2011 Pan Am Games - Singles Playoffs Day 1

Heartbreak for Canada in women's singles as both Jennifer Saunders and Frédérique Lambert lost their first matches in the playoffs at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Veteran Angela Grisar of Chile defeated Saunders, 15-11, 15-7, and Bolivian Maria Vargas beat Lambert, 15-11, 15-8. The losses mean that Canada may miss the podium in women's play for the first time ever at the Pan Am Games. The Canadian team of Josée Grand'Maître and Brandi Jacobson Prentice are still in doubles, but if they win their first match against Venezuela, they will face the top seeded Mexican team of Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas.

Compounding Canada's misery was Mike Green's loss to Mexican Gilberto Mejia, 15-13, 7-15, 11-2, although Mejia was the higher seed. Canadian Vincent Gagnon did win his singles match on Thursday, beating Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, 15-9, 15-11.

Results from other matches were more expected with the possible exception of Colombian Juan Herrera's victory over Bolivian Ricardo Monroy in two straight games, 15-13, 15-7.

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

Women Singles - Round of 16

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Ishey Paredes (Ven), 15-4, 15-4
Samantha Salas (Mex) d. Maria Cordova (Ecu), 15-10, 15-1

Angela Grisar (Chile) d. Jennifer Saunders (Can), 15-11, 15-7
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) d. Cristina Amaya (Col), 15-12, 15-6

Maria Vargas (Bol) d. Frédérique Lambert (Can), 15-11, 15-8
Jenny Daza (Bol) d. Carla Munoz (Chile), 15-1, 15-1

Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Claudine Garcia (Dom), 15-4, 15-10
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Mariana Tobon (Ven), 15-6, 15-5

Men Singles - Round of 16

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) d. Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-3
Fernando Rios (Ecu) d. Cesar Castro (Ven), 15-0, 15-0, WO

Rocky Carson (USA) d. Alejandro Herrera (Col), 15-11, 15-6
Carlos Keller (Bol) d. Alex Ackermann (USA), 15-7, 15-6

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Michael Green (Can), 15-13, 7-15, 11-2
Juan Herrera (Col) d. Ricardo Monroy (Bol), 15-13, 15-7

Luis Perez (Dom) d. Cesar Castillo (Ven), 12-15, 15-10, 11-6
Vincent Gagnon (Can) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-11

Women Singles - Quarter finals (Friday)

Paola Longoria (Mex) vs. Samantha Salas (Mex)
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) vs. Angela Grisar (Chile)

Maria Vargas (Bol) vs. Jenny Daza (Bol)
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) vs. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador)

Men Singles - Quarter finals (Friday)

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) vs. Fernando Rios (Ecu)
Rocky Carson (USA) vs. Carlos Keller (Bol)

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) vs. Juan Herrera (Col)
Vincent Gagnon (Can) vs. Luis Perez (Dom)

Women Singles - Round of 32

Paola Longoria (Mex) BYE
Ishey Paredes (Ven) d. Marie Gomar (Gua), 14-15, 15-7, 11-5

Maria Cordova (Ecu) BYE
Samantha Salas (Mex) BYE

Jennifer Saunders (Can) BYE
Angela Grisar (Chile) BYE

Cristina Amaya (Col) BYE
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) BYE

Frédérique Lambert (Can) BYE
Maria Vargas (Bol) BYE

Carla Munoz (Chile) BYE
Jenny Daza (Bol) BYE

Claudine Garcia (Dom) BYE
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) BYE

Mariana Tobon (Ven) d. Veronique Guillemette (Arg), 15-0, 15-0, WO
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) BYE

Men Singles - Round of 32

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) BYE
Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Jose Ugalde (Ecu), 15-12, 11-15, 11-8

Cesar Castro (Ven) BYE
Fernando Rios (Ecu) BYE

Rocky Carson (USA) BYE
Alejandro Herrera (Col) BYE

Alex Ackermann (USA) d. Raul Banegas (Hon), 15-12, 15-5
Carlos Keller (Bol) BYE

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) BYE
Michael Green (Can) d. Ramon De Leon (Dom), 15-7, 15-3

Juan Herrera (Col) BYE
Ricardo Monroy (Bol) BYE

Cesar Castillo (Ven) BYE
Luis Perez (Dom) BYE

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-8, 15-11
Vincent Gagnon (Can) BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....