IRT - New Jersey Open Preview

The New Jersey Open - the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) last event of the calendar year - begins today in Warren, New Jersey. has 23 players, and for the first time since April 2009, Kane Waselenchuk is the 2nd seed in the draw.

Rocky Carson took over the #1 spot on the IRT rankings last month as Waselenchuk has missed a couple of events and lost in the semi-finals of another. Thus, for the first time in over four and a half years Waselenchuk is seeded #2.

We expect that will only be more motivation for Waselenchuk, who has only lost one completed match in that four and half year span (there have been a couple of matches where he had to retire due to injury).

We anticipate that Waselenchuk will be lifting the New Jersey Trophy Saturday night, as the New Jersey Open's final will be Saturday night final, rather than Sunday.

Also in the draw, IRT #3 Alvaro Beltran is likely to meet fellow Mexican Daniel De La Rosa - the 6th seed - in the quarter finals, and if they do play, it will be the fifth time they'll have met on tour this season. Beltran's won all four meetings thus far, although last weekend in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin he needed a tie-breaker to fend off the younger Mexican.

But the main thing to look for this weekend is a return to form for the former - and likely future - IRT #1: Kane Waselenchuk.

Matches from New Jersey can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network.

2013 New Jersey Open
Warren, New Jersey

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Toby Devore v. Miguel Nunez
Fernando Rios v. David Austin

Ismael Zhindon v. Andrew Kopf

Joseph Palazzo v. Jonathan Clay

John Scott v. Thomas Carter

Jose Daniel Ugalde v. Jack Goldberg
Charlie Pratt v. Scott Manship

Jose Daniel Alvarez v. Mitch Posner

Shai Manzuri v. John Behm

Robert Collins v. Johnathan Justice
Matthew Majxner v. Abraham Cardenas

Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday

Q8: Toby Devore or Miguel Nunez v. Fernando Rios or David Austin
Q1: Marco Rojas v. Ismael Zhindon or Andrew Kopf

Q4: Alex Ackermann v. Joseph Palazzo or Jonathan Clay
Q5: Mauricio Zelada v. John Scott or Thomas Carter

Q6: Jose Daniel Ugalde or Jack Goldberg v. Charlie Pratt or Scott Manship
Q3: Andy Hawthorne v. Jose Daniel Alvarez or Mitch Posner

Q2: Jose Diaz v. Shai Manzuri or John Behm
Q7: Robert Collins or Johnathan Justice v. Matthew Majxner or Abraham Cardenas

Round of 16 - Friday

Rocky Carson v. Q8
Jansen Allen v. Q1

Chris Crowther v. Q4
Jose Rojas v. Q5

Alvaro Beltran v. Q6
Daniel De La Rosa v. Q3

Tony Carson v. Q2
Kane Waselenchuk v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball….