Herrera & Cardona win in semis at WRT 2015 San Diego Open

Anthony Herrera ended Felipe Muñoz's great run through the draw at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) San Diego Open with a 15-5, 15-8 win in the semi-finals Saturday night. Herrera was in control in both games, as Muñoz didn't play as well as he had earlier in the the tournament when he had wins over top seed Jake Bredenbeck and 9th seed Andree Parrilla.

Herrera will play 3rd seed Alejandro Cardona in the final, as Cardona fought off 2nd seed Polo Gutierrez in two close games, 15-11, 15-13.

Cardona started the match on fire taking leads of 6-0 and 13-5. However, the crafty veteran Gutierrez came back to make the score 13-10. But he was forced into a backhand skip and then when Gutierrez had a chance to get the serve back with a set up in the front court, the put the ball into the middle, allowing Cardona to get a game point at 14-10.

But Cardona didn't close it out until his third game point, when Gutierrez skipped a backhand pinch shot.

In game two, they were back and forth. Gutierrez led 5-2, then Cardona led 11-6, only to see Gutierrez score seven points to lead 13-11. It looked like a tie-breaker was going to happen, but Gutierrez stalled at 13, and Cardona took advantage.

Cardona tied the game with a drive serve to the right side that was a service winner. He hit another winner for to get his first match point. Gutierrez fought that off with a backhand down the line, but Cardona got the serve right back with a flat forehand splat.

On his second match point, Cardona drove serve to the right, Gutierrez returned it cross court, and Cardona hit a soft backhand pinch into the left corner to win the match.

Regardless of the singles final outcome, neither Cardona or Herrera will be double winners Sunday, as they both lost in the doubles semi-finals Saturday night. Jake Bredenbeck and Sebastian Franco defeated Cardona and Danny Lavely, 15-2, 15-5, in one semi, while Javier Mar and Alan Natera squeaked out a win against Herrera and David Horn, 11-15, 15-7, 11-10, in the other.

The final will be live streamed via the WRT website at noon PST on Sunday.

WRT 2015 San Diego Open

Semi-finals

5) Anthony Herrera d. 32) Felipe Munoz, 15-5, 15-8
3) Alejandro Cardona d. 2) Polo Gutierrez, 15-11, 15-13

Final

3) Alejandro Cardona v. 5) Anthony Herrera - Noon PST Sunday

Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sebastian Franco d. 4) Alejandro Cardona & Danny Lavely, 15-2, 15-5
6) Javier Mar & Alan Natera d. 2) Anthony Herrera & David Horn, 11-15, 15-7, 11-10

Final

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sebastian Franco v. 6) Javier Mar & Alan Natera

Follow the bouncing ball….