Adam Manilla won his 2nd Boy's U18 USA Junior Olympic title Sunday at the 2014 Wilson USA Racquetball Junior Olympics in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Manilla's home state. It was the left-hander's fifth consecutive junior title and his last, as he'll turn 19 this year.
However, for much of the first game it looked like Connor Laffey would deny Manilla the pleasure of winning at home, as Laffey led 9-2 and 14-8 in game one. Laffey was serving lobs and nick lobs to Manilla's backhand, and Manilla wasn't doing much with them. Moreover, during rallies Manilla, who has a shooter's game style, was not shooting well - skipping several shots.
But Laffey wasn't able to get that 15th point, and as the first game went on, Manilla found his shooting groove. Laffey had four opportunities to win game one, but couldn't convert any.
When Manilla - the #1 seed and favourite coming in - completed the comeback, you knew that game two was not going to be close. And it wasn't, as Manilla went up 14-0 on Laffey. But kudos to Laffey, as he kept fighting until the end, and Manilla had to serve six times for the match, even taking a timeout at 14-1 after being unsuccessful on his first five opportunities.
Like Manilla, Jordan Barth was also a repeat winner, but his U14 title was his 3rd consecutive title. This year he defeated Akul Ramayani in the final, 15-4, 15-10. Ramayani was the 7th seed, and won the Boy's U12 division.
In Boy's U16, Mauro Rojas defeated Wayne Antone, 15-6, 15-9, for the title, in what was the first year in U16 for both players.
Boy's Doubles
In Boy's Doubles, Diaz and Elkins teamed up to take the U14 title by defeating David Marsen and Sam Myers in the final, 15-12, 15-4. The U16 title went to Barth and Justus Benson, who beat Birnel and M. Rojas, 15-10, 15-8. And the U18 title went to Manilla and Sawyer Lloyd, who were 15-1, 15-10 winners over Laffey and Antone.
Girl's U18
Hollie Scott won the Girl's U18 title by defeating Hollee Hungerford in a closely contested final, 15-12, 9-15, 11-9. The play went back and forth between. Scott was the taller and younger player, as she was the 3rd place winner in Girl's U16 also. But Hungerford was very athletic on court, including diving for the ball several times to try to keep the rally going. Hungerford also had a good drive serve that she maybe should have used more in the match.
The top finishers in the 2014 Wilson USA Racquetball Junior Olympics at the Highlands Ranch Recreation Center in Highlands Ranch, Colorado qualified for the 2014 US Junior National Team that will compete at the International Racquetball Federation World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia October 19-25.
Also announced: the 2015 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics will be in Stockton, California.
2014 Wilson USA Racquetball Junior Olympics
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Boy's U18
Final
Adam Manilla (Centennial, Col.) d. Connor Laffey (Salem, Ore.), 15-14, 15-2
3rd Place
Sam Bredenbeck (Marine On St Croix, Minn.) d. Joshua Lebow (Salem, Ore.), 15-10, 15-7
Boy's U16
Final
Mauro Rojas (Stockton, Calif.) d. Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, Ore.), 15-6, 15-9
3rd Place
Jake Birnel (Bellingham, Wash.) d. Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.), 15-7, 14-15, 11-9
Boy's U14
Final
Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.) d. Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), 15-4, 15-10
3rd Place
Ricardo Diaz (Stockton, Calif.) d. Dane Elkins (Los Angeles), 15-7, 15-7
Boy's U18 Doubles
Final
Adam Manilla (Centennial, Col.) & Sawyer Lloyd (Pentaluma, Calif.) d. Wayne Antone IV (Junction City, Ore.) & Connor Laffey (Salem, Ore.), 15-1, 15-10
3rd Place
Thomas Carter (Murrysville, Penn.) & Kyle Ulliman (Westerville, Ohio) d. Sam Bredenbeck (Marine On St Croix, Minn.) & Dima Wert (Pentaluma, Calif.), 15-2, 15-10
Boy's U16 Doubles
Final
Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.) & Justus Benson (Sun Prairie, Wisc.) d.
Jake Birnel (Bellingham, Wash.) & Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA), 15-10, 15-8
3rd Place
Kevin Vazquez (Miami, Fla.) & Evan Wargo (Clearwater, Fla.) d. Ellis Syke (Coon Rapids, Minn.) & Eric Loiselle (Clive, Iowa), 15-3, 15-11
Boy's U14 Doubles
Final
Ricardo Diaz (Stockton, Calif.) & Dane Elkins (Los Angeles) d. David Marsen (Arlington, Tex.) & Sam Myers (Springdale, Ark.), 15-12, 15-4
3rd Place
Krish Thakur (Tracy, Calif.) & Sahil Thakur (Tracy, Calif.) d. Jonathan Maupin (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) & Timmy Hansen (Wellington, Fla.), 15-12, 5-15, 11-10
Girl's U18
Final
Hollie Scott (Bellingham, Wash.) d. Hollee Hungerford (Milwakie, Ore.), 15-12, 9-15, 11-9
3rd Place
Emily Stanton (Littleton, Col.) d. Danielle Falvey (Sussex, Wis.), 15-8, 15-10
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, June 29, 2014
2014 USA Junior Olympics - Cooperrider repeats as champion
Jordan Cooperrider successfully defended her U16 USA Junior title Saturday at the 2014 Wilson USA Racquetball Junior Olympics in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with a win over Erika Manilla, 15-4, 8-15, 11-4, in what was a rematch of last year's U14 final.
This year's U14 champion is Kaitlyn Boyle, who defeated Briana Jacquet, 15-10, 15-10.
The Girl's U18 final will go Sunday when Hollee Hungerford faces off with Hollie Scott. In the semi-finals, Hungerford defeated Emily Stanton, 15-3, 3-15, 11-6, and Scott beat Danielle Falvey.
In Girl's Doubles, Cooperrider and Manilla teamed up and won the U16 title in a round-robin with three other teams that was across both U16 and U18 divisions. Hungerford and Falvey took the U18 title, although they finished third in the round-robin behind Karina Quintanilla and Daniela Torres. Kristine Holman and Madison Kerzel were fourth.
Boy's Divisions
Jordan Barth will be going for his 3rd title in Boy's U14 Sunday, when he plays Akul Ramayani in the final. Ramayani is a surprise finalist, as he was the 7th seed in the draw, but defeated 2nd seed Antonio Rojas in the quarterfinals, 10-15, 15-2, 11-2, and Dane Elkins, 15-8, 15-8, in the semis. Barth beat Ricardo Diaz, 15-0, 15-2, in the other semi.
Both Mauro Rojas and Wayne Antone needed tie-breakers to reach the U16 final, as 2nd seed Rojas beat Barth - playing two singles divisions - 15-11, 10-15, 11-8 in one semi-final while 5th seed Antone defeated top seed Jake Birnel, 3-15, 15-11, 11-7. Sunday's final will be a rematch for Rojas and Antone, who met in the semis of U14 last year with Rojas winning in a tie-breaker.
Adam Manilla and Connor Laffey will meet in a Junior Olympics final for the third year running, as they'll face off in the Boy's U18 final for the second time; they also met in the U16 in 2012. Left-hander Manilla has won both of the previous meetings.
In the semis, Manilla defeated Joshua Lebow, 15-5, 15-6, and Laffey beat Sam Bredenbeck, 15-12, 15-4.
In Boy's Doubles, Elkins and Diaz won the U14 title, defeating David Marsen and Sam Myers in the final, 15-12, 15-4. The U16 title went to Barth and Justus Benson, who beat Birnel and M. Rojas, 15-10, 15-8. And the U18 title went to Manilla and Sawyer Lloyd, who were 15-1, 15-10 winners over Laffey and Antone.
The 2014 Wilson USA Racquetball Junior Olympics concludes Sunday at the Highlands Ranch Recreation Center in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Play can be viewed live via the IRT Network.
2014 Wilson USA Racquetball Junior Olympics
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Boy's U14
Semi-finals
Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.) d. Ricardo Diaz (Stockton, Calif.), 15-0, 15-2
Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) d. Dane Elkins (Los Angeles), 15-8, 15-8
Final
Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.) v. Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)
Boy's U16
Semi-finals
Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA) d. Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.), 15-11, 10-15, 11-8
Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR) d. Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA), 3-15, 15-11, 11-7
Final
Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA) v. Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR)
Boy's U18
Semi-finals
Adam Manilla (Centennial, Col.) d. Joshua Lebow (Salem, Ore.), 15-5, 15-6
Connor Laffey (Salem, Ore.) d. Sam Bredenbeck (Marine On St Croix, Minn.), 15-12, 15-4
Final
Adam Manilla (Centennial, Col.) v. Connor Laffey (Salem, Ore.)
Girl's U14
Final
Kaitlyn Boyle (Beaverton, Ore.) d. Briana Jacquet (Golden, Col.), 15-10, 15-10
3rd Place
Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, Calif.) d. Hannah Carver (Spokane, Wash.), 15-9, 15-7
Girl's U16
Final
Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, FL) d. Erika Manilla (Centennial, CO), 15-4, 8-15, 11-4
3rd place
Hollie Scott (Bellingham, WA) d. Kristine Holman (Salem, OR), 15-4, 15-9
Girl's U18
Final
Hollee Hungerford (Milwakie, Ore.) v. Hollie Scott (Bellingham, WA)
3rd Place
Emily Stanton (Littleton, Col.) v. Danielle Falvey (Sussex, WI)
Semi-finals
Hollee Hungerford (Milwakie, Ore.) d. Emily Stanton (Littleton, Col.), 15-3, 3-15, 11-6
Hollie Scott (Bellingham, WA) d. Danielle Falvey (Sussex, WI)
Girl's U16/U18 Doubles
1st - Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, Fla.) & Erika Manilla (Centennial, Col.)
2nd - Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, Tex.) & Daniela Torres (San Antonio, Tex.)
3rd - Hollee Hungerford (Milwakie, Ore.) & Danielle Falvey (Sussex, Wis.)
4th - Kristine Holman (Salem, Ore.) & Madison Kerzel (Salem, Ore.)
Follow the bouncing ball….
This year's U14 champion is Kaitlyn Boyle, who defeated Briana Jacquet, 15-10, 15-10.
The Girl's U18 final will go Sunday when Hollee Hungerford faces off with Hollie Scott. In the semi-finals, Hungerford defeated Emily Stanton, 15-3, 3-15, 11-6, and Scott beat Danielle Falvey.
In Girl's Doubles, Cooperrider and Manilla teamed up and won the U16 title in a round-robin with three other teams that was across both U16 and U18 divisions. Hungerford and Falvey took the U18 title, although they finished third in the round-robin behind Karina Quintanilla and Daniela Torres. Kristine Holman and Madison Kerzel were fourth.
Boy's Divisions
Jordan Barth will be going for his 3rd title in Boy's U14 Sunday, when he plays Akul Ramayani in the final. Ramayani is a surprise finalist, as he was the 7th seed in the draw, but defeated 2nd seed Antonio Rojas in the quarterfinals, 10-15, 15-2, 11-2, and Dane Elkins, 15-8, 15-8, in the semis. Barth beat Ricardo Diaz, 15-0, 15-2, in the other semi.
Both Mauro Rojas and Wayne Antone needed tie-breakers to reach the U16 final, as 2nd seed Rojas beat Barth - playing two singles divisions - 15-11, 10-15, 11-8 in one semi-final while 5th seed Antone defeated top seed Jake Birnel, 3-15, 15-11, 11-7. Sunday's final will be a rematch for Rojas and Antone, who met in the semis of U14 last year with Rojas winning in a tie-breaker.
Adam Manilla and Connor Laffey will meet in a Junior Olympics final for the third year running, as they'll face off in the Boy's U18 final for the second time; they also met in the U16 in 2012. Left-hander Manilla has won both of the previous meetings.
In the semis, Manilla defeated Joshua Lebow, 15-5, 15-6, and Laffey beat Sam Bredenbeck, 15-12, 15-4.
In Boy's Doubles, Elkins and Diaz won the U14 title, defeating David Marsen and Sam Myers in the final, 15-12, 15-4. The U16 title went to Barth and Justus Benson, who beat Birnel and M. Rojas, 15-10, 15-8. And the U18 title went to Manilla and Sawyer Lloyd, who were 15-1, 15-10 winners over Laffey and Antone.
The 2014 Wilson USA Racquetball Junior Olympics concludes Sunday at the Highlands Ranch Recreation Center in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Play can be viewed live via the IRT Network.
2014 Wilson USA Racquetball Junior Olympics
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Boy's U14
Semi-finals
Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.) d. Ricardo Diaz (Stockton, Calif.), 15-0, 15-2
Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) d. Dane Elkins (Los Angeles), 15-8, 15-8
Final
Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.) v. Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)
Boy's U16
Semi-finals
Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA) d. Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, Minn.), 15-11, 10-15, 11-8
Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR) d. Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA), 3-15, 15-11, 11-7
Final
Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA) v. Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR)
Boy's U18
Semi-finals
Adam Manilla (Centennial, Col.) d. Joshua Lebow (Salem, Ore.), 15-5, 15-6
Connor Laffey (Salem, Ore.) d. Sam Bredenbeck (Marine On St Croix, Minn.), 15-12, 15-4
Final
Adam Manilla (Centennial, Col.) v. Connor Laffey (Salem, Ore.)
Girl's U14
Final
Kaitlyn Boyle (Beaverton, Ore.) d. Briana Jacquet (Golden, Col.), 15-10, 15-10
3rd Place
Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, Calif.) d. Hannah Carver (Spokane, Wash.), 15-9, 15-7
Girl's U16
Final
Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, FL) d. Erika Manilla (Centennial, CO), 15-4, 8-15, 11-4
3rd place
Hollie Scott (Bellingham, WA) d. Kristine Holman (Salem, OR), 15-4, 15-9
Girl's U18
Final
Hollee Hungerford (Milwakie, Ore.) v. Hollie Scott (Bellingham, WA)
3rd Place
Emily Stanton (Littleton, Col.) v. Danielle Falvey (Sussex, WI)
Semi-finals
Hollee Hungerford (Milwakie, Ore.) d. Emily Stanton (Littleton, Col.), 15-3, 3-15, 11-6
Hollie Scott (Bellingham, WA) d. Danielle Falvey (Sussex, WI)
Girl's U16/U18 Doubles
1st - Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, Fla.) & Erika Manilla (Centennial, Col.)
2nd - Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, Tex.) & Daniela Torres (San Antonio, Tex.)
3rd - Hollee Hungerford (Milwakie, Ore.) & Danielle Falvey (Sussex, Wis.)
4th - Kristine Holman (Salem, Ore.) & Madison Kerzel (Salem, Ore.)
Follow the bouncing ball….
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Team Standings & Results Sumamry
Team USA was the clear winner in the overall team standings at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, last week, as they were in three of the four finals, winning one and all but one of their eight player team finished in the medals. But of the top four finishers in the Men's and Women's Team standings, only the USA was in both.
The USA topped the Men's Team standings, led by Rocky Carson, who was the gold medalist in Men's Singles, and complimented by Jose Rojas in Men's Singles and Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann in Men's Doubles, who were all bronze medalists. Bolivia was 2nd in the Men's Team, as Coronado Moscoso was the silver medalist in Men's Singles, with Carlos Keller bronze in singles, and Moscoso and Mario Mercado were bronze medalists in doubles.
Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera were 3rd in the Men's Team standings, helped by their gold medal performance in doubles, and Canada was 4th led by Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon, the silver medalists in doubles.
Mexico topped the Women's Team standings, as Paola Longoria won singles and doubles with Samantha Salas, who was also a bronze medalist in singles. USA was the 2nd place Women's Team with silver for Rhonda Rajsich in singles, and silver for Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger in doubles.
The Ecuador team of Veronica Sotomayor and Maria Paz Muñoz were the 3rd place Women's Team, with a bronze medal performance in doubles, and the Argentina team was 4th led by Maria Jose Vargas, who was a bronze medalist in singles.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Overall Team
1st: USA
2nd: Mexico
3rd: Bolivia
4th: Canada
Men's Team
1st: USA
2nd: Bolviia
3rd: Colombia
4th: Canada
Women's Team
1st: Mexico
2nd: USA
3rd: Ecuador
4th: Argentina
Men's Singles
GOLD: Rocky Carson (USA)
SILVER: Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Jose Rojas (USA), Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
Men's Doubles
GOLD: Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
SILVER: Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada)
BRONZE: Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia), Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA)
Women's Singles
GOLD: Paola Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER: Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
BRONZE: Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), Samantha Salas (Mexico)
Women's Doubles
GOLD: Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
SILVER: Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA)
BRONZE: Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile), Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Follow the bouncing ball....
The USA topped the Men's Team standings, led by Rocky Carson, who was the gold medalist in Men's Singles, and complimented by Jose Rojas in Men's Singles and Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann in Men's Doubles, who were all bronze medalists. Bolivia was 2nd in the Men's Team, as Coronado Moscoso was the silver medalist in Men's Singles, with Carlos Keller bronze in singles, and Moscoso and Mario Mercado were bronze medalists in doubles.
Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera were 3rd in the Men's Team standings, helped by their gold medal performance in doubles, and Canada was 4th led by Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon, the silver medalists in doubles.
Mexico topped the Women's Team standings, as Paola Longoria won singles and doubles with Samantha Salas, who was also a bronze medalist in singles. USA was the 2nd place Women's Team with silver for Rhonda Rajsich in singles, and silver for Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger in doubles.
The Ecuador team of Veronica Sotomayor and Maria Paz Muñoz were the 3rd place Women's Team, with a bronze medal performance in doubles, and the Argentina team was 4th led by Maria Jose Vargas, who was a bronze medalist in singles.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Overall Team
1st: USA
2nd: Mexico
3rd: Bolivia
4th: Canada
Men's Team
1st: USA
2nd: Bolviia
3rd: Colombia
4th: Canada
Women's Team
1st: Mexico
2nd: USA
3rd: Ecuador
4th: Argentina
Men's Singles
GOLD: Rocky Carson (USA)
SILVER: Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Jose Rojas (USA), Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
Men's Doubles
GOLD: Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
SILVER: Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada)
BRONZE: Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia), Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA)
Women's Singles
GOLD: Paola Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER: Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
BRONZE: Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), Samantha Salas (Mexico)
Women's Doubles
GOLD: Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
SILVER: Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA)
BRONZE: Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile), Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, June 23, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Colombia and Mexico win Doubles
Colombia and Mexico made significant history in Men's and Women's Doubles, respectively, on Saturday at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, as Colombia won the first gold medal by a South American country in Men's Doubles, or any event in fact, and Mexico won their 3rd consecutive Women's Doubles title, which is the most for the same two players.
Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera broke the hearts of the hometown crowd, as the defeated Canadians Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon, 15-11, 15-5, in what was the first Men's Doubles final that did not involve either the USA or Mexico.
The first game was close early, and the lead went back and forth. Colombia led 3-0 and 5-2, then they were tied at 6-6 before Canada took a 11-6 advantage. At that point the Canadians looked good to win game one, but the Colombians scored nine unanswered points to win the game.
Late in game one, they began double serving straight lobs to Gagnon, who was on the right side. He mostly hit overhead cross court returns, so the serve wasn't a problem in and of itself, but it did lead to Colombian points, which was a problem for Canada.
THe Colombians continued that strategy in game two, and after Canada scored the first two points, scored seven points before Canada got a third. And Colombia got seven more before Canada got a fourth, at which point the writing was on the wall.
Perhaps indicative of the day was when Franco hit a boast - a side wall-side wall-front wall - shot for a winner that got Canada sided out at 9-3.
Canada continued to fight hard, and held Colombia at 12 for two side outs, but they just couldn't score themselves, trying several different serves to both Franco and Herrera to no avail.
Gagnon was playing in his first World Championship final, while it was the second for Green, who lost the Men's Doubles final four years ago, when he and Tim Landeryou lost to Americans Ben Croft and Mitch Williams.
Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger, 15-4, 15-12, to win the Women's Doubles final for the third consecutive time. They are the first pair to win three doubles titles in a row, although Kim Russell-Waselenchuk (USA) and Jackie Paraiso (USA) both won three in a row each did so with different partners (two of Russell-Waselenchuk's were with Paraiso).
Overall, Longoria and Salas's three titles ties them with Joy MacKenzie (USA), Malia Bailey (USA), and Russell-Waslenchuk for second most Women's Doubles titles behind Paraiso, who has seven, including two with MacKenzie and Russell-Waselenchuk and one with Bailey.
After winning the first game, the Mexicans found themselves down 8-1 in game two. But a timeout led to a hideout that got back the serve for the Mexicans.
They scored a few points, but the US still kept the advantage with a 12-5 lead. But the defending champs kept pecking away, hitting most of their serves into the centre of the court between the lefty/righty American team.
The Americans called a timeout when the Mexicans got within one at 12-11. However, the Mexicans tied the score at 12-12, and though the US got the serve back twice, but they were unable to score, and more importantly prevent the Mexicans from scoring the last three points that got them their third doubles title.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Final
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada), 15-11, 15-5
Women's Doubles
Final
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA), 15-4, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball....
Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera broke the hearts of the hometown crowd, as the defeated Canadians Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon, 15-11, 15-5, in what was the first Men's Doubles final that did not involve either the USA or Mexico.
The first game was close early, and the lead went back and forth. Colombia led 3-0 and 5-2, then they were tied at 6-6 before Canada took a 11-6 advantage. At that point the Canadians looked good to win game one, but the Colombians scored nine unanswered points to win the game.
Late in game one, they began double serving straight lobs to Gagnon, who was on the right side. He mostly hit overhead cross court returns, so the serve wasn't a problem in and of itself, but it did lead to Colombian points, which was a problem for Canada.
THe Colombians continued that strategy in game two, and after Canada scored the first two points, scored seven points before Canada got a third. And Colombia got seven more before Canada got a fourth, at which point the writing was on the wall.
Perhaps indicative of the day was when Franco hit a boast - a side wall-side wall-front wall - shot for a winner that got Canada sided out at 9-3.
Canada continued to fight hard, and held Colombia at 12 for two side outs, but they just couldn't score themselves, trying several different serves to both Franco and Herrera to no avail.
Gagnon was playing in his first World Championship final, while it was the second for Green, who lost the Men's Doubles final four years ago, when he and Tim Landeryou lost to Americans Ben Croft and Mitch Williams.
Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Americans Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger, 15-4, 15-12, to win the Women's Doubles final for the third consecutive time. They are the first pair to win three doubles titles in a row, although Kim Russell-Waselenchuk (USA) and Jackie Paraiso (USA) both won three in a row each did so with different partners (two of Russell-Waselenchuk's were with Paraiso).
Overall, Longoria and Salas's three titles ties them with Joy MacKenzie (USA), Malia Bailey (USA), and Russell-Waslenchuk for second most Women's Doubles titles behind Paraiso, who has seven, including two with MacKenzie and Russell-Waselenchuk and one with Bailey.
After winning the first game, the Mexicans found themselves down 8-1 in game two. But a timeout led to a hideout that got back the serve for the Mexicans.
They scored a few points, but the US still kept the advantage with a 12-5 lead. But the defending champs kept pecking away, hitting most of their serves into the centre of the court between the lefty/righty American team.
The Americans called a timeout when the Mexicans got within one at 12-11. However, the Mexicans tied the score at 12-12, and though the US got the serve back twice, but they were unable to score, and more importantly prevent the Mexicans from scoring the last three points that got them their third doubles title.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Final
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada), 15-11, 15-5
Women's Doubles
Final
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA), 15-4, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, June 21, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Carson & Longoria win Singles
It was 2012 all over again, as the reigning International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions in Men's and Women's Singles successfully defended their titles on Saturday at the 17th IRF World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. American Rocky Carson won Men's Singles and Mexican Paola Longoria won Women's Singles, and neither was especially troubled in doing so, as they both won in two straight games and by comfortable margins.
Carson's win over Bolivian Conrado Moscoso, 15-3, 15-8, made him the most decorated man in IRF history, as it was his fourth consecutive Men's Singles title, breaking a tie with Jack Huczek (3 singles titles), Alvaro Beltran (1 singles & 2 doubles), Javier Moreno (3 doubles), and Doug Ganim (3 doubles).
Carson - almost twice the age of his opponent - played his usual game with hard Z serves to the left side. Moscoso tried to cut them off, jumping across on one to hit a forehand reverse pinch into the left corner, which led to Carson varying the pace of his Z serve.
But overall, Carson's service strategy was effective, and he followed it up with solid shots during the rallies, which Moscoso was sometime able to keep in play by diving to get the ball, but that only prolonged his plight.
Despite the loss, Moscoso is the first South American to reach the Men's Singles final, and as the current U18 World Junior Champion should have a bright future in racquetball.
Longoria defeated her nearest rival in the Women's Singles final, as she beat American Rhonda Rajsich, 15-6, 15-8, to win her second IRF singles title.
Rajsich started the match with great promise, as she went up 4-0 in game one, including two drive serve aces. But Longoria took at timeout after the second, which got Rajsich her 4th point, and came back to score eleven points before Rajsich got a 5th.
Longoria didn't serve any aces, but she did get Rajsich to skip four serve returns, including one that made the score 14-6. Longoria only had one serve return skip herself in game one.
In game two, they were close early, but then Longoria went ahead 6-3, and Rajsich never got closer than that, as Longoria went on to win the game 15-8, and take the match in two straight games.
In the second game, Rajsich had three service return skips and no ace serves, while Longoria had two return skips and one ace serve.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Final
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 15-3, 15-8
Women's Singles
Final
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-6, 15-8
Follow the bouncing ball....
Carson's win over Bolivian Conrado Moscoso, 15-3, 15-8, made him the most decorated man in IRF history, as it was his fourth consecutive Men's Singles title, breaking a tie with Jack Huczek (3 singles titles), Alvaro Beltran (1 singles & 2 doubles), Javier Moreno (3 doubles), and Doug Ganim (3 doubles).
Carson - almost twice the age of his opponent - played his usual game with hard Z serves to the left side. Moscoso tried to cut them off, jumping across on one to hit a forehand reverse pinch into the left corner, which led to Carson varying the pace of his Z serve.
But overall, Carson's service strategy was effective, and he followed it up with solid shots during the rallies, which Moscoso was sometime able to keep in play by diving to get the ball, but that only prolonged his plight.
Despite the loss, Moscoso is the first South American to reach the Men's Singles final, and as the current U18 World Junior Champion should have a bright future in racquetball.
Longoria defeated her nearest rival in the Women's Singles final, as she beat American Rhonda Rajsich, 15-6, 15-8, to win her second IRF singles title.
Rajsich started the match with great promise, as she went up 4-0 in game one, including two drive serve aces. But Longoria took at timeout after the second, which got Rajsich her 4th point, and came back to score eleven points before Rajsich got a 5th.
Longoria didn't serve any aces, but she did get Rajsich to skip four serve returns, including one that made the score 14-6. Longoria only had one serve return skip herself in game one.
In game two, they were close early, but then Longoria went ahead 6-3, and Rajsich never got closer than that, as Longoria went on to win the game 15-8, and take the match in two straight games.
In the second game, Rajsich had three service return skips and no ace serves, while Longoria had two return skips and one ace serve.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Final
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 15-3, 15-8
Women's Singles
Final
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-6, 15-8
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, June 20, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Doubles Semi-finals
There will be a first in Men's Doubles at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, as neither the USA or Mexico teams are in the final, so a new nation will take home the gold Saturday. But the trip home will be of considerably different lengths for the two finalists.
Canada is one finalist, and as the host nation, they are already playing at home, and one of the members of their Men's Doubles team - Mike Green - is playing in his home club. He and Vincent Gagnon will take on the Colombian team of Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco in Saturday's final in what will be a rematch of a group stage match, which the Canadians won in two straight games, but only by coming back from 14-7 down in the second game to win.
The Canadians reached the final by defeating Americans Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann, 15-11, 15-2, in front of a very boisterous home crowd. The first game was close all the way, as Canada opened with a 4-1 lead only to see the Americans score four points to take the lead themselves at 5-4.
The Canadians when went up 11-7, and again the Americans responded with four points to tie the game at 11-11. But the Canadians called timeout at that point, and when play resumed Canada got the serve back with two hand outs, the first of which was a fault serve by Fuhrmann.
The Canadians then served out game one. But the Americans were undeterred, as the won the first two points of game two. After few sideouts, the score was tied at 2-2. Then the Canadians ran the score to 7-2, and the US called a timeout. That didn't stop the Canadian momentum, as they ran the score to 12-2.
That spurred another American timeout, and their frustration showed as Croft broke his racquet against his leg as he was coming off the court. They did get the serve back after the timeout, but the Canadians held them off the scoreboard.
When the Canadians regained serve, they finished it off, including a service winner by Green for the 14th point that was straight to Fuhrmann, who couldn't quite catch up with the ball as it came off the backwall, as it was a change from the jam serves both Green and Gagnon had been serving to him throughout the match.
It was just such a jam serve that Green used to start the rally that ended the match.
The Colombians defeated the Bolivians Conrado Moscoso and Mario Mercado in the other semi-final, 15-11, 15-2. The first game was close all the way until they were tied at 9-9. After that, Colombia took the lead, and held it to win.
The second game was not close at all, as the Colombians won it going away. They both served to Mercado on the right side, keeping the ball away from Moscoso, who's in the Men's Singles final.
The Women's Doubles final is almost a repeat of the 2010 final, except one of the players is different. That year Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated American Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Paraiso to win their first title and first title by a Mexican women's doubles team. But this year Ruiz is playing with Janel Tisinger, and the Mexicans are coming in as the two time defending World Champions.
The Mexicans had an easier time of it in the semi-finals, as the defeated Chileans Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz, 15-1, 15-3, while the Americans needed a tie-breaker to see off Maria Paz Muñoz and Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador, 6-15, 15-4, 11-4.
