Montoya wins singles, Mar & Martinez doubles at 2017 WRT Longhorn Open

Rodrigo Montoya won the first World Racquetball Tour (WRT) event of 2017, as he defeated Javier Mar in the final of the Longhorn Open in Austin, Texas Sunday. Montoya came from a game down to beat Mar in three games, 13-15, 15-8, 11-2. Montoya’s drive serve got hot in game two, and proved to be the difference in the match.

Game one was long, and Mar led from 2-1 on. But even though Mar seemed to be in control, he was never that far ahead of Montoya, leading more no more than three points at any time. When Montoya tied it at 13-13 with a drive serve ace to the right side, there was a sense that he might steal it from Mar. However, Mar got the serve back with a backhand pinch return, and then hit two winners to end the game, 15-13.

They were close early in game two also, but Mar seemed to be using more energy, and seemed to tire, as he took a timeout down 4-2. Montoya extended that lead to 6-2, but Mar came back to tie at 6-6 with a winning kiss lob serve to the left side.

Montoya hit a backhand winner on Mar’s next serve, and then regained the lead with a drive serve ace to the right side making it 7-6. Montoya ran the score to 12-7 helped by two more aces and a service winner. Shortly after Montoya closed out game two at 15-8.

In the tie-breaker, Montoya took the early lead going up 6-0. Mar called a timeout, got the serve back and scored a two points to make it 6-2. However, he didn’t score again, as Montoya continued to pressure him with strong drive serves to both sides. Montoya finished the match with a drive serve ace to the left side.

But Mar got the better of Montoya in the doubles final, as he and Edson Martinez defeated Montoya and Andree Parrilla in two straight games, 15-9, 15-7. Mar ended the match by driving forward to make a backhand kill shot winner.

The next WRT event will be the 2017 West Coast Championship in Concord, California, January 27-29.

2017 WRT Longhorn Open, January 13-15
Austin, Texas

Singles - Final

5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 22) Javier Mar, 13-15, 15-8, 11-2

Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 5) Patric Mascorro & Joseph Lee, 15-13, 11-15, 11-1
6) Javier Mar & Edson Martinez d. 7) Chase Robison & Ethan Wadsworth, 15-6, 15-5

Doubles - Final

6) Javier Mar & Edson Martinez d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla, 15-9, 15-7

Follow the bouncing ball….