Weekend Round Up - May 2, 2016

Charlie Pratt won Men’s Open at the Florida Regional Singles tournament in Sarasota, Florida, although he needed three tie-breakers over four matches, including both the final and semi-final to get it done. In the final, he beat Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 14-15, 11-9, and in the semi-finals, Pratt defeated Floridian Mike Harmon, 9-15, 15-8, 11-6. Camacho was also a tie-breaker winner over Alejandro Herrera in the other semi, 11-15, 15-10, 11-3.

But Camacho was a winner in Sarasota, as he and Jake Bredenbeck won Men’s Open Doubles, but again a tie-breaker was needed, as they went three games with Harmon and Alejandro Herrera, 15-10, 10-15, 11-5, in the final. In the semi-finals, Bredenbeck and Camacho defeated Pratt and Toby St. Pierre, 10-15, 15-14, 11-8, while Harmon and Herrera beat Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, 15-11, 15-13.

In women’s play, American junior Jordan Cooperrider got the better of Colombian veteran Cristina Amaya, 10-15, 15-11, 11-6. Amaya was playing her first tournament after surgery on her left foot. Amaya and Cooperrider teamed up and won the Women’s Open Doubles title together, defeating Sara Noyes & Janet Tyler, 15-9, 15-10, in the final.

German Open

Arne Schmitz defeated Oliver Bertels, 15-7, 5-15, 11-8, to win the 2016 German Open Sunday in Hamburg, Germany. Schmitz beat Pascal Matla, 15-2, 15-8, in one semi-final, while Bertels defeated Jan Lysakowski, 15-2, 15-8, in the other semi.

Schmitz and Bertels teamed up to win the doubles title, defeating Matla and Edwin Schipper in the final, 15-7, 15-6. In the semis, Schmitz and Bertels beat Joerg Ludwig and Mike Mesecke, 15-5, 15-9, while Matla and Schipper beat Lysakowski and Andre Dietrich, 15-9, 15-10.

There are no big tournaments this coming weekend, but the following weekend will see three tournaments going on. The Pro Kennex Tournament of Champions is the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event going on May 12-15 in Portland, Oregon. In Stockton, California, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will be competing in the 2016 Dare 2 Dream LPRT Championships, May 12-15. Finally, the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the Midwest Championships, May 13-15.

2016 IRT Florida Tournament, April 28-May 1
Sarasota, Florida

Men’s Open - Final

Charlie Pratt d. Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 14-15, 11-9

Semi-finals

Felipe Camacho d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-15, 15-10, 11-3
Charlie Pratt d. Mike Harmon, 9-15, 15-8, 11-6

Quarterfinals

Felipe Camacho d. Andres Ramirez, 15-8, 15-11
Alejandro Herrera d. Troy Warigon, 15-3, 15-1

Charlie Pratt d. Andree Parrilla, 15-3, 15-14
Mike Harmon d. Mario Mercado, 15-13, 6-15, 11-7

Men’s Open Doubles - Final

Jake Bredenbeck & Felipe Camacho d. Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera, 15-10, 10-15, 11-5

Semi-finals

Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera d. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-11, 15-13
Jake Bredenbeck & Felipe Camacho & Toby St. Pierre, 10-15, 15-14, 11-8

Women’s Open - Final

Jordan Cooperrider d. Cristina Amaya, 10-15, 15-11, 11-6

Semi-finals

Cristina Amaya d. Phyllis Morris, 15-10, 15-2
Jordan Cooperrider d. Cheryl Gudinas, 15-11, 15-9

Women’s Open Doubles - Final

Jordan Cooperrider & Cristina Amaya d. Sara Noyes & Janet Tyler, 15-9, 15-10

Semi-finals

Sara Noyes & Janet Tyler d. Tamika Holman & Phyllis Morris, 15-5, 15-11
Jordan Cooperrider & Cristina Amaya d. Melissa Harmon & Alyssa Liquori, 14-15, 15-1, 11-6

German Open
Hamburg, Germany

Men’s Open - Final

Arne Schmitz (Germany) d. Oliver Bertels (Germany), 15-7, 5-15, 11-8

Semi-final

Arne Schmitz (Germany) d. Pascal Matla (Netherlands), 15-2, 15-8
Oliver Bertels (Germany) d. Jan Lysakowski (Austria), 15-2, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….