There will be live streaming of the Women's and Men's Doubles finals on Saturday at 1 PM and 2:30 PM, respectively, via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Semi-finals
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA), 15-11, 15-2
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia), 15-11, 15-2
Final
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) v. Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - 2:30 PM Saturday
Women's Doubles
Semi-finals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-1, 15-3,
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 6-15, 15-4, 11-4
Final
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) - 1:00 PM Saturday
Follow the bouncing ball....
Canada is one finalist, and as the host nation, they are already playing at home, and one of the members of their Men's Doubles team - Mike Green - is playing in his home club. He and Vincent Gagnon will take on the Colombian team of Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco in Saturday's final in what will be a rematch of a group stage match, which the Canadians won in two straight games, but only by coming back from 14-7 down in the second game to win.
The Canadians reached the final by defeating Americans Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann, 15-11, 15-2, in front of a very boisterous home crowd. The first game was close all the way, as Canada opened with a 4-1 lead only to see the Americans score four points to take the lead themselves at 5-4.
The Canadians when went up 11-7, and again the Americans responded with four points to tie the game at 11-11. But the Canadians called timeout at that point, and when play resumed Canada got the serve back with two hand outs, the first of which was a fault serve by Fuhrmann.
The Canadians then served out game one. But the Americans were undeterred, as the won the first two points of game two. After few sideouts, the score was tied at 2-2. Then the Canadians ran the score to 7-2, and the US called a timeout. That didn't stop the Canadian momentum, as they ran the score to 12-2.
That spurred another American timeout, and their frustration showed as Croft broke his racquet against his leg as he was coming off the court. They did get the serve back after the timeout, but the Canadians held them off the scoreboard.
When the Canadians regained serve, they finished it off, including a service winner by Green for the 14th point that was straight to Fuhrmann, who couldn't quite catch up with the ball as it came off the backwall, as it was a change from the jam serves both Green and Gagnon had been serving to him throughout the match.
It was just such a jam serve that Green used to start the rally that ended the match.
The Colombians defeated the Bolivians Conrado Moscoso and Mario Mercado in the other semi-final, 15-11, 15-2. The first game was close all the way until they were tied at 9-9. After that, Colombia took the lead, and held it to win.
The second game was not close at all, as the Colombians won it going away. They both served to Mercado on the right side, keeping the ball away from Moscoso, who's in the Men's Singles final.
The Women's Doubles final is almost a repeat of the 2010 final, except one of the players is different. That year Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated American Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Paraiso to win their first title and first title by a Mexican women's doubles team. But this year Ruiz is playing with Janel Tisinger, and the Mexicans are coming in as the two time defending World Champions.
The Mexicans had an easier time of it in the semi-finals, as the defeated Chileans Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz, 15-1, 15-3, while the Americans needed a tie-breaker to see off Maria Paz Muñoz and Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador, 6-15, 15-4, 11-4.
There will be live streaming of the Women's and Men's Doubles finals on Saturday at 1 PM and 2:30 PM, respectively, via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Semi-finals
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA), 15-11, 15-2
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia), 15-11, 15-2
Final
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) v. Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - 2:30 PM Saturday
Women's Doubles
Semi-finals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-1, 15-3,
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 6-15, 15-4, 11-4
Final
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) - 1:00 PM Saturday
Follow the bouncing ball....
17th IRF World Championships - Singles Semi-finals
The reigning International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions in Men's and Women's Singles will have a chance to defend their titles on Saturday at the 17th IRF World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, as American Rocky Carson and Mexican Paola Longoria won their respective semi-final matches on Friday.
Carson defeated fellow American Jose Rojas, 15-8, 15-12, by playing his typical style of hard Z serves to the left - Rojas's backhand side, and following that up with solid shots and good shot selection.
After a slow start in game one, where Rojas was down 8-3, he had a lead late in game two at 10-7, and got there by using soft serves - a lob kiss to Carson's forehand - rather than his usual drive serve game.
But Carson called a timeout at that point, and held Rojas at 10 while scoring five unanswered points to lead 12-10. Rojas responded with two points of his own to tie the game at 12-12.
However, that's as many as Rojas could manage, as Carson got to match point, and won it with a forehand pinch shot to the left corner with Rojas trapped in the back court along the left wall at the end of a rally.
If Carson wins the final, it will be Carson's fourth consecutive title, and make him the winningest man in Men's Singles in IRF history, passing fellow American Jack Huczek, who he's now tied with at three titles each.
Conrado Moscoso of Bolivia stands in Carson's way, as he beat fellow Bolivian Carlos Keller, 15-11, 11-15, 11-3, in what was a battle of U18 Boy's World Junior Champions. Moscoso is the current U18 Boy's World Junior Champion and Keller won that title in 2011.
After winning game one, it looked like Moscoso would take the match in two straight, as he was up 10-7 in game two. However, Keller called a time-out, and scored eight of the next nine points to force a tie-breaker.
But Keller's momentum didn't carry over to the breaker, as Moscoso went up 4-0 and then 9-1, and won the third game, 11-3, to become the first South American man to reach a World Championship Men's Singles final.
Telling at the end was that Moscoso didn't celebrate, but had a long embrace with his countryman.
The top two seeds will meet in the Women's Singles final, as American Rhonda Rajsich and defending World Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico won their respective semi-final matches Friday. Rajsich defeated Samantha Salas of Mexico, 15-11, 15-9, and Longoria beat Marie Jose Vargas of Argentina, 15-5, 15-9.
Rajsich and Longoria have faced each other in several finals on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), but this is their first World Championship final, although they hold the last three titles: Longoria winning in 2012 and Rajsich in 2010 and 2008.
The Women's Singles finals will be 11 Am Saturday with the Men's Singles final to follow at noon. There will be live streaming of the finals on Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Semi-finals
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Jose Rojas (USA), 15-8, 15-12
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Carlos Keller (Bolivia), 15-11, 11-15, 11-3
Final
Rocky Carson (USA) v. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - Noon Saturday
Women's Singles
Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-11, 15-9
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-5, 15-9
Final
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Paola Longoria (Mexico) - 11 AM Saturday
Follow the bouncing ball....
Carson defeated fellow American Jose Rojas, 15-8, 15-12, by playing his typical style of hard Z serves to the left - Rojas's backhand side, and following that up with solid shots and good shot selection.
After a slow start in game one, where Rojas was down 8-3, he had a lead late in game two at 10-7, and got there by using soft serves - a lob kiss to Carson's forehand - rather than his usual drive serve game.
But Carson called a timeout at that point, and held Rojas at 10 while scoring five unanswered points to lead 12-10. Rojas responded with two points of his own to tie the game at 12-12.
However, that's as many as Rojas could manage, as Carson got to match point, and won it with a forehand pinch shot to the left corner with Rojas trapped in the back court along the left wall at the end of a rally.
If Carson wins the final, it will be Carson's fourth consecutive title, and make him the winningest man in Men's Singles in IRF history, passing fellow American Jack Huczek, who he's now tied with at three titles each.
Conrado Moscoso of Bolivia stands in Carson's way, as he beat fellow Bolivian Carlos Keller, 15-11, 11-15, 11-3, in what was a battle of U18 Boy's World Junior Champions. Moscoso is the current U18 Boy's World Junior Champion and Keller won that title in 2011.
After winning game one, it looked like Moscoso would take the match in two straight, as he was up 10-7 in game two. However, Keller called a time-out, and scored eight of the next nine points to force a tie-breaker.
But Keller's momentum didn't carry over to the breaker, as Moscoso went up 4-0 and then 9-1, and won the third game, 11-3, to become the first South American man to reach a World Championship Men's Singles final.
Telling at the end was that Moscoso didn't celebrate, but had a long embrace with his countryman.
The top two seeds will meet in the Women's Singles final, as American Rhonda Rajsich and defending World Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico won their respective semi-final matches Friday. Rajsich defeated Samantha Salas of Mexico, 15-11, 15-9, and Longoria beat Marie Jose Vargas of Argentina, 15-5, 15-9.
Rajsich and Longoria have faced each other in several finals on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), but this is their first World Championship final, although they hold the last three titles: Longoria winning in 2012 and Rajsich in 2010 and 2008.
The Women's Singles finals will be 11 Am Saturday with the Men's Singles final to follow at noon. There will be live streaming of the finals on Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Semi-finals
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Jose Rojas (USA), 15-8, 15-12
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Carlos Keller (Bolivia), 15-11, 11-15, 11-3
Final
Rocky Carson (USA) v. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - Noon Saturday
Women's Singles
Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-11, 15-9
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-5, 15-9
Final
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Paola Longoria (Mexico) - 11 AM Saturday
Follow the bouncing ball....
17th IRF World Championships - Doubles Quarterfinals
As in singles play, history will be made in the doubles competition at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, as a South American team will be in the Men's Doubles final after wins by Bolivia and Colombia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Colombians Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco are the bigger semi-finalists, as they faced the Mexican team of Alvaro Beltran and Edson Martinez. However, they prevailed in a tie-breaker, winning 15-14, 6-15, 11-9.
The loss means Mexico will leave Burlington without a medal from the men's competitions, as Beltran and Polo Gutierrez lost in singles prior to the semi-finals.
The Colombians will face Bolivians Conrado Moscoso and Mario Mercado in the semi-finals, as they defeated Cesar Castillo and Cesar Castro of Venezuela, 10-15, 15-6, 11-9, in the quarterfinals.
The other semi-final will be between long time rivals Canada and the USA, as they each won their respective quarterfinal matches in two straight games.
Canadian veterans Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon beat Shai Manzuri and Daniel Maggi of Argentina, 15-7, 15-7, and Americans Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann, who's playing in his first international event for the US, beat Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Alvarez of Ecoador, 15-11, 15-13. The Americans were down late in game two, but came back to win it and prevent a tie-breaking third game.
On the women's side, top seeds and two time defending World Champions Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas Solis of Mexico beat Bolivians Natalia Mendez and Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-12, in one quarterfinal, and will play the Chilean veteran Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz in the semi-finals, as the Chileans came from a game down to defeat the Argentine team of Véronique Guillemette and Maria Jose Vargas, 8-15, 15-3, 11-8.
On the bottom of the draw, second seed Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger of the USA had a comfortable win over Maiko Sato and Naomi Wakimoto of Japan, 15-7, 15-3. The Americans will face Maria Paz Muñoz and Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador in the semi-finals, as the Ecuadorians upset the 3rd seeded Canadian team of Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders, 15-6, 7-15, 11-8.
After dropping the first game, it looked like the Canaddians had righted the ship, as they won game two by a comfortable margin, and were up 8-2 in the tiebreaker. However, the young Ecuador team kept working away, and managed to come back and win.
The teams were stuck at 8-6 in Canada's favour for four team side outs, and there was a sense that the team that broke that stalemate would win the match. And Ecuador did it.
It's the first time Canada has not medaled in Women's Doubles at the World Championships.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Quarterfinals
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador), 15-11, 15-13
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-7, 15-7
Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 10-15, 15-6, 11-9
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico), 15-14, 6-15, 11-9
Semi-finals
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) v. Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) - 5 PM Friday
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - 5 PM Friday
Women's Doubles
Quarterfinals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-12
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 8-15, 15-3, 11-8
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-6, 7-15, 11-8
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maiko Sato & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan), 15-7, 15-3
Semi-finals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 3 PM Friday
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) - 3 PM Friday
Follow the bouncing ball....
Colombians Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco are the bigger semi-finalists, as they faced the Mexican team of Alvaro Beltran and Edson Martinez. However, they prevailed in a tie-breaker, winning 15-14, 6-15, 11-9.
The loss means Mexico will leave Burlington without a medal from the men's competitions, as Beltran and Polo Gutierrez lost in singles prior to the semi-finals.
The Colombians will face Bolivians Conrado Moscoso and Mario Mercado in the semi-finals, as they defeated Cesar Castillo and Cesar Castro of Venezuela, 10-15, 15-6, 11-9, in the quarterfinals.
The other semi-final will be between long time rivals Canada and the USA, as they each won their respective quarterfinal matches in two straight games.
Canadian veterans Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon beat Shai Manzuri and Daniel Maggi of Argentina, 15-7, 15-7, and Americans Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann, who's playing in his first international event for the US, beat Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Alvarez of Ecoador, 15-11, 15-13. The Americans were down late in game two, but came back to win it and prevent a tie-breaking third game.
On the women's side, top seeds and two time defending World Champions Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas Solis of Mexico beat Bolivians Natalia Mendez and Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-12, in one quarterfinal, and will play the Chilean veteran Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz in the semi-finals, as the Chileans came from a game down to defeat the Argentine team of Véronique Guillemette and Maria Jose Vargas, 8-15, 15-3, 11-8.
On the bottom of the draw, second seed Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger of the USA had a comfortable win over Maiko Sato and Naomi Wakimoto of Japan, 15-7, 15-3. The Americans will face Maria Paz Muñoz and Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador in the semi-finals, as the Ecuadorians upset the 3rd seeded Canadian team of Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders, 15-6, 7-15, 11-8.
After dropping the first game, it looked like the Canaddians had righted the ship, as they won game two by a comfortable margin, and were up 8-2 in the tiebreaker. However, the young Ecuador team kept working away, and managed to come back and win.
The teams were stuck at 8-6 in Canada's favour for four team side outs, and there was a sense that the team that broke that stalemate would win the match. And Ecuador did it.
It's the first time Canada has not medaled in Women's Doubles at the World Championships.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Quarterfinals
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador), 15-11, 15-13
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-7, 15-7
Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 10-15, 15-6, 11-9
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico), 15-14, 6-15, 11-9
Semi-finals
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) v. Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) - 5 PM Friday
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - 5 PM Friday
Women's Doubles
Quarterfinals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-12
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 8-15, 15-3, 11-8
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-6, 7-15, 11-8
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maiko Sato & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan), 15-7, 15-3
Semi-finals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 3 PM Friday
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) - 3 PM Friday
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, June 19, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Singles Quarterfinals
There was much drama in Men's and Women's Singles on quarterfinal day at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, including a first for Bolivia, as a Bolivian will play in the final for first time ever at the World Championships.
That is guaranteed in Men's Singles, as both Bolivians Carlos Keller and Conrado Moscoso won their respective semi-finals. Keller defeated Canadian Tim Landeryou, 15-6, 15-12, and Moscoso defeated Polo Gutierrez, 15-14, 2-15, 11-10.
Whomever wins the Bolivian semi-final, he will face an American, as the other semi-final is an all-American affair between Rocky Carson and Jose Rojas, who both defeated Colombians in their respective quarterfinals. Carson defeated Sebastian Franco, 15-8, 15-10, and Rojas beat Alejandro Herrera, 15-7, 15-6.
There were no surprises on the women's side, as the four remaining players are the top four players on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT). However, two of the four needed tie-breakers to win their quarterfinal matches.
But not defending World Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico and Marie Jose Vargas of Argentina both won their quarterfinal matches in two straight games. Longoria defeated Jin Young Seok (South Korea), 15-4, 15-5, and Vargas beat Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-6, 15-1. Longoria and Vargas will face off in one semi-final.
Top seed and two time World Champion Rhonda Rajsich of the USA faced match points in both game two and three against Colombian Cristina Amaya before she prevailed, 12-15, 15-14, 11-10. The tie-breaker was tight all the way, as no player led by more than two points.
Amaya had two chances to win it in the tie-breaker. She'd drove serve most of game three, but late on she switched to off speed Z serves with some success, but not on match point, as Rajsich fended off the first with a forehand pinch and the second with a backhand cross court serve return.
Rajsich also primarily drove served in game three, and won it on her second match point, which began with a drive serve to the left - Amaya's backhand. Amaya returned it cross-court, but the ball only came to the right of centre, where Rajsich was able to re-kill it for the win.
An American loss would has been historic, as it would have been the first time the USA had not got a medal in Women's Singles at Worlds. But Rajsich's victory continues the American tradition of podium performances.
Samantha Salas of Mexico will be Rajsich's opponent in the semi-finals, although she also needed three games to fend off Ecuador's Veronica Sotomayor, 15-4, 9-15, 11-8.
If Salas and Longoria win their respective semis, then there would be an all-Mexico final for the first time, and first final without an American woman since 2006, when Canadian Christie Van Hees defeated Chilean Angela Grisar to win the title.
The semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday. There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Quarterfinals
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Sebastian Franco (Colombia), 15-8, 15-10
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Alejandro Herrera (Colombia), 15-7, 15-6
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico), 15-14, 2-15, 11-10
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Tim Landeryou (Canada), 15-6, 15-12
Semi-finals
Rocky Carson (USA) v. Jose Rojas (USA) - Noon Friday
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - Noon Friday
Women's Singles
Quarterfinals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 12-15, 15-14, 11-10
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-4, 9-15, 11-8
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-6, 15-1
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Jin Young Seok (South Korea), 15-4, 15-5
Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Samantha Salas (Mexico) - 11 AM Friday
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 11 AM Friday
Follow the bouncing ball....
That is guaranteed in Men's Singles, as both Bolivians Carlos Keller and Conrado Moscoso won their respective semi-finals. Keller defeated Canadian Tim Landeryou, 15-6, 15-12, and Moscoso defeated Polo Gutierrez, 15-14, 2-15, 11-10.
Whomever wins the Bolivian semi-final, he will face an American, as the other semi-final is an all-American affair between Rocky Carson and Jose Rojas, who both defeated Colombians in their respective quarterfinals. Carson defeated Sebastian Franco, 15-8, 15-10, and Rojas beat Alejandro Herrera, 15-7, 15-6.
There were no surprises on the women's side, as the four remaining players are the top four players on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT). However, two of the four needed tie-breakers to win their quarterfinal matches.
But not defending World Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico and Marie Jose Vargas of Argentina both won their quarterfinal matches in two straight games. Longoria defeated Jin Young Seok (South Korea), 15-4, 15-5, and Vargas beat Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-6, 15-1. Longoria and Vargas will face off in one semi-final.
Top seed and two time World Champion Rhonda Rajsich of the USA faced match points in both game two and three against Colombian Cristina Amaya before she prevailed, 12-15, 15-14, 11-10. The tie-breaker was tight all the way, as no player led by more than two points.
Amaya had two chances to win it in the tie-breaker. She'd drove serve most of game three, but late on she switched to off speed Z serves with some success, but not on match point, as Rajsich fended off the first with a forehand pinch and the second with a backhand cross court serve return.
Rajsich also primarily drove served in game three, and won it on her second match point, which began with a drive serve to the left - Amaya's backhand. Amaya returned it cross-court, but the ball only came to the right of centre, where Rajsich was able to re-kill it for the win.
An American loss would has been historic, as it would have been the first time the USA had not got a medal in Women's Singles at Worlds. But Rajsich's victory continues the American tradition of podium performances.
Samantha Salas of Mexico will be Rajsich's opponent in the semi-finals, although she also needed three games to fend off Ecuador's Veronica Sotomayor, 15-4, 9-15, 11-8.
If Salas and Longoria win their respective semis, then there would be an all-Mexico final for the first time, and first final without an American woman since 2006, when Canadian Christie Van Hees defeated Chilean Angela Grisar to win the title.
The semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday. There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Quarterfinals
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Sebastian Franco (Colombia), 15-8, 15-10
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Alejandro Herrera (Colombia), 15-7, 15-6
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico), 15-14, 2-15, 11-10
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Tim Landeryou (Canada), 15-6, 15-12
Semi-finals
Rocky Carson (USA) v. Jose Rojas (USA) - Noon Friday
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - Noon Friday
Women's Singles
Quarterfinals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 12-15, 15-14, 11-10
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-4, 9-15, 11-8
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-6, 15-1
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Jin Young Seok (South Korea), 15-4, 15-5
Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Samantha Salas (Mexico) - 11 AM Friday
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 11 AM Friday
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Doubles Rounds of 16
No upsets in doubles play at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, but there were a couple of tie-breakers on the women's side, including one involving the home side of Canada.
The 3rd ranked Canadian team of Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders needed a tie-breaker to defeat Colombia's Cristina Amaya and Claudia Andrade, 14-15, 15-6, 11-6. The Canadians had a lead in the first game at 14-11, but let it slip away. They tried to keep the ball away from Amaya, the 5th ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), but Andrade made some good shots, and Amaya's off speed Z serve gave Saunders trouble late in game one, which got them the victory.
The Canadians looked good to take the match after winning the second game comfortably, but in the tie-breaker, it was the Colombians that led early at 4-0. But the Canadians stormed back and took the lead at 5-4 and then 7-6 after which they held the Colombians at six, finishing the match at 11-6.
The Argentinian team of Véronique Guillemette and Maria Jose Vargas also needed a tie-breaker to defeat Jin Seok and Jung Eun Ane of South Korea, 15-9, 1-15, 11-7. Interestingly, Guillemette is playing the left side with Vargas, the 3rd ranked LPRT player, on the right.
The only Men's Doubles match to go three games was Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco of Colombia, who defeated Joaquin Solera and Pablo Sauma Masis of Costa Rica, 10-15, 15-9, 11-6.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Round of 16
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) d. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), forfeit
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) d. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 15-3
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-10, 15-1
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-6, 15-14
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 15-5
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-9, 11-6
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) d. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland), 15-1, 15-12,
Quarterfinals
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) v. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador)
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) v. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina)
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) v. Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia)
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) v. Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Women's Doubles
Round of 16
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-4
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-7
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-9, 1-15, 11-7
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15-7, 15-3
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia), 14-15, 15-6, 11-6
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-9
Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan) 3. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-8
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya), 15-0, 15-1
Quarterfinals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan)
Follow the bouncing ball....
The 3rd ranked Canadian team of Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders needed a tie-breaker to defeat Colombia's Cristina Amaya and Claudia Andrade, 14-15, 15-6, 11-6. The Canadians had a lead in the first game at 14-11, but let it slip away. They tried to keep the ball away from Amaya, the 5th ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), but Andrade made some good shots, and Amaya's off speed Z serve gave Saunders trouble late in game one, which got them the victory.
The Canadians looked good to take the match after winning the second game comfortably, but in the tie-breaker, it was the Colombians that led early at 4-0. But the Canadians stormed back and took the lead at 5-4 and then 7-6 after which they held the Colombians at six, finishing the match at 11-6.
The Argentinian team of Véronique Guillemette and Maria Jose Vargas also needed a tie-breaker to defeat Jin Seok and Jung Eun Ane of South Korea, 15-9, 1-15, 11-7. Interestingly, Guillemette is playing the left side with Vargas, the 3rd ranked LPRT player, on the right.
The only Men's Doubles match to go three games was Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco of Colombia, who defeated Joaquin Solera and Pablo Sauma Masis of Costa Rica, 10-15, 15-9, 11-6.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Round of 16
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) d. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), forfeit
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) d. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 15-3
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-10, 15-1
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-6, 15-14
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 15-5
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-9, 11-6
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) d. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland), 15-1, 15-12,
Quarterfinals
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) v. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador)
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) v. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina)
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) v. Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia)
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) v. Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Women's Doubles
Round of 16
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-4
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-7
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-9, 1-15, 11-7
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15-7, 15-3
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia), 14-15, 15-6, 11-6
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-9
Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan) 3. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-8
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya), 15-0, 15-1
Quarterfinals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan)
Follow the bouncing ball....
17th IRF World Championships - Singles Round of 16
They're down to the final 8 in Men's and Women's Singles at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and there was really only one surprise, and it happened in the most dramatic fashion.
Canadian Christine Richardson, playing front of her home crowd, defeated 3rd seed Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, 14-15, 15-11, 11-10, earning the win on her 5th match point.
Muñoz - the 14th ranked Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) player - had a big lead in game one at 12-4, but the Canadian kept working away, and found a serve that Muñoz didn't like: a half lob with a bit of pace to Muñoz's backhand. Richardson rode that serve at the way to 14-14, only to have the Ecuadorian close out game one, 15-14.
In game two, Richardson led all the way, but Muñoz got close at the end before Richardson finished it out.
In the tie-breaker, Richardson took a 6-0 lead, but Muñoz tied it at 6-6, and then went ahead 7-6. However, Richardson, who principally hit a drive Z serve to Muñoz's backhand, got to 10-7, but then stalled there.
Muñoz seized the opportunity to come back and tie the game at 10-10. Richardson is a former World Junior Champion, but is playing at the Worlds for the first time and is making only in her second appearance on Team Canada, seemed to show a bit of nervousness, as four match points went by without her capitalizing.
But Richardson fended off a match point against her, and then changed her serve from a hard drive Z to an off speed Z, and closed out the match with a solid down the like backhand to advance to the quarterfinals.
Richardson will face Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina in the quarters, as Vargas defeated Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-5, 15-5.
On the top of the draw, Americans Rhonda Rajsich and Aubrey Kirch faced off, and it also needed a tie-breaker to decide it, as top seed and former World Champion Rajsich dropped the first game to her young team-mate before coming back to win 11-15, 15-11, 11-4.
The win puts Rajsich in the quarters, where she'll face Cristina Amaya of Colombia, who also needed a tie-breaker, despite shutting out her opponent Carla Muñoz of Chile in game one, as the Chilean came back to win game two only to fall short in the tie-breaker, 15-0, 9-15, 11-8.
On the men's side, there expected players won, including top seeds Rocky Carson of the USA and Tim Landeryou of Canada. Carson defeated Daeyong Kwon of South Korea, 15-4, 15-1, and Landeryou beat Noslen Jimenez of Cuba, 15-11, 15-10.
There were a couple of men's matches that were upsets by the seedings, but they weren't real surprises. Conrado Moscoso of Bolivia - seeded 11th - defeated beat 6th seed MIchimune Kono, 15-9, 15-11, but Moscoso is the current World Junior Champion in U18, so it's not a bit surprise for him to do well here too.
The singles quarterfinals will go Wednesday with the semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday. There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Round of 16
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-4, 15-1
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Takaaki Hirose (Japan), 15-11, 15-8
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-11, 8-15, 11-4
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatamala), 15-4, 15-10
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-6
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-9, 15-11
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Mingyu Kim (South Korea), 15-7, 15-6
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba), 15-11, 15-10
Quarterfinals
Rocky Carson (USA) v. Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) v. Jose Rojas (USA)
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)
Tim Landeryou (Canada) v. Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
Women's Singles
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Aubrey Kirch (USA), 11-15, 15-11, 11-4
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-0, 9-15, 11-8
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-11, 15-6
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-3
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 14-15, 15-11, 11-10
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-5
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) d. Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-11, 15-13
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-1
Quarterfinals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Christine Richardson (Canada) v. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Jin Young Seok (South Korea)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Canadian Christine Richardson, playing front of her home crowd, defeated 3rd seed Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, 14-15, 15-11, 11-10, earning the win on her 5th match point.
Muñoz - the 14th ranked Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) player - had a big lead in game one at 12-4, but the Canadian kept working away, and found a serve that Muñoz didn't like: a half lob with a bit of pace to Muñoz's backhand. Richardson rode that serve at the way to 14-14, only to have the Ecuadorian close out game one, 15-14.
In game two, Richardson led all the way, but Muñoz got close at the end before Richardson finished it out.
In the tie-breaker, Richardson took a 6-0 lead, but Muñoz tied it at 6-6, and then went ahead 7-6. However, Richardson, who principally hit a drive Z serve to Muñoz's backhand, got to 10-7, but then stalled there.
Muñoz seized the opportunity to come back and tie the game at 10-10. Richardson is a former World Junior Champion, but is playing at the Worlds for the first time and is making only in her second appearance on Team Canada, seemed to show a bit of nervousness, as four match points went by without her capitalizing.
But Richardson fended off a match point against her, and then changed her serve from a hard drive Z to an off speed Z, and closed out the match with a solid down the like backhand to advance to the quarterfinals.
Richardson will face Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina in the quarters, as Vargas defeated Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-5, 15-5.
On the top of the draw, Americans Rhonda Rajsich and Aubrey Kirch faced off, and it also needed a tie-breaker to decide it, as top seed and former World Champion Rajsich dropped the first game to her young team-mate before coming back to win 11-15, 15-11, 11-4.
The win puts Rajsich in the quarters, where she'll face Cristina Amaya of Colombia, who also needed a tie-breaker, despite shutting out her opponent Carla Muñoz of Chile in game one, as the Chilean came back to win game two only to fall short in the tie-breaker, 15-0, 9-15, 11-8.
On the men's side, there expected players won, including top seeds Rocky Carson of the USA and Tim Landeryou of Canada. Carson defeated Daeyong Kwon of South Korea, 15-4, 15-1, and Landeryou beat Noslen Jimenez of Cuba, 15-11, 15-10.
There were a couple of men's matches that were upsets by the seedings, but they weren't real surprises. Conrado Moscoso of Bolivia - seeded 11th - defeated beat 6th seed MIchimune Kono, 15-9, 15-11, but Moscoso is the current World Junior Champion in U18, so it's not a bit surprise for him to do well here too.
The singles quarterfinals will go Wednesday with the semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday. There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Round of 16
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-4, 15-1
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Takaaki Hirose (Japan), 15-11, 15-8
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-11, 8-15, 11-4
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatamala), 15-4, 15-10
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-6
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-9, 15-11
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Mingyu Kim (South Korea), 15-7, 15-6
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba), 15-11, 15-10
Quarterfinals
Rocky Carson (USA) v. Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) v. Jose Rojas (USA)
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)
Tim Landeryou (Canada) v. Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
Women's Singles
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Aubrey Kirch (USA), 11-15, 15-11, 11-4
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-0, 9-15, 11-8
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-11, 15-6
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-3
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 14-15, 15-11, 11-10
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-5
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) d. Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-11, 15-13
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-1
Quarterfinals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Christine Richardson (Canada) v. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Jin Young Seok (South Korea)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Doubles Round of 32
Only two doubles matches on day one of the elimination stage at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and both were on the Men's Doubles side, as all the women's doubles teams had the day off.
