Thursday, April 5, 2012

PARC - 2012 Pan American Championships - Women's QFs

The two top seeds in women's singles have reached the semi-finals, but the 3rd and 4th seeds were upset in the quarter-finals at the XXV Pan American Championships in Temuco, Chile, as three of the four quarter matches went tie-breaker.

Included in that was #1 seed and defending champion Rhonda Rajsich's (USA) match against Cristina Amaya (Colombia), as she won 15-13, 10-15, 11-7. However, Rajsich wasn't playing like a champion, as she made several unforced errors, and Amaya chances to win the match. In fact, Amaya could have won the first game, as she was up 8-2 and 11-5, but Rajsich managed to pull out game one. Rajsich led all the way in the tie-breaker, but it was close when Amaya got the difference to one at 7-6.

Paola Longoria of Mexico - the 2nd seed - did play like a champion Thursday as she defeated Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-5, 15-12. However, credit to Muñoz for not quitting in game two when she was down 13-4, as she came back to 13-10, at which point Longoria called time out. Muñoz then got a couple more points before Longoria was able to finish it off.

The two upsets both involved Canadians, but they weren't both wins for Canada. Frédérique Lambert, the current Girls U18 World Junior Champion, defeated veteran lefthander Susana Acosta of Mexico, 12-15, 15-6, 11-8, but Jennifer Saunders lost to Carola Loma of Bolivia, 15-5, 12-15, 11-6.

This sets up a Rajsich-Lambert semi-final on the top side of the draw and Longoria-Loma on the bottom side.

The women's singles semi-finals will be on Friday and final on Saturday. The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) is streaming matches live via their website.

XXV Pan American Championships
April 2012 - Temuco, Chile

Women's Singles - Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Cristina Amaya (Col), 15-13, 10-15, 11-7
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Susana Acosta (Mexico), 12-15, 15-6, 11-8

Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-5, 12-15, 11-6
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-12

Women's Singles - Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Frédérique Lambert (Canada)
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Carola Loma (Bolivia)

Follow the bouncing ball....

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