Ten time US Open Champion Kane Waselenchuk will have a chance to make it 11 Sunday at the United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships after winning his semi-final match against Alvaro Beltran, 11-4, 11-1, 11-9. His eleven US Open pro finals is the most for a man, and tied with Rhonda Rajsich for most overall.
He'll face a new opponent in the final, as Daniel De La Rosa - the 4th ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - defeated the #1 ranked IRT player Rocky Carson in the other semi-final after five game marathon match, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10. Prior to this event, De La Rosa hadn't reached even the semi-finals at the US Open - racquetball's premier pro event.
Afterwards, De La Rosa said he felt "amazing." He took two injury time outs - both in the fifth game, as he hurt his back. But just tried to push through it.
"I'm ready" for the final. "It's just me and the ball. I don't care who's the other side. I want to play my best." De La Rosa will need to play his best if he is to knock off the 10 time Champion, and hand Waselenchuk his first US Open loss since 2002, when he lost to Cliff Swain in the semi-finals.
Against Beltran, Waselenchuk was in control throughout games one and two, but in game three Beltran came from 4-0 down to lead 7-6. But the seven time defending champion held Beltran at seven, scoring four points to reach match point.
But on the first match point, Waselenchuk uncharacteristically skipped a ceiling ball. He made no mistake on his second match point, serving up a drive serve ace to the right side to move on to his 11th overall, and 8th consecutive, final.
The final will streamed live via the IRT Network at noon CDT Sunday.
2015 United Healthcare US Open - IRT Draw
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 7-11, 2015
Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 1) Rocky Carson, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10
2) Kane Waselenchuk d. 3) Alvaro Beltran, 11-4, 11-1, 11-9
Final - Sunday
2) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa - 12:00 PM CDT
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, October 10, 2015
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