The Puerto Rico team of Michael Barrett and Fernando Rivera beat the Indians Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat, 15-5, 15-4, and will play Team USA - Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
In the other match, the Irish team of Pat O'Donnell and Conor Skehan defeated Victor Montserrat and Dani Pascual of Catalunya, 15-10, 15-13, and will play the 2nd seeded Mexican team of Alvaro Beltran and Edson Martinez Wednesday.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Round of 32
Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) d. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (India), 15-5, 15-4
Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland) d. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-10, 15-13
Round of 16
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) v. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico)
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) v. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic)
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala)
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) v. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea)
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) v. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan)
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) v. Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica)
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) v. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland)
Women's Doubles
Round of 16
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica)
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea)
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland)
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia)
Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan) v. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya)
Follow the bouncing ball....
The Puerto Rico team of Michael Barrett and Fernando Rivera beat the Indians Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat, 15-5, 15-4, and will play Team USA - Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
In the other match, the Irish team of Pat O'Donnell and Conor Skehan defeated Victor Montserrat and Dani Pascual of Catalunya, 15-10, 15-13, and will play the 2nd seeded Mexican team of Alvaro Beltran and Edson Martinez Wednesday.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Round of 32
Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) d. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (India), 15-5, 15-4
Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland) d. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-10, 15-13
Round of 16
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) v. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico)
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) v. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic)
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala)
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) v. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea)
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) v. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan)
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) v. Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica)
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) v. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland)
Women's Doubles
Round of 16
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica)
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea)
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland)
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia)
Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan) v. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya)
Follow the bouncing ball....
17th IRF World Championships - Singles Rounds of 64 & 32
The elimination rounds of singles play began Tuesday at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and there were a few surprising and likely disappointing results.
Sadly for Fernando Rios of Ecuador his luck ran out, as he couldn't follow up Monday's victory over American Jose Rojas with a win against Mexican Polo Gutierrez, as Gutierrez won 15-5, 15-5. Gutierrez will play Costa Rican Andres Aviles Solera, who needed a tie-breaker to defeat Venezuelan Roberto Santander, 14-15, 15-10, 11-0.
Rojas also won Monday, beating Ramon De Leon of the Dominican Republic, 15-7, 15-2. He'll play Edwin Galicia of Guatemala, who won twice on Tuesdy, including an upset of Canadian Samuel Murray, 15-12, 15-12. Galicia has very nice hands, and you can understand how he was a bronze medalist in Men's Doubles two years ago.
Rojas will not have to play former World Champion Alvaro Beltran of Mexico, as he lost his Round of 32 match to Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, as he didn't show up in time for the match. Thus, Ugalde moves on to the Round of 16, where he'll play Alejandro Herrera of Colombia, who beat Ezequiel Paez of Venezuela, 15-1, 15-10.
The top seeds Rocky Carson of the USA and Tim Landeryou of Canada both won comfortably by the same scorelines on Tuesday. Carson defeated Michael Barrett of Puerto Rico, 15-3, 15-1, and Landeryou did likewise against Peter Rakowski of Poland.
The top two women's seeds - American Rhonda Rajsich and Mexican Paola Longoria - also won comfortably Tuesday, although Rajsich will now have to face team-mate Aubrey Kirch in the Round of 16 Wednesday. On Tuesday, Rajsich defeated Disney Linares Barreras of Cuba, 15-7, 15-3, while Kirch had a competitive battle with Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 15-11, 15-9.
The two Argentine women will not face each other, as Maria Jose Vargas defeated Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic, 15-4, 15-5, but Veronique Guillemette was upset by young Guatemalan Ana Gabriela Martinez, 15-9, 10-15, 11-6.
The singles elimination round continues Wednesday with the men's and women's Rounds of 16.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Round of 64
Rocky Carson (USA) - BYE
Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico) d. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Victor Montserrat (Catalunya) - BYE
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) - BYE
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - BYE
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - BYE
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) v. Timothy Baghurst (England)
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) - BYE
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) - BYE
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-2
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) - BYE
Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela) - BYE
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Jose Rojas (USA) - BYE
Edwin Galicia (Guatamala) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-4, 15-3
Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) - BYE
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Patrick Hanley (Ireland), 15-4, 15-9
Roberto Santander (Venezuela) - BYE
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) - BYE
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Alok Mehta (India) d. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine), forfeit
Michimune Kono (Japan) - BYE
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - BYE
Mingyu Kim (South Korea) d. Mark Murphy (Ireland), 15-12, 15-9
Dani Pascual (Catalunya) - BYE
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - BYE
Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) - BYE
Peter Rakowski (Poland) d. Rajiv Varadarajan (India), 5-15, 15-6, 11-4
Tim Landeryou (Canada) - BYE
Round of 32
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-1
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) d. Victor Montserrat (Catalunya), 15-11, 15-3
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-4, 15-1
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-5, 15-9
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Alvaro Beltran (Mexico), forfeit
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela), 15-1, 15-10
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-7, 15-2
Edwin Galicia (Guatamala) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 15-12
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-5
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) d. Roberto Santander (Venezuela), 14-15, 15-10, 11-0
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-6, 15-14
Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Alok Mehta (India), 15-6, 15-6
Mingyu Kim (South Korea) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-10, 14-15, 11-7
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-3, 15-10
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) d. Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-11, 15-7
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Peter Rakowski (Poland), 15-3, 15-1
Round of 16
Rocky Carson (USA) v. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea)
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) v. Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Jose Rojas (USA) v. Edwin Galicia (Guatamala)
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica)
Michimune Kono (Japan) v. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. Mingyu Kim (South Korea)
Tim Landeryou (Canada) v. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba)
Women's Singles
Round of 64
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba) d. Anna Ventura (Catalunya), 15-11, 15-5
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) - BYE
Aubrey Kirch (USA) - BYE
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Harumi Kajino (Japan) - BYE
Bat Consegal (Catalunya) - BYE
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) - BYE
Claudia Andreade (Columbia) - BYE
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - BYE
Michèle Morissette (Canada) - BYE
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE
Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) - BYE
Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Maiko Sato (Japan) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile) - BYE
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) - BYE
Christine Richardson (Canada) - BYE
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) - BYE
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Jung Eun Ane (Korea) - BYE
Donna Ryder (Ireland) - BYE
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) - BYE
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - BYE
Melania Sauma Masis (Costa Rica) - BYE
Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Round of 32
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba), 15-7, 15-3
Aubrey Kirch (USA) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-9
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-10, 15-4
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Bat Consegal (Catalunya), 15-3, 15-8
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Claudia Andreade (Columbia), 15-1, 15-1
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-14, 15-13
Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) d. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia), 15-13, 15-13
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maiko Sato (Japan), 15-5, 15-2
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile), 15-4, 15-3
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-3
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-5
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Veronique Guillemette (Argentina), 15-9, 10-15, 11-6
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Jung Eun Ane (Korea)
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) v. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-2, 15-2
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Melania Sauma Masis (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-4
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-0, 15-2
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Aubrey Kirch (USA)
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. Michèle Morissette (Canada)
Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica)
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. Christine Richardson (Canada)
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) v. Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) or Jung Eun Ane (South Korea)
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Jenny Daza (Bolivia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sadly for Fernando Rios of Ecuador his luck ran out, as he couldn't follow up Monday's victory over American Jose Rojas with a win against Mexican Polo Gutierrez, as Gutierrez won 15-5, 15-5. Gutierrez will play Costa Rican Andres Aviles Solera, who needed a tie-breaker to defeat Venezuelan Roberto Santander, 14-15, 15-10, 11-0.
Rojas also won Monday, beating Ramon De Leon of the Dominican Republic, 15-7, 15-2. He'll play Edwin Galicia of Guatemala, who won twice on Tuesdy, including an upset of Canadian Samuel Murray, 15-12, 15-12. Galicia has very nice hands, and you can understand how he was a bronze medalist in Men's Doubles two years ago.
Rojas will not have to play former World Champion Alvaro Beltran of Mexico, as he lost his Round of 32 match to Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, as he didn't show up in time for the match. Thus, Ugalde moves on to the Round of 16, where he'll play Alejandro Herrera of Colombia, who beat Ezequiel Paez of Venezuela, 15-1, 15-10.
The top seeds Rocky Carson of the USA and Tim Landeryou of Canada both won comfortably by the same scorelines on Tuesday. Carson defeated Michael Barrett of Puerto Rico, 15-3, 15-1, and Landeryou did likewise against Peter Rakowski of Poland.
The top two women's seeds - American Rhonda Rajsich and Mexican Paola Longoria - also won comfortably Tuesday, although Rajsich will now have to face team-mate Aubrey Kirch in the Round of 16 Wednesday. On Tuesday, Rajsich defeated Disney Linares Barreras of Cuba, 15-7, 15-3, while Kirch had a competitive battle with Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 15-11, 15-9.
The two Argentine women will not face each other, as Maria Jose Vargas defeated Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic, 15-4, 15-5, but Veronique Guillemette was upset by young Guatemalan Ana Gabriela Martinez, 15-9, 10-15, 11-6.
The singles elimination round continues Wednesday with the men's and women's Rounds of 16.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Round of 64
Rocky Carson (USA) - BYE
Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico) d. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Victor Montserrat (Catalunya) - BYE
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) - BYE
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - BYE
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - BYE
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) v. Timothy Baghurst (England)
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) - BYE
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) - BYE
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-2
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) - BYE
Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela) - BYE
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Jose Rojas (USA) - BYE
Edwin Galicia (Guatamala) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-4, 15-3
Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) - BYE
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Patrick Hanley (Ireland), 15-4, 15-9
Roberto Santander (Venezuela) - BYE
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) - BYE
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Alok Mehta (India) d. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine), forfeit
Michimune Kono (Japan) - BYE
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - BYE
Mingyu Kim (South Korea) d. Mark Murphy (Ireland), 15-12, 15-9
Dani Pascual (Catalunya) - BYE
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - BYE
Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) - BYE
Peter Rakowski (Poland) d. Rajiv Varadarajan (India), 5-15, 15-6, 11-4
Tim Landeryou (Canada) - BYE
Round of 32
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-1
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) d. Victor Montserrat (Catalunya), 15-11, 15-3
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-4, 15-1
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-5, 15-9
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Alvaro Beltran (Mexico), forfeit
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela), 15-1, 15-10
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-7, 15-2
Edwin Galicia (Guatamala) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 15-12
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-5
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) d. Roberto Santander (Venezuela), 14-15, 15-10, 11-0
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-6, 15-14
Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Alok Mehta (India), 15-6, 15-6
Mingyu Kim (South Korea) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-10, 14-15, 11-7
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-3, 15-10
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) d. Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-11, 15-7
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Peter Rakowski (Poland), 15-3, 15-1
Round of 16
Rocky Carson (USA) v. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea)
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) v. Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Jose Rojas (USA) v. Edwin Galicia (Guatamala)
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica)
Michimune Kono (Japan) v. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. Mingyu Kim (South Korea)
Tim Landeryou (Canada) v. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba)
Women's Singles
Round of 64
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba) d. Anna Ventura (Catalunya), 15-11, 15-5
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) - BYE
Aubrey Kirch (USA) - BYE
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Harumi Kajino (Japan) - BYE
Bat Consegal (Catalunya) - BYE
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) - BYE
Claudia Andreade (Columbia) - BYE
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - BYE
Michèle Morissette (Canada) - BYE
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE
Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) - BYE
Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Maiko Sato (Japan) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile) - BYE
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) - BYE
Christine Richardson (Canada) - BYE
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) - BYE
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Jung Eun Ane (Korea) - BYE
Donna Ryder (Ireland) - BYE
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) - BYE
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - BYE
Melania Sauma Masis (Costa Rica) - BYE
Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Round of 32
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba), 15-7, 15-3
Aubrey Kirch (USA) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-9
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-10, 15-4
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Bat Consegal (Catalunya), 15-3, 15-8
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Claudia Andreade (Columbia), 15-1, 15-1
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-14, 15-13
Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) d. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia), 15-13, 15-13
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maiko Sato (Japan), 15-5, 15-2
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile), 15-4, 15-3
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-3
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-5
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Veronique Guillemette (Argentina), 15-9, 10-15, 11-6
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Jung Eun Ane (Korea)
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) v. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-2, 15-2
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Melania Sauma Masis (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-4
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-0, 15-2
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Aubrey Kirch (USA)
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. Michèle Morissette (Canada)
Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica)
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. Christine Richardson (Canada)
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) v. Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) or Jung Eun Ane (South Korea)
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Jenny Daza (Bolivia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
17th IRF World Championships - Doubles draws preview
There were fewer upsets in the group stage of the doubles competitions at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, so the elimination round draws are more straightforward.
But it won't be an easy road to gold for any team. On the women's side, Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas are the defending champions, but they could face a good young team from Bolivia in the quarterfinals in Natalia Mendez and Adriana Riveros, who went tie-breaker with the Canadian team of Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders in the group stage.
Win that, and the Mexicans will likely have to play either the Argentine team of Maria Jose Vargas and Veronique Guillemette or the Chilean team of veteran Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz, who were silver medalists two years ago.
Similarly on the men's side, Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Edson Martinez will likely need to defeat a solid Colombian side of Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco in the quarterfinals, and then deal with Bolivians Conrado Moscos and Mario Mercado or Venezuelans Cesar Castillo and Cesar Castro in the semi-finals.
In the finals, there could be Mexico versus USA in both Men's and Women's play, but everyone else with be trying to prevent that.
Only two games in the Men's Doubles elimination draw will be played on Tuesday with the Round of 16 matches set for Wednesday. Similarly, the Women's Doubles elimination round will begin on Wednesday.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Round of 32
Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) v. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (India)
Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland) v. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya)
Round of 16
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) v. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) or Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (India)
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) v. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic)
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala)
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) v. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea)
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) v. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan)
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) v. Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica)
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) v. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland) or Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya)
Women's Doubles
Round of 16
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica)
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea)
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland)
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia)
Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Maiko Sato & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan) v. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya)
Follow the bouncing ball....
But it won't be an easy road to gold for any team. On the women's side, Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas are the defending champions, but they could face a good young team from Bolivia in the quarterfinals in Natalia Mendez and Adriana Riveros, who went tie-breaker with the Canadian team of Frédérique Lambert and Jennifer Saunders in the group stage.
Win that, and the Mexicans will likely have to play either the Argentine team of Maria Jose Vargas and Veronique Guillemette or the Chilean team of veteran Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz, who were silver medalists two years ago.
Similarly on the men's side, Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Edson Martinez will likely need to defeat a solid Colombian side of Alejandro Herrera and Sebastian Franco in the quarterfinals, and then deal with Bolivians Conrado Moscos and Mario Mercado or Venezuelans Cesar Castillo and Cesar Castro in the semi-finals.
