargas (Bol), 15-6, 15-7

Women Singles - Finals

Paola Longoria (Mex) vs. Rhonda Rajsich (USA)

Men Singles - Quarter finals

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) d. Fernando Rios (Ecu), 15-10, 15-5
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Carlos Keller (Bol), 15-11, 15-0

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Juan Herrera (Col), 15-10, 15-8
Vincent Gagnon (Can) d. Luis Perez (Dom), 15-7, 15-9

Women Singles - Quarter finals

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Samantha Salas (Mex), 15-7, 15-5
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) d. Angela Grisar (Chile), 13-15, 15-4, 11-1

Maria Vargas (Bol) d. Jenny Daza (Bol), 15-6, 15-13
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador), 15-13, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball....