Alvaro Beltran won the Men’s Open division at the Torneo Milenio - a Tier 5 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in Tijuana, Mexico Sunday. Beltran defeated Sebastian Fernandez in the final, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3. In the semi-finals, both Beltran and Fernandez fought back from 2-1 down to win in five games, and both won the breaker 11-0.
Beltran beat Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0, and Fernandez defeated Christian Longoria, 11-1, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-0.
Longoria teamed up with his sister Paola Longoria to win the Men’s Open Doubles division by beating German Garcia and Victor Moncada, 15-7, 15-11, in the final. In the semi-finals, the Longorias defeated Sebastian Fernandez and Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-6, 15-11, while Garcia and Moncada got by Beltran and Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-12.
The IRT kicks off its 2017-18 season next weekend in Canoga Park, California with the 2017 Phase IV Scientific Health & Performance Pro Am September 7-10.
2017 Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Men’s Open Final
Alvaro Beltran d. Sebastian Fernandez, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3
Semi-Finals
Alvaro Beltran d. Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0
Sebastian Fernandez d. Christian Longoria, 11-1, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-0
Men’s Open Doubles - Final
Christian Longoria & Paola Longoria d. German Garcia & Victor Moncada, 15-7, 15-11
Semi-Finals
Christian Longoria & Paola Longoria d. Sebastian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-6, 15-11
German Garcia & Victor Moncada d. Alvaro Beltran & Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, August 28, 2017
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Longoria wins singles, Herrera & Mendez doubles at 2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio
Paola Longoria defeated Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 11-3, 11-0, to win the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Torneo Milenio in Tijuana, Mexico on Sunday. With the win, Longoria - the #1 player on the LPRT - has won the first two events of the 2017-18 LPRT season, as she also won last weekend in San Luis Potosi.
After having some difficulties in her earlier matches, Longoria was never pushed in the final, as she took big leads in all three games, and won them comfortably. Herrera, who survived a marathon five game semi-final match against Jessica Parrilla on Saturday, never seemed to settle into the final.
However, Herrera did win the LPRT doubles title in TIjuana, as she and Natalia Mendez came back to defeat Parrilla and Carla Muñoz, 10-15, 15-5, 11-10. In the breaker Parrilla and Muñoz led all the way until the end. They were up 6-1 and 10-6, but despite four match point opportunities Parrilla and Muñoz couldn’t finish it off.
Herrera and Mendez scored four straight points to go from 7-10 down to win 11-10. The winning point came when an avoidable was called against Parrilla, as the ball came into the middle of the court and Herrera held up with Parrilla in front of her. Parrilla appealed the call, but the line judges upheld the referee’s avoidable call.
If you missed any of the weekend’s action, look for it on the LPRT YouTube channel. The LPRT will next play at the 2017 US Open in Minneapolis, October 4-8. But they will also play outdoors at the 3 Wallball World Championships in Las Vegas, September 20-24.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 11-3, 11-0
Doubles - Final - Sunday
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez d. 2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla, 10-15, 15-5, 11-10
Follow the bouncing ball….
After having some difficulties in her earlier matches, Longoria was never pushed in the final, as she took big leads in all three games, and won them comfortably. Herrera, who survived a marathon five game semi-final match against Jessica Parrilla on Saturday, never seemed to settle into the final.
However, Herrera did win the LPRT doubles title in TIjuana, as she and Natalia Mendez came back to defeat Parrilla and Carla Muñoz, 10-15, 15-5, 11-10. In the breaker Parrilla and Muñoz led all the way until the end. They were up 6-1 and 10-6, but despite four match point opportunities Parrilla and Muñoz couldn’t finish it off.
Herrera and Mendez scored four straight points to go from 7-10 down to win 11-10. The winning point came when an avoidable was called against Parrilla, as the ball came into the middle of the court and Herrera held up with Parrilla in front of her. Parrilla appealed the call, but the line judges upheld the referee’s avoidable call.
If you missed any of the weekend’s action, look for it on the LPRT YouTube channel. The LPRT will next play at the 2017 US Open in Minneapolis, October 4-8. But they will also play outdoors at the 3 Wallball World Championships in Las Vegas, September 20-24.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 11-3, 11-0
Doubles - Final - Sunday
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez d. 2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla, 10-15, 15-5, 11-10
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Longoria & Herrera will play for 2017 LPRT Torneo Milano title
Paola Longoria and Alexandra Herrera will meet Sunday in the final of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Torneo Milenio in Tijuana, Mexico after they won their respective semi-final matches Saturday night. LPRT #1 Longoria fended off former #1 Rhonda Rajsich in three straight games, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5, while 3rd seed Herrera outlasted 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla in a marathon match, 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 10-12, 13-11.
A loss in three straight games doesn’t do justice to Rajsich’s performance, as she was close in both games one and two. Indeed, Rajsich led late in game one, and had three game points at 10-8. But she couldn’t convert any of them, twice skipping shots for unforced errors. After the third error, Longoria served it out with four points on consecutive rallies with the game ending as Rajsich skipped shot after Longoria had hit a ceiling ball deep into the back left corner.
In game two, Longoria took a 7-0 lead, and it looked like she was just going to roll through Rajsich. But Rajsich responded with seven points of her own to tie it 7-7. She got her sixth point during a rally in which she dove on three straight shots with the third diving get going for a winner.
But after getting a sideout at 7-7, Longoria took a timeout, and when play resumed she scored four unanswered points to get the second game and go up 2-0 in the match.
In game three, they were again close early, tied at 3-3. But Longoria got five straight points to lead 8-3, and didn’t let Rajsich back in the game from there, winning it 11-5 with a drive serve ace to the right side.
3rd seed Herrera upset 2nd seed Parrilla in a match that approached two hours in duration, winning 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 10-12, 13-11. Herrera won the first two games with cleaner shots than Parrilla, who was frustrated at her play, and seemed to let her emotions get the better of her. But Parrilla managed to put it together in the last three games and almost had a successful come back to win it in the breaker before Herrera ended it.
Parrilla had the advantage in game one, as she was up 8-3, but Herrera battled back and tied the game at 9-9. Parrilla got the first game point at 10-9, but forehand return got Herrera back in the service box, and she hit three winners to score on consecutive rallies to steal the first game with the winning shot a backhand down the line pass.
Game two was all Herrera, as the young left-hander took a 5-0 lead, and never looked back. Game three was close all the way with the largest lead coming at the start, when Parrilla was up 3-0. But Herrera tied it at 3-3, and from there the players were never separated by more than two points. Parrilla won it with a great forehand pinch shot from deep in the back right corner.
Parrilla again took a 3-0 lead in game four, but Herrera not only tied it at 3-3, she went ahead 7-3. Herrera also led 9-5. Parrilla called a timeout at that point, and staged a comeback, as she got to 9-9. The last part of game four was hard fought, as they played 22 rallies to score 5 points as they went from 9-8 for Herrera to 12-10 for Parrilla.
In game five, Herrera took the early advantage, as she was up 6-1. Parrilla took a timeout, and came back to take the lead at 7-6, despite a Herrera timeout at 6-4. But Parrilla stalled at 7, and Herrera scored four straight points to set up match point at 10-7. Herrera’s first serve was short, and on her second serve, Parrilla moved to cut off Herrera’s Z serve to the left side to take it a winner with her forehand.
Parrilla cut the deficit to 10-9, getting her 9th point with a drive serve ace to the right side. Herrera called a timeout, but when play resumed Parrilla tied the game at 10-10 with a forehand winner. A Parrilla backhand winner got her a match point at 11-10. But Herrera responded by winning the next rally with a forehand to get the serve back.
From there, Herrera served it out, hitting winners on three straight rallies including a forehand that ended a long rally in which Parrilla twice kept the ball in play with balls hit into the back wall. The win puts Herrera into her 2nd LPRT final on Sunday.
In doubles, 4th seeds Herrera and Natalia Mendez upset top seeds Longoria and Nancy Enriquez, 15-11, 15-9, in the semi-finals Saturday. They’ll face 2nd seeds Carla Muñoz and Jessica Parrilla in Sunday’s final, as Muñoz and Parrilla beat 6th seeds Montserrat Perez and Erin Rivera, 15-5, 15-14.
You can watch the singles final at noon Sunday live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT YouTube channel. The doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 2) Jessica Parrilla, 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 10-12, 13-11
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Alexandra Herrera - Noon
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez d. 1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez, 15-11, 15-9
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla d. 6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera, 15-5, 15-14
Doubles - Final - Sunday
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla v. 4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
A loss in three straight games doesn’t do justice to Rajsich’s performance, as she was close in both games one and two. Indeed, Rajsich led late in game one, and had three game points at 10-8. But she couldn’t convert any of them, twice skipping shots for unforced errors. After the third error, Longoria served it out with four points on consecutive rallies with the game ending as Rajsich skipped shot after Longoria had hit a ceiling ball deep into the back left corner.
In game two, Longoria took a 7-0 lead, and it looked like she was just going to roll through Rajsich. But Rajsich responded with seven points of her own to tie it 7-7. She got her sixth point during a rally in which she dove on three straight shots with the third diving get going for a winner.
But after getting a sideout at 7-7, Longoria took a timeout, and when play resumed she scored four unanswered points to get the second game and go up 2-0 in the match.
In game three, they were again close early, tied at 3-3. But Longoria got five straight points to lead 8-3, and didn’t let Rajsich back in the game from there, winning it 11-5 with a drive serve ace to the right side.
3rd seed Herrera upset 2nd seed Parrilla in a match that approached two hours in duration, winning 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 10-12, 13-11. Herrera won the first two games with cleaner shots than Parrilla, who was frustrated at her play, and seemed to let her emotions get the better of her. But Parrilla managed to put it together in the last three games and almost had a successful come back to win it in the breaker before Herrera ended it.
Parrilla had the advantage in game one, as she was up 8-3, but Herrera battled back and tied the game at 9-9. Parrilla got the first game point at 10-9, but forehand return got Herrera back in the service box, and she hit three winners to score on consecutive rallies to steal the first game with the winning shot a backhand down the line pass.
Game two was all Herrera, as the young left-hander took a 5-0 lead, and never looked back. Game three was close all the way with the largest lead coming at the start, when Parrilla was up 3-0. But Herrera tied it at 3-3, and from there the players were never separated by more than two points. Parrilla won it with a great forehand pinch shot from deep in the back right corner.
Parrilla again took a 3-0 lead in game four, but Herrera not only tied it at 3-3, she went ahead 7-3. Herrera also led 9-5. Parrilla called a timeout at that point, and staged a comeback, as she got to 9-9. The last part of game four was hard fought, as they played 22 rallies to score 5 points as they went from 9-8 for Herrera to 12-10 for Parrilla.
In game five, Herrera took the early advantage, as she was up 6-1. Parrilla took a timeout, and came back to take the lead at 7-6, despite a Herrera timeout at 6-4. But Parrilla stalled at 7, and Herrera scored four straight points to set up match point at 10-7. Herrera’s first serve was short, and on her second serve, Parrilla moved to cut off Herrera’s Z serve to the left side to take it a winner with her forehand.
Parrilla cut the deficit to 10-9, getting her 9th point with a drive serve ace to the right side. Herrera called a timeout, but when play resumed Parrilla tied the game at 10-10 with a forehand winner. A Parrilla backhand winner got her a match point at 11-10. But Herrera responded by winning the next rally with a forehand to get the serve back.
From there, Herrera served it out, hitting winners on three straight rallies including a forehand that ended a long rally in which Parrilla twice kept the ball in play with balls hit into the back wall. The win puts Herrera into her 2nd LPRT final on Sunday.
In doubles, 4th seeds Herrera and Natalia Mendez upset top seeds Longoria and Nancy Enriquez, 15-11, 15-9, in the semi-finals Saturday. They’ll face 2nd seeds Carla Muñoz and Jessica Parrilla in Sunday’s final, as Muñoz and Parrilla beat 6th seeds Montserrat Perez and Erin Rivera, 15-5, 15-14.
You can watch the singles final at noon Sunday live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT YouTube channel. The doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 2) Jessica Parrilla, 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 10-12, 13-11
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Alexandra Herrera - Noon
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez d. 1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez, 15-11, 15-9
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla d. 6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera, 15-5, 15-14
Doubles - Final - Sunday
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla v. 4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio - Quarterfinals
The top seeds are through to the semi-finals at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Torneo Milenio in Tijuana, Mexico. LPRT #1 Paola Longoria needed to come from behind to win her quarterfinal match against Adriana Riveros, as Riveros took game one. However, Longoria didn’t trail from there going on to win in four games, 3-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-1.
Riveros was full measure for the win in game one, as she shot well and served well. But Longoria took her play up a level in game two, and never trailed after the first game. Riveros did come back in game three from 8-3 down to tie it at 8-8, and there was a glimmer of hope for the 9th seed. But Longoria quickly extinguished that by winning the next three points to take the game and went on to win the match.
In the semi-finals, Longoria will play 4th seed Rhonda Rajsich, who needed five games to defeat 5th seed Cristina Amaya in the quarters, 9-11, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9. In the other semi, it’ll be 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla against 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, as Parrilla beat Natalia Mendez, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4, and Herrera defeated 11th seed Nancy Enriquez, 14-12, 11-5, 11-5, in their respective quarterfinal matches.
You can watch the semi-finals live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT YouTube channel. The singles semis are at 4 and 5 PM with the doubles semis at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Adriana Riveros, 3-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-1
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 5) Cristina Amaya, 9-11, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 11) Nancy Enriquez, 14-12, 11-5, 11-5
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 7) Natalia Mendez, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Rhonda Rajsich - 5 PM
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 3) Alexandra Herrera - 4 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez v. 4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - 7 PM
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla v. 6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Riveros was full measure for the win in game one, as she shot well and served well. But Longoria took her play up a level in game two, and never trailed after the first game. Riveros did come back in game three from 8-3 down to tie it at 8-8, and there was a glimmer of hope for the 9th seed. But Longoria quickly extinguished that by winning the next three points to take the game and went on to win the match.
In the semi-finals, Longoria will play 4th seed Rhonda Rajsich, who needed five games to defeat 5th seed Cristina Amaya in the quarters, 9-11, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9. In the other semi, it’ll be 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla against 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, as Parrilla beat Natalia Mendez, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4, and Herrera defeated 11th seed Nancy Enriquez, 14-12, 11-5, 11-5, in their respective quarterfinal matches.
You can watch the semi-finals live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT YouTube channel. The singles semis are at 4 and 5 PM with the doubles semis at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Adriana Riveros, 3-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-1
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 5) Cristina Amaya, 9-11, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 11) Nancy Enriquez, 14-12, 11-5, 11-5
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 7) Natalia Mendez, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Rhonda Rajsich - 5 PM
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 3) Alexandra Herrera - 4 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez v. 4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - 7 PM
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla v. 6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, August 25, 2017
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio - Round of 16 & 32
There were a couple of upsets in the Round of 16 at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Torneo Milenio in Tijuana, Mexico, but top seed and LPRT #1 Paola Longoria advanced to the quarterfinals with ease, as she defeated Angelica Barrios, 11-3, 11-0, 11-0, in the 16s. Longoria will play Adriana Riveros in the quarters, as 9th seeded Riveros caused one of those upsets by defeating 8th seed Susana Acosta, 10-12, 11-9, 11-2, 11-8.
Nancy Enriquez had the other upset, as the 11th seed defeated 6th seed Carla Muñoz, 12-10, 11-1, 11-8. Enriquez faces 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera in the quarters, as Herrera was a winner over Denise Maldonado, 11-5, 11-2, 11-3.
Second seed Jessica Parrilla needed four games to fend off Jenny Daza, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5. Parrilla plays Natalia Mendez in the quarters after Mendez beat Adrienne Haynes, 11-2, 11-2, 6-11, 11-9. Finally, 4th seed Rhonda Rajsich defeated Montserrat Perez, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3, and meets 5th seed Cristina Amaya in the quarters, as Amaya beat Erin Rivera, 0-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4.
The match of the day happened in doubles, as Longoria and Enriquez’s came back to defeat Barrios and Daza, 13-15, 15-14, 11-7. Barrios and Daza led throughout the second half of game one, and never trailed in game two until the end. And in the breaker it was Barrios and Daza who were ahead 5-0 only to come out on the losing end.
How do you prevent an upset? Hold your opponents off the scoreboard. That’s what Longoria and Enriquez did for 11 straight opportunities in game two, when they were down 10-5. However, in that period Longoria and Enriquez only scored five points, so they only tied the game at 10-10.
Barrios and Daza did get off 10, and managed to get to 14 first, as they led 14-12. But a Longoria forehand pinch put them half down, and they lost serve when Barrios was forced into a forehand skip shot. With the serve back, Longoria and Enriquez scored three straight points with the game winner coming when Longoria drove the ball cross court with her forehand.
In the match, Longoria played the left side, and Enriquez the right, although at the start of game two they did switch briefly, but when they found themselves down 4-0, they switched back. On the other side, Barrios played the left side with the more senior player Daza on the right side, and Barrios served to Longoria throughout the match, which one might have thought was not a good idea. But it was reasonably effective. Daza served high lob serves tight to the wall to Enriquez, and perhaps Barrios should have done the same, but that’s second guessing.
Barrios and Daza were close to causing the upset partly because they were more of a team than Longoria and Enriquez, who lost a few rallies because of miscommunication and getting in each other’s way. In the semi-finals, Longoria and Enriquez will play a lefty-righty team in Alexandra Herrera and Natalia Mendez, who defeated Susana Acosta and Brenda Laime, 15-8, 15-1, and they will want to eliminate any miscommunication during that match.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT YouTube channel. The quarterfinals are on Saturday at 10 and 11 AM and the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Angelica Barrios d. 16) Maritza Franco, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Susana Acosta - BYE
5) Cristina Amaya - BYE
12) Erin Rivera d. 21) Fernanda Ruiz, 11-1, 11-0, 11-3
13) Montserrat Perez d. 20) Victoria Orozco, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Danisse Maldonado d. 19) Jocelyn Loredo, 11-9, 3-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-0
11) Nancy Enriquez d. 22) Delia Aguilar, 11-0, 11-2, 11-2
6) Carla Muñoz - BYE
7) Natalia Mendez - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes d. 23) Arantza Loredo, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3
15) Jenny Daza d. 18) Brenda Laime, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria v. 17) Angelica Barrios, 11-3, 11-0, 11-0
9) Adriana Riveros d. 8) Susana Acosta, 10-12, 11-9, 11-2, 11-8
5) Cristina Amaya d. 12) Erin Rivera, 0-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 13) Montserrat Perez, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 14) Danisse Maldonado, 11-5, 11-2, 11-3
11) Nancy Enriquez d. 6) Carla Muñoz, 12-10, 11-1, 11-8
7) Natalia Mendez d. 10) Adrienne Haynes, 11-2, 11-2, 6-11, 11-9
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 15) Jenny Daza, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Adriana Riveros - 11 AM
4) Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Cristina Amaya - 11 AM
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 11) Nancy Enriquez - 10 AM
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 7) Natalia Mendez - 10 AM
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza d. 9) Arantza Loredo & Jocelyn Loredo, 15-1, 15-2
5) Susana Acosta & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - BYE
3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera - BYE
7) Maritza Franco & Danisse Maldonado d. 10) Delia Aguilar & Victoria Orozco, 15-13, 7-15, 11-7
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez d. 8) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza, 12-15, 15-14, 11-7
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez d. 5) Susana Acosta & Brenda Laime, 15-8, 15-1
6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera d. 3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-7, 15-14
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla d. 7) Maritza Franco & Danisse Maldonado, 15-3, 15-9
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez v. 4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - 7 PM
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla v. 6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Nancy Enriquez had the other upset, as the 11th seed defeated 6th seed Carla Muñoz, 12-10, 11-1, 11-8. Enriquez faces 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera in the quarters, as Herrera was a winner over Denise Maldonado, 11-5, 11-2, 11-3.
Second seed Jessica Parrilla needed four games to fend off Jenny Daza, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5. Parrilla plays Natalia Mendez in the quarters after Mendez beat Adrienne Haynes, 11-2, 11-2, 6-11, 11-9. Finally, 4th seed Rhonda Rajsich defeated Montserrat Perez, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3, and meets 5th seed Cristina Amaya in the quarters, as Amaya beat Erin Rivera, 0-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4.
The match of the day happened in doubles, as Longoria and Enriquez’s came back to defeat Barrios and Daza, 13-15, 15-14, 11-7. Barrios and Daza led throughout the second half of game one, and never trailed in game two until the end. And in the breaker it was Barrios and Daza who were ahead 5-0 only to come out on the losing end.
How do you prevent an upset? Hold your opponents off the scoreboard. That’s what Longoria and Enriquez did for 11 straight opportunities in game two, when they were down 10-5. However, in that period Longoria and Enriquez only scored five points, so they only tied the game at 10-10.
Barrios and Daza did get off 10, and managed to get to 14 first, as they led 14-12. But a Longoria forehand pinch put them half down, and they lost serve when Barrios was forced into a forehand skip shot. With the serve back, Longoria and Enriquez scored three straight points with the game winner coming when Longoria drove the ball cross court with her forehand.
In the match, Longoria played the left side, and Enriquez the right, although at the start of game two they did switch briefly, but when they found themselves down 4-0, they switched back. On the other side, Barrios played the left side with the more senior player Daza on the right side, and Barrios served to Longoria throughout the match, which one might have thought was not a good idea. But it was reasonably effective. Daza served high lob serves tight to the wall to Enriquez, and perhaps Barrios should have done the same, but that’s second guessing.
Barrios and Daza were close to causing the upset partly because they were more of a team than Longoria and Enriquez, who lost a few rallies because of miscommunication and getting in each other’s way. In the semi-finals, Longoria and Enriquez will play a lefty-righty team in Alexandra Herrera and Natalia Mendez, who defeated Susana Acosta and Brenda Laime, 15-8, 15-1, and they will want to eliminate any miscommunication during that match.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT YouTube channel. The quarterfinals are on Saturday at 10 and 11 AM and the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Angelica Barrios d. 16) Maritza Franco, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Susana Acosta - BYE
5) Cristina Amaya - BYE
12) Erin Rivera d. 21) Fernanda Ruiz, 11-1, 11-0, 11-3
13) Montserrat Perez d. 20) Victoria Orozco, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Danisse Maldonado d. 19) Jocelyn Loredo, 11-9, 3-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-0
11) Nancy Enriquez d. 22) Delia Aguilar, 11-0, 11-2, 11-2
6) Carla Muñoz - BYE
7) Natalia Mendez - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes d. 23) Arantza Loredo, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3
15) Jenny Daza d. 18) Brenda Laime, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria v. 17) Angelica Barrios, 11-3, 11-0, 11-0
9) Adriana Riveros d. 8) Susana Acosta, 10-12, 11-9, 11-2, 11-8
5) Cristina Amaya d. 12) Erin Rivera, 0-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 13) Montserrat Perez, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 14) Danisse Maldonado, 11-5, 11-2, 11-3
11) Nancy Enriquez d. 6) Carla Muñoz, 12-10, 11-1, 11-8
7) Natalia Mendez d. 10) Adrienne Haynes, 11-2, 11-2, 6-11, 11-9
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 15) Jenny Daza, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Adriana Riveros - 11 AM
4) Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Cristina Amaya - 11 AM
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 11) Nancy Enriquez - 10 AM
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 7) Natalia Mendez - 10 AM
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza d. 9) Arantza Loredo & Jocelyn Loredo, 15-1, 15-2
5) Susana Acosta & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - BYE
3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera - BYE
7) Maritza Franco & Danisse Maldonado d. 10) Delia Aguilar & Victoria Orozco, 15-13, 7-15, 11-7
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez d. 8) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza, 12-15, 15-14, 11-7
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez d. 5) Susana Acosta & Brenda Laime, 15-8, 15-1
6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera d. 3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-7, 15-14
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla d. 7) Maritza Franco & Danisse Maldonado, 15-3, 15-9
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez v. 4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - 7 PM
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla v. 6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio - Preview
The second event of the 2017-18 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season is this weekend, when the Torneo Milenio takes place in Tijuana, Mexico. In looking at the draw, we’re struck by how the women’s pro tour has changed in just a decade.
In 2007, the WPRO Pro Nationals in New Orleans had 19 players in the draw and only three of them were not from the USA: Paola Longoria, Samantha Salas and Angela Grisar. This weekend the draw is 23, and only two of those players are from the USA: Rhonda Rajsich and Adrienne Haynes. That is, US players have gone from the vast majority to a minority, which is astounding.
The majority of the field this weekend hail from Mexico, which speaks to the influence of Longoria, who has become the #1 LPRT player. Note, at that 2007 Pro Nationals Longoria was the 14th seed, but finished as the runner up to Rajsich. Of course, this weekend’s event is in Mexico, which is likely a contributing factor to the field having a large Mexican representation.
But in the last LPRT event in the US - the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio in April - there were 9 US players (that’s counting Cecilia Pratt, who’s originally from Mexico but from the US by marriage) from a field of 26. So, US players were still a minority, even with the event on home soil.
Thus, if you were betting on who’s going to win this weekend, you’d likely pick a Mexican player, and probably Longoria, who as the #1 player has only lost a few times over the last several seasons. Two of the players she’s lost to aren’t in Tijuana: Salas is missing because she’s still recovering from shoulder surgery, and Frédérique Lambert is also missing. But Rajsich - the #1 player back in 2007 - is there and the 4th seed, so she’s a threat to win, especially as she defeated Longoria earlier this year at the 2017 Pan American Championships.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT YouTube channel. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 10 and 11 AM and the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maritza Franco v. 17) Angelica Barrios
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Susana Acosta - BYE
5) Cristina Amaya - BYE
12) Erin Rivera v. 21) Fernanda Ruiz
13) Montserrat Perez v. 20) Victoria Orozco
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Danisse Maldonado v. 19) Jocelyn Loredo
11) Nancy Enriquez v. 22) Delia Aguilar
6) Carla Muñoz - BYE
7) Natalia Mendez - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes v. 23) Arantza Loredo
15) Jenny Daza v. 18) Brenda Laime
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza v. 9) Arantza Loredo & Jocelyn Loredo
5) Susana Acosta & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - BYE
3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera - BYE
7) Maritza Franco & Danisse Maldonado v. 10) Delia Aguilar & Victoria Orozco
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
In 2007, the WPRO Pro Nationals in New Orleans had 19 players in the draw and only three of them were not from the USA: Paola Longoria, Samantha Salas and Angela Grisar. This weekend the draw is 23, and only two of those players are from the USA: Rhonda Rajsich and Adrienne Haynes. That is, US players have gone from the vast majority to a minority, which is astounding.
The majority of the field this weekend hail from Mexico, which speaks to the influence of Longoria, who has become the #1 LPRT player. Note, at that 2007 Pro Nationals Longoria was the 14th seed, but finished as the runner up to Rajsich. Of course, this weekend’s event is in Mexico, which is likely a contributing factor to the field having a large Mexican representation.
But in the last LPRT event in the US - the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio in April - there were 9 US players (that’s counting Cecilia Pratt, who’s originally from Mexico but from the US by marriage) from a field of 26. So, US players were still a minority, even with the event on home soil.
Thus, if you were betting on who’s going to win this weekend, you’d likely pick a Mexican player, and probably Longoria, who as the #1 player has only lost a few times over the last several seasons. Two of the players she’s lost to aren’t in Tijuana: Salas is missing because she’s still recovering from shoulder surgery, and Frédérique Lambert is also missing. But Rajsich - the #1 player back in 2007 - is there and the 4th seed, so she’s a threat to win, especially as she defeated Longoria earlier this year at the 2017 Pan American Championships.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT YouTube channel. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 10 and 11 AM and the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maritza Franco v. 17) Angelica Barrios
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Susana Acosta - BYE
5) Cristina Amaya - BYE
12) Erin Rivera v. 21) Fernanda Ruiz
13) Montserrat Perez v. 20) Victoria Orozco
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Danisse Maldonado v. 19) Jocelyn Loredo
11) Nancy Enriquez v. 22) Delia Aguilar
6) Carla Muñoz - BYE
7) Natalia Mendez - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes v. 23) Arantza Loredo
15) Jenny Daza v. 18) Brenda Laime
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Nancy Enriquez - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza v. 9) Arantza Loredo & Jocelyn Loredo
5) Susana Acosta & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - BYE
3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
6) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera - BYE
7) Maritza Franco & Danisse Maldonado v. 10) Delia Aguilar & Victoria Orozco
2) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Longoria defeats Parrilla to win 2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience
Paola Longoria won the 2017 Paola Longoria Experience Tournament - the first event of the 2017-18 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season on Sunday, when she defeated 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla in the final, 11-7, 11-5, 11-0, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Longoria, the #1 LPRT player, served well in the match, hitting 10 aces compared with Parrilla’s 4, and even when her serves weren’t aces, Longoria often forced weak returns from Parrilla.
They were close early in game one, when Parrilla actually scored the first two points to lead 2-0. But Longoria then scored 10 unanswered points to lead 10-2. Parrilla fought of two game points, and then scored five points of her own, including back to back drive serve aces - one to the right and one to the left - that made the score 10-7. However, a Longoria forehand got her the serve back, and she finished game one with a drive serve ace to the left side: Parrilla’s backhand.
Game two followed the same pattern as game one with Parrilla taking the early lead; this time it was 3-0. Then Longoria ran off 10 unanswered points to make it 10-3. Parrilla again fought off two game points before Longoria closed it out at 11-5, when Parrilla skipped a forehand shot.
Game three was all Longoria as she led from start to finish, and managed to keep Parrilla off the score board. Parrilla only served three times in the game. Longoria had more ace serves than that, as she hit four in game three, including back to back drive serve aces to the left side that closed out the game and match.
Longoria also won the doubles event, as she teamed with Monserrat Mejia to defeat Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros in the final, 15-8, 15-14. It looked like it was going to go tie-breaker, as Amaya and Riveros led for most of the second half of game two, but Longoria and Mejia managed to eke out the second game, although perhaps not without controversy.
Longoria and Mejia had tied it up at 14-14 after a Longoria backhand cross court pass. On the next rally, the ball was hit into the back right corner, and the ball seemed to bounce twice before either Longoria or Mejia could get to it, and they both went down to try to do so. The referee called sideout, which gave the serve back to Amaya and Riveros.
But Longoria and Mejia appealed claiming that they’d held up in attempting to hit the ball, as Amaya and Riveros were between where the ball was and the front wall. It seemed to that the referee had made the right call, especially as both Longoria and Mejia appeared to really try to hit the ball. However, the line judges both supported Longoria and Mejia’s claim, so they disagreed with the referee’s call.
On the next rally, the ball again went over into the back right corner, and there seemed to be a bit of confusion between Amaya and Riveros about who was going to retrieve it. Riveros did go for it, but her shot - presumably a ceiling ball attempt - ended up going out of the court, giving the rally, and thereby the game and match, to Longoria and Mejia.
Amaya and Riveros could have got it to a third game if Amaya had not skipped shots on back to back rallies when they led 14-12. And even those rallies were their third and fourth game point opportunities. You can’t let that many opportunities to slip by if you want to beat the best player in the world.
The LPRT will next be in action next weekend when the Toreneo Milenio 2017 Racquetbol event happens in Tijuana, Mexico, August 25-27. If you missed any of this weekend’s action, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Jessica Parrilla, 11-7, 11-5, 11-0
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia d. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-14
Follow the bouncing ball….
They were close early in game one, when Parrilla actually scored the first two points to lead 2-0. But Longoria then scored 10 unanswered points to lead 10-2. Parrilla fought of two game points, and then scored five points of her own, including back to back drive serve aces - one to the right and one to the left - that made the score 10-7. However, a Longoria forehand got her the serve back, and she finished game one with a drive serve ace to the left side: Parrilla’s backhand.
Game two followed the same pattern as game one with Parrilla taking the early lead; this time it was 3-0. Then Longoria ran off 10 unanswered points to make it 10-3. Parrilla again fought off two game points before Longoria closed it out at 11-5, when Parrilla skipped a forehand shot.
Game three was all Longoria as she led from start to finish, and managed to keep Parrilla off the score board. Parrilla only served three times in the game. Longoria had more ace serves than that, as she hit four in game three, including back to back drive serve aces to the left side that closed out the game and match.
Longoria also won the doubles event, as she teamed with Monserrat Mejia to defeat Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros in the final, 15-8, 15-14. It looked like it was going to go tie-breaker, as Amaya and Riveros led for most of the second half of game two, but Longoria and Mejia managed to eke out the second game, although perhaps not without controversy.
Longoria and Mejia had tied it up at 14-14 after a Longoria backhand cross court pass. On the next rally, the ball was hit into the back right corner, and the ball seemed to bounce twice before either Longoria or Mejia could get to it, and they both went down to try to do so. The referee called sideout, which gave the serve back to Amaya and Riveros.
But Longoria and Mejia appealed claiming that they’d held up in attempting to hit the ball, as Amaya and Riveros were between where the ball was and the front wall. It seemed to that the referee had made the right call, especially as both Longoria and Mejia appeared to really try to hit the ball. However, the line judges both supported Longoria and Mejia’s claim, so they disagreed with the referee’s call.
On the next rally, the ball again went over into the back right corner, and there seemed to be a bit of confusion between Amaya and Riveros about who was going to retrieve it. Riveros did go for it, but her shot - presumably a ceiling ball attempt - ended up going out of the court, giving the rally, and thereby the game and match, to Longoria and Mejia.
Amaya and Riveros could have got it to a third game if Amaya had not skipped shots on back to back rallies when they led 14-12. And even those rallies were their third and fourth game point opportunities. You can’t let that many opportunities to slip by if you want to beat the best player in the world.
The LPRT will next be in action next weekend when the Toreneo Milenio 2017 Racquetbol event happens in Tijuana, Mexico, August 25-27. If you missed any of this weekend’s action, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Jessica Parrilla, 11-7, 11-5, 11-0
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia d. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-14
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Longoria & Parrilla to face-off in final of 2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience
Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), will take on 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla on Sunday in the final of the 2017 Paola Longoria Experience in San Luis Potosi, Mexico after they won their respective semi-final matches Saturday night. In one semi-final, Longoria defeated Gabriela Martinez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, in what was a replay of last year’s World Championship final, which Longoria also won.