In the finals, there could be Mexico versus USA in both Men's and Women's play, but everyone else with be trying to prevent that.
Only two games in the Men's Doubles elimination draw will be played on Tuesday with the Round of 16 matches set for Wednesday. Similarly, the Women's Doubles elimination round will begin on Wednesday.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Doubles
Round of 32
Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) v. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (India)
Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland) v. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya)
Round of 16
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) v. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) or Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (India)
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) v. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic)
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala)
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) v. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea)
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) v. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan)
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) v. Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica)
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) v. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland) or Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya)
Women's Doubles
Round of 16
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica)
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea)
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland)
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia)
Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Maiko Sato & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan) v. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic)
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) v. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, June 16, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Singles Draws
There were several surprising results in the group stage of the singles competition at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, which has made for Men's and Women's Singles elimination draws that likely don't please any country.
For example, Fernando Rios of Ecuador won Monday's match of the day, when he upset American Jose Rojas. That put Rios in the 3rd seed, which sounds great, except that Mexican Polo Gutierrez is in the 35th spot as he was bottom of his group due to forfeiting a match in the group stage.
That means that Rios will likely play Gutierrez in the Round of 32, providing Gutierrez wins his match against Irishman Patrick Hanley in the Round of 64.
Not quite the benefit that Rios would have liked from his win over Rojas. And it's not good for Rojas either, as he's slotted into the 20th spot, which means he's on the top of the draw with countryman Rocky Carson, so no all-USA final. Moreover, Rojas is in the quarter of the draw with Mexican Alvaro Beltran, so they could meet in the quarter-finals.
On the women's side, the two USA players are also on the top of the draw, as Aubrey Kirch lost one of her group stage matches - to Ecuador's Maria Paz Muñoz - and they could meet in the Round of 16, which means only one medal is possible for the USA in women's singles.
This will be the first World Championships that the USA hasn't double medalled in Women's Singles since 2006, when only Cheryl Gudinas made the podium with a bronze medal.
The Argentine women of Maria Jose Vargas and Veronique Guillemette played well in the group stage, but Vargas lost to Colombian Cristina Amaya on Monday, which puts the two Argentine women in the same part of the elimination draw. They could meet in the 16s if they both win their Round of 32 matches.
Mexico may be relatively happy with the women's draw, as Paola Longoria is the 2nd seed and Samantha Salas is the 4th seed, as both went through the group stage undefeated. That means they could meet in the final, which would be the first time a World Championship has been between two players from the same country since 2008, when Americans Rajsich and Gudinas played off with Rajsich winning her first World title.
There's never been a Women's Singles World Championship final with two players from the same country other than the USA. Only once has a Men's Singles World Championship final been between two non-Americans. In 1994, Canadians Sherman Greenfeld and Mike Ceresia played in the final, with Greenfeld winning his first of two World titles.
The singles elimination round begins Tuesday.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Rocky Carson (USA) - BYE
Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico) v. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala)
Victor Montserrat (Catalunya) - BYE
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) - BYE
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - BYE
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - BYE
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) v. Timothy Baghurst (England)
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) - BYE
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) - BYE
Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) - BYE
Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela) - BYE
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Jose Rojas (USA) - BYE
Edwin Galicia (Guatamala) v. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)
Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) - BYE
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Patrick Hanley (Ireland)
Roberto Santander (Venezuela) - BYE
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) - BYE
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Alok Mehta (India) v. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine)
Michimune Kono (Japan) - BYE
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - BYE
Mingyu Kim (South Korea) v. Mark Murphy (Ireland)
Dani Pascual (Catalunya) - BYE
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - BYE
Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) - BYE
Rajiv Varadarajan (India) v. Peter Rakowski (Poland)
Tim Landeryou (Canada) - BYE
Women's Singles
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Anna Ventura (Catalunya) v. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba)
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) - BYE
Aubrey Kirch (USA) - BYE
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Harumi Kajino (Japan) - BYE
Bat Consegal (Catalunya) - BYE
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) - BYE
Claudia Andreade (Columbia) - BYE
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - BYE
Michèle Morissette (Canada) - BYE
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE
Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) - BYE
Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Maiko Sato (Japan) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile) - BYE
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) - BYE
Christine Richardson (Canada) - BYE
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) - BYE
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Jung Eun Ane (Korea) - BYE
Donna Ryder (Ireland) - BYE
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) - BYE
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - BYE
Melania Sauma Masis (Costa Rica) - BYE
Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
For example, Fernando Rios of Ecuador won Monday's match of the day, when he upset American Jose Rojas. That put Rios in the 3rd seed, which sounds great, except that Mexican Polo Gutierrez is in the 35th spot as he was bottom of his group due to forfeiting a match in the group stage.
That means that Rios will likely play Gutierrez in the Round of 32, providing Gutierrez wins his match against Irishman Patrick Hanley in the Round of 64.
Not quite the benefit that Rios would have liked from his win over Rojas. And it's not good for Rojas either, as he's slotted into the 20th spot, which means he's on the top of the draw with countryman Rocky Carson, so no all-USA final. Moreover, Rojas is in the quarter of the draw with Mexican Alvaro Beltran, so they could meet in the quarter-finals.
On the women's side, the two USA players are also on the top of the draw, as Aubrey Kirch lost one of her group stage matches - to Ecuador's Maria Paz Muñoz - and they could meet in the Round of 16, which means only one medal is possible for the USA in women's singles.
This will be the first World Championships that the USA hasn't double medalled in Women's Singles since 2006, when only Cheryl Gudinas made the podium with a bronze medal.
The Argentine women of Maria Jose Vargas and Veronique Guillemette played well in the group stage, but Vargas lost to Colombian Cristina Amaya on Monday, which puts the two Argentine women in the same part of the elimination draw. They could meet in the 16s if they both win their Round of 32 matches.
Mexico may be relatively happy with the women's draw, as Paola Longoria is the 2nd seed and Samantha Salas is the 4th seed, as both went through the group stage undefeated. That means they could meet in the final, which would be the first time a World Championship has been between two players from the same country since 2008, when Americans Rajsich and Gudinas played off with Rajsich winning her first World title.
There's never been a Women's Singles World Championship final with two players from the same country other than the USA. Only once has a Men's Singles World Championship final been between two non-Americans. In 1994, Canadians Sherman Greenfeld and Mike Ceresia played in the final, with Greenfeld winning his first of two World titles.
The singles elimination round begins Tuesday.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Rocky Carson (USA) - BYE
Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico) v. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala)
Victor Montserrat (Catalunya) - BYE
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) - BYE
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - BYE
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - BYE
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) v. Timothy Baghurst (England)
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) - BYE
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) - BYE
Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) - BYE
Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela) - BYE
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Jose Rojas (USA) - BYE
Edwin Galicia (Guatamala) v. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)
Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) - BYE
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Patrick Hanley (Ireland)
Roberto Santander (Venezuela) - BYE
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) - BYE
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Alok Mehta (India) v. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine)
Michimune Kono (Japan) - BYE
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - BYE
Mingyu Kim (South Korea) v. Mark Murphy (Ireland)
Dani Pascual (Catalunya) - BYE
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - BYE
Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) - BYE
Rajiv Varadarajan (India) v. Peter Rakowski (Poland)
Tim Landeryou (Canada) - BYE
Women's Singles
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Anna Ventura (Catalunya) v. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba)
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) - BYE
Aubrey Kirch (USA) - BYE
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Harumi Kajino (Japan) - BYE
Bat Consegal (Catalunya) - BYE
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) - BYE
Claudia Andreade (Columbia) - BYE
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - BYE
Michèle Morissette (Canada) - BYE
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE
Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) - BYE
Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Maiko Sato (Japan) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile) - BYE
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) - BYE
Christine Richardson (Canada) - BYE
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) - BYE
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Jung Eun Ane (Korea) - BYE
Donna Ryder (Ireland) - BYE
Jin Young Seok (South Korea) - BYE
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - BYE
Melania Sauma Masis (Costa Rica) - BYE
Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
17th IRF World Championships - Day 3
The group stage is over at the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and the match of the day was between American Jose Rojas and Ecuadorian Fernando Rios, which went tie-breaker with Rios coming out on top, 7-15, 15-12, 11-8.
Rios closed out game two and began game three by drive serving to Rojas's backhand. Rojas wasn't drive serving in the tie-breaker, choosing instead to lob serve and hit drive Z serves to Rios's backhand.
Rios got the early lead in the tie-breaker with help from Rojas, who skipped balls for two of the first three points, and hit two more skips in the game.
Rojas did keep it close early in game three, and trailed by only one at 5-4 and 6-5. Then Rios extended the lead to 10-5, again with rallies that began with drive serves to the left - Rojas's backhand, which is commonly thought to be his stronger side.
But at his first match point opportunity, Rios drove serve to the right side, and lost the rally, which led us to wonder (a) why Rios went away from a winning strategy, and (b) could Rojas serve out the game?
We don't know the answer to the first question, but the answer to the second was almost yes, as Rojas scored three points, including two flat pinch shots (a backhand and a forehand), to cut the lead to 10-8.
They went back and forth at 10-8, and Rios tried a drive serve to the right side, which wasn't successful.
Then on his fifth match point Rios hit a half lob to the right side that had some observers thinking "Whaaaat?" only to have Rojas completely tank the return into the floor for fifth skip of the game.
It was an incredible match, which had both players diving for balls, and it's the sort of match that would convert any sceptic to racquetball.
The upshot of Rios's win is that he takes the 3rd seed from Rojas, and in the elimination round he could end up on the same side of the draw as team-mate Rocky Carson.
Carson won his match Monday, defeating Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-5, so he'll maintain his #1 seeding.
But American Aubrey Kirch was defeated by Ecuador's Maria Paz Muñoz, 13-15, 15-11, 11-2, so she will be 2nd in her group, and may end up on the same side of the draw as American #1 Rhonda Rajsich, who kept the top seed slot with a win over Melania Sauma Masis of Costa Rica, 15-4, 15-0.
The elimination round begins Tueday - there is no off day this year, but only a few of the doubles teams will play on Tuesday.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Group A
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-5
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-13, 7-15, 11-4
Group B
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-13
Victor Montserrat (Catalunya) d. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine), 15-5, 15-10
Group C
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Jose Rojas (USA), 7-15, 15-12, 11-8
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Peter Rakowski (Poland), 15-3, 15-4
Group D
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Roberto Santander (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-2
Dani Pascual (Catalunya) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), forfeit
Group E
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-2
Mingyu Kim (South Korea) d. Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico), 15-9, 15-2
Group F
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Michimune Kono (Japan), 11-15, 15-7, 11-5
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Rajiv Varadarajan (India), 15-4, 15-1
Group G
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-10
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) d. Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-7
Group H
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) d. Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4
Alok Mehta (India) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-6, 15-14
Group I
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-13
Edwin Galicia (Guatamala) d. Mark Murphy (Ireland), 15-14, 15-8
Group J
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Alejandro Herrera (Colombia), 15-5, 15-5
Patrick Hanley (Ireland) d. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Women's Singles
Group A
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Melania Sauma Masis (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-0
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) - BYE
Group B
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-6
Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Aubrey Kirch (USA), 13-15, 15-11, 11-2
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - BYE
Group D
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 12-15, 15-6, 11-5
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba), 15-14, 15-3
Group E
Donna Ryder (Ireland) d. Anna Ventura (Catalunya), 15-10, 15-9
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-7, 15-3
Group F
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-10
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-9, 15-10
Group G
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Bat Consegal (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-5
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile), 15-8, 15-2
Group H
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-11, 15-7
Jung Eun Ane (Korea) d. Maiko Satoh (Japan), 15-12, 15-6
Group I
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Claudia Andreade (Columbia), 15-2, 15-6
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Jin Seok (South Korea), 15-11, 15-13
Men's Doubles
Group A
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) d. Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-7
Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - BYE
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group C
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador), 9-15, 15-11, 11-10
Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) d. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-7, 15-5
Group D
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-9, 15-4
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-4
Group E
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia), 11-15, 15-6, 11-7
Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland) d. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (india), 15-6, 15-9
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-4, 15-5
Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya), 15-8, 15-5
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 4-15, 15-12, 11-0
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-11
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-12, 12-15, 11-5
Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) d. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15-5, 15-7
Group D
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. d. Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan), 15-4, 10-15, 11-7
Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) d. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia), 15-8, 15-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Rios closed out game two and began game three by drive serving to Rojas's backhand. Rojas wasn't drive serving in the tie-breaker, choosing instead to lob serve and hit drive Z serves to Rios's backhand.
Rios got the early lead in the tie-breaker with help from Rojas, who skipped balls for two of the first three points, and hit two more skips in the game.
Rojas did keep it close early in game three, and trailed by only one at 5-4 and 6-5. Then Rios extended the lead to 10-5, again with rallies that began with drive serves to the left - Rojas's backhand, which is commonly thought to be his stronger side.
But at his first match point opportunity, Rios drove serve to the right side, and lost the rally, which led us to wonder (a) why Rios went away from a winning strategy, and (b) could Rojas serve out the game?
We don't know the answer to the first question, but the answer to the second was almost yes, as Rojas scored three points, including two flat pinch shots (a backhand and a forehand), to cut the lead to 10-8.
They went back and forth at 10-8, and Rios tried a drive serve to the right side, which wasn't successful.
Then on his fifth match point Rios hit a half lob to the right side that had some observers thinking "Whaaaat?" only to have Rojas completely tank the return into the floor for fifth skip of the game.
It was an incredible match, which had both players diving for balls, and it's the sort of match that would convert any sceptic to racquetball.
The upshot of Rios's win is that he takes the 3rd seed from Rojas, and in the elimination round he could end up on the same side of the draw as team-mate Rocky Carson.
Carson won his match Monday, defeating Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-5, so he'll maintain his #1 seeding.
But American Aubrey Kirch was defeated by Ecuador's Maria Paz Muñoz, 13-15, 15-11, 11-2, so she will be 2nd in her group, and may end up on the same side of the draw as American #1 Rhonda Rajsich, who kept the top seed slot with a win over Melania Sauma Masis of Costa Rica, 15-4, 15-0.
