Top four men's & women's seeds through to semis at Canadian Nationals

The top four men's seeds all won their respective quarter-final matches on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the 2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships in Langley, B.C., but 2nd seed Tim Landeryou was given a major scare as Kurtis Cullen forced him to a tie-breaker before Landeryou won it, 15-5, 11-15, 12-10.

The other three top seeds all won their matches in two straight. Men's #1 seed Mike Green defeated Pedro Castro, 15-9, 15-4. He'll face Coby Iwaasa, who was a winner over James Landeryou, 15-2, 15-5, in what will be a battle of doubles partners, as Green and Iwaasa won the Men's Open Doubles title on Tuesday.

Finally, Nathanial Husulak defeated former Canadian Champion and 6th seed Corey Osborne, 15-11, 15-4. Husulak will face Tim Landeryou in the semis on Friday.

In the Landeryou-Cullen match, it was Cullen who had the lead in the tie-breaker at 6-1. But Landeryou didn't quit and pecked away at the lead to tie the game at 7-7, and then take the lead at 8-7.

Cullen, who used his powerful drive serve throughout the match, pulled back ahead at 9-8, only to see Landeryou respond with two points of his own to get to match point at 10-9.

But Cullen made two forehand pinch shots to get the serve back and then level the score at 10-10. But he couldn't get another point, as Landeryou made two winners to end the game and the match at 12-10.

Of the four remaining players, only Green has won the Canadian Championship previously, but he's done so eight times. Iwaasa is the current U18 Canadian Junior Champion (and U16 World Junior Champion) and Landeryou won both National Team Selection Events, including a win over Green in February.

It should all make for two exciting semi-finals on Friday.

Women's Division

In the women's division, the top four women's seeds are also through to the semi-finals, including defending Champion and #1 seed Jennifer Saunders defeated 8th seed Brigitte Richard, 15-3, 15-5, in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Saunders will face 4th seed Linda Ellerington in the semis in what will be a repeat of the 2005 Nationals final, which Saunders won. Ellerington beat 5th seed Michele Morissette, 18-16, 7-15, 11-3, in the quarters.

On the other side of the draw, it'll be 2nd seed Josée Grand'Maître against 3rd seed Christine Richardson, as Grand'Maître defeated 7th Nadia Verilli, 15-6, 15-4, and Richardson beat 6th seed Valerie Fallu, 15-5, 15-6, in the quarter-finals Thursday.

The 2013 Canadian National Racquetball Championships continues Friday in Langley, B.C. at Newlands Golf and Country Club and concludes Saturday May 25.

You can watch some of the action on-line via the SportsCanada.tv website.

2013 Canadian Racquetball Championships
Langley, B.C.
(seeding)

Men's Open Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

(1) Mike Green d. (16) Tommy Murray, 15-4, 15-4
(9) Pedro Castro d. (8) Samuel Murray, 15-13, 15-9

(5) James Landeryou d. (12) Troy Brooks, 15-4, 15-9
(4) Coby Iwaasa d. (13) Francis Guillemette, 15-13, 15-6

(3) Nathaniel Husulak d. (14) Sebastian Juteau, 15-4, 15-9
(6) Corey Osborne d. (22) Eric Urteaga, 15-7, 15-6

(10) Kurtis Cullen d. (7) Eric Desrochers, 15-8, 15-10
(2) Tim Landeryou d. (18) Tanner Mattson, 15-8, 15-6

Quarter-finals - Thursday night

(1) Mike Green d. (9) Pedro Castro, 15-9, 15-4
(4) Coby Iwaasa d. (5) James Landeryou, 15-2, 15-5

(3) Nathaniel Husulak d. (6) Corey Osborne, 15-11, 15-4
(2) Tim Landeryou d. (10) Kurtis Cullen, 15-5, 11-15, 12-10

Semi-finals - Friday

(1) Mike Green v. (4) Coby Iwaasa - 6 PM PDT
(2) Tim Landeryou v. (3) Nathaniel Husulak - 5 PM PDT

Women's Open Singles

Quarter finals - Thursday

(1) Jennifer Saunders d. (8) Brigitte Richard, 15-3, 15-5
(4) Linda Ellerington d. (5) Michele Morissette, 18-16, 7-15, 11-3

(3) Christine Richardson d. (6) Valerie Fallu, 15-5, 15-6
(2) Josée Grand'Maître d. (7) Nadia Verilli, 15-6, 15-4

Semi-finals - Friday

(1) Jennifer Saunders v. (4) Linda Ellerington - 4 PM PDT
(2) Josée Grand'Maître v. (3) Christine Richardson - 3 PM PDT

Follow the bouncing ball….