The elimination round begins Tueday - there is no off day this year, but only a few of the doubles teams will play on Tuesday.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Group A
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-5
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-13, 7-15, 11-4
Group B
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-13
Victor Montserrat (Catalunya) d. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine), 15-5, 15-10
Group C
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Jose Rojas (USA), 7-15, 15-12, 11-8
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Peter Rakowski (Poland), 15-3, 15-4
Group D
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Roberto Santander (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-2
Dani Pascual (Catalunya) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), forfeit
Group E
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-2
Mingyu Kim (South Korea) d. Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico), 15-9, 15-2
Group F
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Michimune Kono (Japan), 11-15, 15-7, 11-5
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Rajiv Varadarajan (India), 15-4, 15-1
Group G
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-10
Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) d. Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-7
Group H
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) d. Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4
Alok Mehta (India) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-6, 15-14
Group I
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-13
Edwin Galicia (Guatamala) d. Mark Murphy (Ireland), 15-14, 15-8
Group J
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Alejandro Herrera (Colombia), 15-5, 15-5
Patrick Hanley (Ireland) d. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Women's Singles
Group A
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Melania Sauma Masis (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-0
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) - BYE
Group B
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-6
Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Aubrey Kirch (USA), 13-15, 15-11, 11-2
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - BYE
Group D
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 12-15, 15-6, 11-5
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba), 15-14, 15-3
Group E
Donna Ryder (Ireland) d. Anna Ventura (Catalunya), 15-10, 15-9
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Christine Richardson (Canada), 15-7, 15-3
Group F
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-10
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-9, 15-10
Group G
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Bat Consegal (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-5
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile), 15-8, 15-2
Group H
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-11, 15-7
Jung Eun Ane (Korea) d. Maiko Satoh (Japan), 15-12, 15-6
Group I
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Claudia Andreade (Columbia), 15-2, 15-6
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Jin Seok (South Korea), 15-11, 15-13
Men's Doubles
Group A
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) d. Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-7
Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - BYE
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group C
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador), 9-15, 15-11, 11-10
Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea) d. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-7, 15-5
Group D
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-9, 15-4
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-4
Group E
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia), 11-15, 15-6, 11-7
Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland) d. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (india), 15-6, 15-9
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea), 15-4, 15-5
Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya), 15-8, 15-5
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 4-15, 15-12, 11-0
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-11
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-12, 12-15, 11-5
Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic) d. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15-5, 15-7
Group D
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. d. Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan), 15-4, 10-15, 11-7
Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica) d. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia), 15-8, 15-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, June 15, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Day 2
The group stages of the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships continued Sunday in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and there were a few upsets by the seedings, which are based on performances in last three World Championships.
Some notable performances on Sunday include a comeback by the Canadian doubles team of Vincent Gagnon and Mike Green, who were down 14-7 in game two of their match against Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera, and looked to be going to a tie-breaker, as the Canadians had won game one.
But the veteran Canadian team kept at it, and came back to win game two 15-14 and take the match in two straight, 15-8, 15-14.
Mexican Polo Gutierrez has arrived in Burlington after having some visa problems, and he won his match on Sunday, defeating Daeyong Kwon of South Korea, 15-3, 14-15, 11-4.
And kudos to Kwon as he forced Gutierrez, the 2012 World Championships silver medalist, to a tie-breaker, and also went tie-breaker yesterday with Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica. Two good performances by Kwon.
Veronique Guillemette of Argentina has also turned in two good performances, as she's won her first two matches, including a win against Natalia Mendez of Bolivia on Sunday, 15-10, 15-14, and looks on track to take the 6th seed spot, despite coming into the tournament in the 31st spot.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Group A
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-11, 15-4
Norlen Jimenez (Cuba) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-14
Group B
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Victor Montserrat (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-7
Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela) d. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine), 15-13, 9-15, 11-0
Group C
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-6, 15-11
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Peter Rakowski (Poland), 15-0, 15-1
Group D
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-6
Roberto Santander (Venezuela) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), forfeit
Group E
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Mingyu Kim (South Korea), 15-2, 15-7
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) d. Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico), 15-8, 15-1
Group F
Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-5, 15-11
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Rajiv Varadarajan (India), 15-7, 15-10
Group G
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-3, 14-15, 11-4
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-9, 15-11
Group H
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-4, 15-3
Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) d. Alok Mehta (India), 15-3, 15-6
Group I
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Mark Murphy (Ireland), 15-5, 15-12
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatamala), 15-5, 15-14
Group J
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Patrick Hanley (Ireland), 15-8, 15-4
Women's Singles
Group A
Melania Sauma Masis d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 11-15, 15-14, 11-6
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Group B
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-13
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-8, 15-5
Aubrey Kirch (USA) - BYE
Group D
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-1
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba), 15-4, 15-0
Group E
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-3, 15-4
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Anna Ventura (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-1
Group F
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) d. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-14
Harumi Kajino (Japan) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-3
Group G
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-9, 15-12
Bat Consegal (Catalunya) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile), 15-7, 11-15, 11-5
Group H
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 15-11, 15-2
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maiko Satoh (Japan), 15-9, 15-12
Group I
Jin Seok (South Korea) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-8
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Claudia Andreade (Columbia), 15-3, 15-5
Men's Doubles
Group A
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) - BYE
Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica) d. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-3, 15-7
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) d. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-9
Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-6, 15-11
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) d. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-0, 15-2
Group D
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia), 15-8, 15-14
Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-6, 15-2
Group E
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland), 15-5, 15-3
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (india), 15-3, 15-2
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-8, 15-1
Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea) d. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya), forfeit
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-4
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-10
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15-11, 15-4
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-5
Group D
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-6
Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia) d. Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan), 15-6, 4-15, 11-9
Follow the bouncing ball....
Some notable performances on Sunday include a comeback by the Canadian doubles team of Vincent Gagnon and Mike Green, who were down 14-7 in game two of their match against Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera, and looked to be going to a tie-breaker, as the Canadians had won game one.
But the veteran Canadian team kept at it, and came back to win game two 15-14 and take the match in two straight, 15-8, 15-14.
Mexican Polo Gutierrez has arrived in Burlington after having some visa problems, and he won his match on Sunday, defeating Daeyong Kwon of South Korea, 15-3, 14-15, 11-4.
And kudos to Kwon as he forced Gutierrez, the 2012 World Championships silver medalist, to a tie-breaker, and also went tie-breaker yesterday with Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica. Two good performances by Kwon.
Veronique Guillemette of Argentina has also turned in two good performances, as she's won her first two matches, including a win against Natalia Mendez of Bolivia on Sunday, 15-10, 15-14, and looks on track to take the 6th seed spot, despite coming into the tournament in the 31st spot.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Group A
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-11, 15-4
Norlen Jimenez (Cuba) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-14
Group B
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Victor Montserrat (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-7
Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela) d. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine), 15-13, 9-15, 11-0
Group C
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-6, 15-11
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Peter Rakowski (Poland), 15-0, 15-1
Group D
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-6
Roberto Santander (Venezuela) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), forfeit
Group E
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Mingyu Kim (South Korea), 15-2, 15-7
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) d. Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico), 15-8, 15-1
Group F
Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-5, 15-11
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Rajiv Varadarajan (India), 15-7, 15-10
Group G
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-3, 14-15, 11-4
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-9, 15-11
Group H
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-4, 15-3
Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) d. Alok Mehta (India), 15-3, 15-6
Group I
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Mark Murphy (Ireland), 15-5, 15-12
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatamala), 15-5, 15-14
Group J
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Patrick Hanley (Ireland), 15-8, 15-4
Women's Singles
Group A
Melania Sauma Masis d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 11-15, 15-14, 11-6
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Group B
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-13
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-8, 15-5
Aubrey Kirch (USA) - BYE
Group D
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-1
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba), 15-4, 15-0
Group E
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-3, 15-4
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Anna Ventura (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-1
Group F
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) d. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-14
Harumi Kajino (Japan) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-3
Group G
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-9, 15-12
Bat Consegal (Catalunya) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile), 15-7, 11-15, 11-5
Group H
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 15-11, 15-2
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maiko Satoh (Japan), 15-9, 15-12
Group I
Jin Seok (South Korea) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-8
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Claudia Andreade (Columbia), 15-3, 15-5
Men's Doubles
Group A
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) - BYE
Joaquin Solera & Pablo Sauma Masis (Costa Rica) d. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-3, 15-7
Group B
Alvaro Beltran & Edson Martinez (Mexico) d. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-9
Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-6, 15-11
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) d. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-0, 15-2
Group D
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia), 15-8, 15-14
Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-6, 15-2
Group E
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland), 15-5, 15-3
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (india), 15-3, 15-2
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-8, 15-1
Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea) d. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya), forfeit
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-4
Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-10
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15-11, 15-4
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-5
Group D
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-6
Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia) d. Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan), 15-6, 4-15, 11-9
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, June 14, 2014
17th IRF World Championships - Day 1
The 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships began Saturday in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. The format for Worlds this year is different from past years, as there is no team competition, and the individual competitions begin with a group stage the results of which will serve as the basis for an elimination draw that will begin on Tuesday.
There have been few surprises so far. Perhaps the most surprising group in Men's Singles is Group B, where Canadian Tim Landeryou was pushed to a tie-breaker by Anthony DeFusto of the Ukraine before winning 15-10, 10-15, 11-2.
Also in Group B, Victor Montserrat of Catalunya upset Venezuelan Ezequiel Paez, 6-15, 15-8, 11-7.
On the women's side, it was perhaps surprising how easily the American team of Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger defeated Véronique Guillemette and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, as they won 15-8, 15-5. Vargas was the 3rd ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) this past season.
Of note are a loss by Mexican Polo Gutierrez, as he had difficulty securing a visa to travel to Canada for Worlds. If he arrives in time for his Sunday match, then he will able to continue in the tournament, but if any player (or doubles team) has two forfeits in the group stage, the player will be dropped from the event.
Also, seeding for the World Championships is based on the best performances by countries in two of the last three World Championships, so, for example, the USA is ranked ahead of Mexico in Women's Singles, as the USA has finished 1st in women's singles in two of the last three Worlds, while Mexico has only finished 1st in the last Worlds and 3rd at the previous two. Thus, Rhonda Rajsich - the USA #1 woman - is seeded 1st, and Paola Longoria - Mexico's #1 woman - is seeded 2nd.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Group A
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Norlen Jimenez (Cuba), 15-6, 15-7
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-7
Group B
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine), 15-10, 10-15, 11-2
Victor Montserrat (Catalunya) d. Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela), 6-15, 15-8, 11-7
Group C
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Peter Rakowski (Poland), 15-0, 15-2
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-9, 15-6
Group D
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), forfeit
Roberto Santander (Venezuela) d. Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-6
Group E
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico), 15-8, 15-5
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) d. Mingyu Kim (South Korea), 15-6, 15-11
Group F
Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Rajiv Varadarajan (India), 15-1, 15-0
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 4-15, 15-9, 11-6
Group G
Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) d. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico), forfeit
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 3-15, 15-11, 11-6
Group H
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) d. Alok Mehta (India), 15-6, 15-5
Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-13, 15-5
Group I
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatamala), 15-5, 15-3
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Mark Murphy (Ireland), 15-7, 15-7
Group J
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Patrick Hanley (Ireland), 15-11, 15-5
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Women's Singles
Group A
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-2
Group B
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-2
Group C
Aubrey Kirch (USA) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-7, 15-12
Group D
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba), 15-1, 15-4
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-6
Group E
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Anna Ventura (Catalunya), 15-0, 15-1
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-0, 15-2
Group F
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-5, 15-11
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-2
Group G
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Bat Consegal (Catalunya), 15-7, 15-10
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile), 15-0, 15-3
Group H
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maiko Satoh (Japan), 15-3, 15-4
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 15-6, 16-8
Group I
Jin Seok (South Korea) d. Claudia Andreade (Columbia), 15-7, 15-3
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 5-15, 15-7, 11-1
Men's Doubles
Group A
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) d. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-1, 15-9
Group B
Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Group C
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-8, 15-3
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) d. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-2, 13-15, 11-7
Group D
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-2
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-2, 15-14
Group E
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (india), 15-5, 15-4
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland), 15-6, 15-9
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya), 15-0, 15-0
Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea) v. Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-8, 15-5
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-13
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-1
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15- 2, 15-9
Group D
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia), 15-11, 15-7
Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-6
Follow the bouncing ball....
There have been few surprises so far. Perhaps the most surprising group in Men's Singles is Group B, where Canadian Tim Landeryou was pushed to a tie-breaker by Anthony DeFusto of the Ukraine before winning 15-10, 10-15, 11-2.
Also in Group B, Victor Montserrat of Catalunya upset Venezuelan Ezequiel Paez, 6-15, 15-8, 11-7.
On the women's side, it was perhaps surprising how easily the American team of Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger defeated Véronique Guillemette and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, as they won 15-8, 15-5. Vargas was the 3rd ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) this past season.
Of note are a loss by Mexican Polo Gutierrez, as he had difficulty securing a visa to travel to Canada for Worlds. If he arrives in time for his Sunday match, then he will able to continue in the tournament, but if any player (or doubles team) has two forfeits in the group stage, the player will be dropped from the event.
Also, seeding for the World Championships is based on the best performances by countries in two of the last three World Championships, so, for example, the USA is ranked ahead of Mexico in Women's Singles, as the USA has finished 1st in women's singles in two of the last three Worlds, while Mexico has only finished 1st in the last Worlds and 3rd at the previous two. Thus, Rhonda Rajsich - the USA #1 woman - is seeded 1st, and Paola Longoria - Mexico's #1 woman - is seeded 2nd.
There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals on Friday and Saturday via the IRF Network.
17th IRF World Championships
June 14-21, 2014
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Men's Singles
Group A
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Norlen Jimenez (Cuba), 15-6, 15-7
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-7
Group B
Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Anthony DeFusto (Ukraine), 15-10, 10-15, 11-2
Victor Montserrat (Catalunya) d. Ezequiel Paez (Venezuela), 6-15, 15-8, 11-7
Group C
Jose Rojas (USA) d. Peter Rakowski (Poland), 15-0, 15-2
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-9, 15-6
Group D
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Timothy Baghurst (England), forfeit
Roberto Santander (Venezuela) d. Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-1, 15-6
Group E
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Michael Barrett (Puerto Rico), 15-8, 15-5
Andres Aviles Solera (Costa Rica) d. Mingyu Kim (South Korea), 15-6, 15-11
Group F
Michimune Kono (Japan) d. Rajiv Varadarajan (India), 15-1, 15-0
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 4-15, 15-9, 11-6
Group G
Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico) d. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico), forfeit
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 3-15, 15-11, 11-6
Group H
Takaaki Hirose (Japan) d. Alok Mehta (India), 15-6, 15-5
Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-13, 15-5
Group I
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatamala), 15-5, 15-3
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Mark Murphy (Ireland), 15-7, 15-7
Group J
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Patrick Hanley (Ireland), 15-11, 15-5
Alejandro Herrera (Colombia) d. Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Women's Singles
Group A
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-2
Group B
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-2
Group C
Aubrey Kirch (USA) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-7, 15-12
Group D
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Disney Linares Barreras (Cuba), 15-1, 15-4
Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-6
Group E
Christine Richardson (Canada) d. Anna Ventura (Catalunya), 15-0, 15-1
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Donna Ryder (Ireland), 15-0, 15-2
Group F
Veronique Guillemette (Argentina) d. Harumi Kajino (Japan), 15-5, 15-11
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Merynaanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-2
Group G
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Bat Consegal (Catalunya), 15-7, 15-10
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile), 15-0, 15-3
Group H
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maiko Satoh (Japan), 15-3, 15-4
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Jung Eun Ane (Korea), 15-6, 16-8
Group I
Jin Seok (South Korea) d. Claudia Andreade (Columbia), 15-7, 15-3
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 5-15, 15-7, 11-1
Men's Doubles
Group A
Ben Croft & Thomas Fuhrmann (USA) d. Rodrigo Salgado & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-1, 15-9
Group B
Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin Galicia & Pedro Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), forfeit
Group C
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Victor Montserrat & Dani Pascual (Catalunya), 15-8, 15-3
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecoador) d. Mingyu Kim & Daeyong Kwon (South Korea), 15-2, 13-15, 11-7
Group D
Mike Green & Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Michael Barrett & Fernando Rivera (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-2
Alejandro Herrera & Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Hiroshi Shimizu & Michimune Kono (Japan), 15-2, 15-14
Group E
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Pratap Ballalasamudra & Sumeet Kamat (india), 15-5, 15-4
Conrado Moscos & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Pat O'Donnell & Conor Skehan (Ireland), 15-6, 15-9
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Anna Ventura & Bet Consegal (Catalunya), 15-0, 15-0
Jin Seok & Jung Eun Ane (South Korea) v. Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)
Group B
Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (USA) d. Véronique Guillemette & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-8, 15-5
Maria Paz Muñoz & Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-13
Group C
Frédérique Lambert & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-1
Natalia Mendez & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Majella Haventry & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15- 2, 15-9
Group D
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Cristina Amaya & Claudia Andrade (Colombia), 15-11, 15-7
Maiko Satoh & Naomi Wakimoto (Japan) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-6
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, June 9, 2014
2014 IRF World Championships Preview
On Friday, the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships opening ceremonies will happen in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Worlds were last in Canada in 1992 in Montreal.
Mexican Team
We've got confirmation on who's playing for Mexico this year. Paola Longoria will lead the Mexican team and play Women's Singles and Doubles with Samantha Salas, who will also play Women's Singles. Their men's team will be Alvaro Beltran and Polo Gutierrez in Men's Singles with Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez as the Men's Doubles team.
Historical tidbits
Sixty-four gold medals have been awarded at the 16 previous World Championships: one each in Women's Singles and Doubles and Men's Singles and Doubles. Mexicans and Canadians have won 16 of those 64 medals with Americans winning the other 48.
The USA has swept the four medal categories five times: in 1981, 1992, 1996, 2004, and 2008. The USA has won at at least two of the four individual event medals at every World Championship, except the last one.
In 2012, Mexico won three of the four individual competitions: Women's Singles and Doubles (Longoria and Longoria & Salas) and Men's Doubles (Beltran and Javier Moreno). Rocky Carson was the only American gold medalist two years ago.
Three players competing this year are among those tied for second most career Worlds gold medals: Beltran, Carson, and Longoria. By winning in Burlington, two of them could become the sole player in second all time behind American Jackie Paraiso, who's won seven World Championships in women's doubles.
Only two of the three, because Beltran and Carson are both playing Men's Singles, so only one of them can win gold in Burlington.
Team Competition Change
There's a change in the tournament format this year, as there will be no team competition. Previously, there were separate competitions for the individual titles and then a team competition with countries playing off against each other in a best of three match format involving two singles matches and a doubles match.
But this year, there will be a preliminary round of matches with players in groups of three or four players, and then an elimination round. This format has been used in recent Junior World and Pan Am Championship competitions.
Overall, players from over 20 countries will be competing, and the semi-final and final matches can be viewed via the IRF Network.
Play begins June 14 with three days of pool play followed by an off day and then the elimination rounds on Wednesday leading to the finals on June 21.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Mexican Team
We've got confirmation on who's playing for Mexico this year. Paola Longoria will lead the Mexican team and play Women's Singles and Doubles with Samantha Salas, who will also play Women's Singles. Their men's team will be Alvaro Beltran and Polo Gutierrez in Men's Singles with Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez as the Men's Doubles team.
Historical tidbits
Sixty-four gold medals have been awarded at the 16 previous World Championships: one each in Women's Singles and Doubles and Men's Singles and Doubles. Mexicans and Canadians have won 16 of those 64 medals with Americans winning the other 48.
The USA has swept the four medal categories five times: in 1981, 1992, 1996, 2004, and 2008. The USA has won at at least two of the four individual event medals at every World Championship, except the last one.
In 2012, Mexico won three of the four individual competitions: Women's Singles and Doubles (Longoria and Longoria & Salas) and Men's Doubles (Beltran and Javier Moreno). Rocky Carson was the only American gold medalist two years ago.
Three players competing this year are among those tied for second most career Worlds gold medals: Beltran, Carson, and Longoria. By winning in Burlington, two of them could become the sole player in second all time behind American Jackie Paraiso, who's won seven World Championships in women's doubles.
Only two of the three, because Beltran and Carson are both playing Men's Singles, so only one of them can win gold in Burlington.
Team Competition Change
There's a change in the tournament format this year, as there will be no team competition. Previously, there were separate competitions for the individual titles and then a team competition with countries playing off against each other in a best of three match format involving two singles matches and a doubles match.
But this year, there will be a preliminary round of matches with players in groups of three or four players, and then an elimination round. This format has been used in recent Junior World and Pan Am Championship competitions.
Overall, players from over 20 countries will be competing, and the semi-final and final matches can be viewed via the IRF Network.
Play begins June 14 with three days of pool play followed by an off day and then the elimination rounds on Wednesday leading to the finals on June 21.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, June 2, 2014
2014 IRF World Championships Preview
The 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships are set to begin in less than two weeks in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. This is the second time Worlds have been in Canada, but it's over two decades since the last time, which was 1992 when Montreal was the host city.
Two years ago, Mexico won three of the four individual competitions, which was its best showing ever, and the first time the USA won only one gold medal. Rocky Carson was the American gold medalist in men's singles with Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno winning men's doubles, and Paola Longoria winning singles and doubles with Samantha Salas.
Carson and Longoria have continued to do well, so they are likely to be gold medal favourites again. If Carson wins, he'll set the record for most men's singles championships. He's currently tied with fellow American Jack Huczek with three.
If Longoria wins, she could move into 2nd all time World Championship wins by a woman with four; she currently has one in singles and two in doubles. She'd only be behind American Jackie Paraiso, who's won seven World Championships in women's doubles.
There's a change in the tournament format this year, as there will be no team competition. Previously, there were separate competitions for the individual titles and then a team competition with countries playing off against each other in a best of three match format involving two singles matches and a doubles match.
But this year, there will be a preliminary round of matches with players in groups of three or four players, and then an elimination round. This format has been used in recent Junior World and Pan Am Championship competitions.
Team USA
There are some new faces on the American team this year. Carson is back in men's singles and he's again joined by Jose Rojas, who was a bronze medalist two years ago. Ben Croft returns to the team in men's doubles. He won gold in 2010 with Mitch Williams, but this year is playing with left-hander Thomas Fuhrmann, who's making his first appearance on the team.
The women's is led by veterans Rhonda Rajsich in singles and Aimee Ruiz in doubles, and they are both two time World Champions. Joining them are Janel Tisinger in doubles, who's represented the USA previously, including earlier this year at the Pan Am Championships, and Aubrey Kirch, who is making her first Team USA appearance, although she was the 2010 Junior World Champion so has some familiarity with international competition.
The USA team seems strong, but they are coming off a Pan Am Championships in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where they were held off the podium on the women's side completely. But Jose Rojas did win gold at Santa Cruz, and Carson and Croft are top 6 players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), so they look strong on the men's side.
Team Mexico
We're uncertain who the Mexican team will be, but we are certain they will be strong with probably Longoria and Salas in women's singles and perhaps left-hander Susana Acosta in doubles, unless Longoria and Salas play both singles and doubles as they have the past two Worlds.
Alvaro Beltran will likely be one of the Mexican men, as will Daniel De La Rosa, who emerged as one of the strong young men's players on the IRT. Add in Polo Gutierrez and Javier Moreno, and you have a side that could win both men's gold medals.
Team Canada
Team Canada will have a relatively young team, and their veteran players are playing doubles, so they are looking to have the most success there. Frédérique Lambert is coming off a very successful LPRT season, where she finished 6th. She'll play doubles with veteran Jennifer Saunders, who won her 8th Canadian Championship last month by defeating Lambert in the final. In singles, Christine Richardson and Michèle Morissette are making their first appearances at Worlds and it's Morissette's first appearance overall and only the second for Richardson. Their men's players are veterans Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon in doubles with Tim Landeryou and Team Canada rookie Samuel Murray in singles.
Who else?
Two years ago, Maria Jose Vargas was a junior and this year she was the 3rd ranked player on the LPRT. She is definitely a threat to medal in Burlington, where she'll play for Argentina. She won singles and was runner up in doubles with Véronique Guillemette at the Pan Am Championships in April.
Colombian Cristina Amaya was the silver medalist at the World Games last year, and 5th on the LPRT this season, so she's a podium threat. As is Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador, and whoever Bolivia sends.
Overall, players from over 20 countries will be competing, and the IRF has an agreement with the IRT Network to stream matches live, so you'll be able to see some of the action from Burlington regardless of where you are.
Worlds begins with the opening ceremonies in Burlington June 13 and play begins June 14. There will be three days of pool play followed by an off day and then the elimination round begins leading to the finals on June 21.
16th IRF World Championships - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
MEDAL SUMMARY
Men's Singles
Gold - Rocky Carson (USA)
Silver - Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)
Bronze - Gilberto Mejia (Mexico) and Jose Rojas (USA)
Men's Doubles
Gold - Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico)
Silver - Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA)
Bronze - Ricardo Monroy & Roland Keller (Bolivia) and Pedro Manolo Sandoval & Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
Women's Singles
Gold - Paola Longoria (Mexico)
Silver - Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
Bronze - Rhonda Rajsich (USA) and Cheryl Gudinas (USA)
Women's Doubles
Gold - Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
Silver - Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Bronze - Josée Grand'Maître & Frédérique Lambert (Canada) and Aimee Ruiz & Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
Men's Team Competition - Final Standings
1. USA
2. Canada
3. Mexico
4. Bolivia
Women's Team Competition - Final Standings
1. Mexico
2. USA
3. Canada
4. Colombia
Follow the bouncing ball....
Two years ago, Mexico won three of the four individual competitions, which was its best showing ever, and the first time the USA won only one gold medal. Rocky Carson was the American gold medalist in men's singles with Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno winning men's doubles, and Paola Longoria winning singles and doubles with Samantha Salas.
Carson and Longoria have continued to do well, so they are likely to be gold medal favourites again. If Carson wins, he'll set the record for most men's singles championships. He's currently tied with fellow American Jack Huczek with three.
If Longoria wins, she could move into 2nd all time World Championship wins by a woman with four; she currently has one in singles and two in doubles. She'd only be behind American Jackie Paraiso, who's won seven World Championships in women's doubles.
There's a change in the tournament format this year, as there will be no team competition. Previously, there were separate competitions for the individual titles and then a team competition with countries playing off against each other in a best of three match format involving two singles matches and a doubles match.
But this year, there will be a preliminary round of matches with players in groups of three or four players, and then an elimination round. This format has been used in recent Junior World and Pan Am Championship competitions.
Team USA
There are some new faces on the American team this year. Carson is back in men's singles and he's again joined by Jose Rojas, who was a bronze medalist two years ago. Ben Croft returns to the team in men's doubles. He won gold in 2010 with Mitch Williams, but this year is playing with left-hander Thomas Fuhrmann, who's making his first appearance on the team.
The women's is led by veterans Rhonda Rajsich in singles and Aimee Ruiz in doubles, and they are both two time World Champions. Joining them are Janel Tisinger in doubles, who's represented the USA previously, including earlier this year at the Pan Am Championships, and Aubrey Kirch, who is making her first Team USA appearance, although she was the 2010 Junior World Champion so has some familiarity with international competition.
The USA team seems strong, but they are coming off a Pan Am Championships in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where they were held off the podium on the women's side completely. But Jose Rojas did win gold at Santa Cruz, and Carson and Croft are top 6 players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), so they look strong on the men's side.
Team Mexico
We're uncertain who the Mexican team will be, but we are certain they will be strong with probably Longoria and Salas in women's singles and perhaps left-hander Susana Acosta in doubles, unless Longoria and Salas play both singles and doubles as they have the past two Worlds.
Alvaro Beltran will likely be one of the Mexican men, as will Daniel De La Rosa, who emerged as one of the strong young men's players on the IRT. Add in Polo Gutierrez and Javier Moreno, and you have a side that could win both men's gold medals.
Team Canada
Team Canada will have a relatively young team, and their veteran players are playing doubles, so they are looking to have the most success there. Frédérique Lambert is coming off a very successful LPRT season, where she finished 6th. She'll play doubles with veteran Jennifer Saunders, who won her 8th Canadian Championship last month by defeating Lambert in the final. In singles, Christine Richardson and Michèle Morissette are making their first appearances at Worlds and it's Morissette's first appearance overall and only the second for Richardson. Their men's players are veterans Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon in doubles with Tim Landeryou and Team Canada rookie Samuel Murray in singles.
Who else?
Two years ago, Maria Jose Vargas was a junior and this year she was the 3rd ranked player on the LPRT. She is definitely a threat to medal in Burlington, where she'll play for Argentina. She won singles and was runner up in doubles with Véronique Guillemette at the Pan Am Championships in April.
Colombian Cristina Amaya was the silver medalist at the World Games last year, and 5th on the LPRT this season, so she's a podium threat. As is Veronica Sotomayor of Ecuador, and whoever Bolivia sends.
Overall, players from over 20 countries will be competing, and the IRF has an agreement with the IRT Network to stream matches live, so you'll be able to see some of the action from Burlington regardless of where you are.
Worlds begins with the opening ceremonies in Burlington June 13 and play begins June 14. There will be three days of pool play followed by an off day and then the elimination round begins leading to the finals on June 21.
16th IRF World Championships - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
MEDAL SUMMARY
Men's Singles
Gold - Rocky Carson (USA)
Silver - Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)
Bronze - Gilberto Mejia (Mexico) and Jose Rojas (USA)
Men's Doubles
Gold - Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico)
Silver - Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA)
Bronze - Ricardo Monroy & Roland Keller (Bolivia) and Pedro Manolo Sandoval & Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
Women's Singles
Gold - Paola Longoria (Mexico)
Silver - Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
Bronze - Rhonda Rajsich (USA) and Cheryl Gudinas (USA)
Women's Doubles
Gold - Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
Silver - Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Bronze - Josée Grand'Maître & Frédérique Lambert (Canada) and Aimee Ruiz & Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
Men's Team Competition - Final Standings
1. USA
2. Canada
3. Mexico
4. Bolivia
Women's Team Competition - Final Standings
1. Mexico
2. USA
3. Canada
4. Colombia
Follow the bouncing ball....
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