In the other semi-final, Parrilla beat Monserrat Mejia in four games, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8, 12-10. Late in game four, it looked like Majia would force a tie-breaker, as she was up 10-7. However, Parrilla fought off a couple of game points, and tied the score at 10-10. She closed out the game and match with two drive serve aces to Mejia’s backhand.
Longoria won in three straight games, but Martinez was in game one early, as they were tied at 6-6 and Martinez actually led 7-6 before Longoria put together a run of five points to win it. Game two wasn’t close, as Longoria had a 8-1 lead before winning 11-5.
Game three was also close early, but Longoria led throughout and got to match point at 10-4. Martinez staged a comeback and got to within one at 10-9, but it was too little, too late as Longoria got the serve back, called a timeout, and came in with a good drive serve to the left that Martinez returned with a backhand cross court shot, which gave Longoria an opportunity to put the ball away, and she did so with forehand pinch shot winner.
In doubles, the 2nd seed team of Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros came back from a game down to defeat 6th seeds Carla Muñoz and Sofia Rascon, 14-15, 15-13, 11-2. Amaya and Riveros were also down in game one, 14-7, and almost pulled it out, only losing by one point at 15-14. Game two was similar, as Muñoz and Rascon were up 12-6 before Amaya and Riveros put a run of points together and force a breaker by winning game two 15-13.
As often happens after two close games, the tie-breaker turned out to be lop-sided. In this case it was Amaya and Rascon who piled up the points early with a 9-0 lead, so they went on to win comfortably. Amaya forced the winning point as she drove serve to Rascon on the right side, and Rascon skipped the return.
Amaya and Riveros will face top seeds Longoria and Mejia, who comfortably defeated Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-0, 15-6, in the other semi-final.
You can watch the finals via the LPRT YouTube channel or their Facebook page https://www.lprtour.com. The singles final will be 2 PM Sunday with the doubles final afterwards.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 12) Gabriela Martinez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 11) Monserrat Mejia, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8, 12-10
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Jessica Parrilla - 2 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia d. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-0, 15-6
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon, 14-15, 15-13, 11-2
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia v. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 3 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the other semi-final, Parrilla beat Monserrat Mejia in four games, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8, 12-10. Late in game four, it looked like Majia would force a tie-breaker, as she was up 10-7. However, Parrilla fought off a couple of game points, and tied the score at 10-10. She closed out the game and match with two drive serve aces to Mejia’s backhand.
Longoria won in three straight games, but Martinez was in game one early, as they were tied at 6-6 and Martinez actually led 7-6 before Longoria put together a run of five points to win it. Game two wasn’t close, as Longoria had a 8-1 lead before winning 11-5.
Game three was also close early, but Longoria led throughout and got to match point at 10-4. Martinez staged a comeback and got to within one at 10-9, but it was too little, too late as Longoria got the serve back, called a timeout, and came in with a good drive serve to the left that Martinez returned with a backhand cross court shot, which gave Longoria an opportunity to put the ball away, and she did so with forehand pinch shot winner.
In doubles, the 2nd seed team of Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros came back from a game down to defeat 6th seeds Carla Muñoz and Sofia Rascon, 14-15, 15-13, 11-2. Amaya and Riveros were also down in game one, 14-7, and almost pulled it out, only losing by one point at 15-14. Game two was similar, as Muñoz and Rascon were up 12-6 before Amaya and Riveros put a run of points together and force a breaker by winning game two 15-13.
As often happens after two close games, the tie-breaker turned out to be lop-sided. In this case it was Amaya and Rascon who piled up the points early with a 9-0 lead, so they went on to win comfortably. Amaya forced the winning point as she drove serve to Rascon on the right side, and Rascon skipped the return.
Amaya and Riveros will face top seeds Longoria and Mejia, who comfortably defeated Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-0, 15-6, in the other semi-final.
You can watch the finals via the LPRT YouTube channel or their Facebook page https://www.lprtour.com. The singles final will be 2 PM Sunday with the doubles final afterwards.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 12) Gabriela Martinez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 11) Monserrat Mejia, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8, 12-10
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Jessica Parrilla - 2 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia d. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-0, 15-6
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon, 14-15, 15-13, 11-2
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia v. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 3 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Juniors win in quarters at 2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience
More upsets at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2017 Paola Longoria Experience in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, as the 3rd and 4th seeds fell in the quarterfinals. Fourth seed Rhonda Rajsich lost to 12th seed and Girl’s U16 World Junior Champion Gabriela Martinez, 11-5, 11-3, 3-11, 11-5, and 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera was beaten by Monserrat Mejia, who was runner-up to Martinez at World Juniors last year, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5.
In the semi-finals, Mejia will face 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla, who defeated Jenny Daza, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9, while Martinez plays #1 seed Paola Longoria, who beat Natalia Mendez, 11-5, 11-3, 11-1.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lprtour/. The semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM with the doubles semis to follow. The singles final will be 2 PM Sunday with the doubles final afterwards.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Natalia Mendez, 11-5, 11-3, 11-1
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-5, 11-3, 3-11, 11-5
11) Monserrat Mejia d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 23) Jenny Daza, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 12) Gabriela Martinez - 6 PM
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 11) Monserrat Mejia - 5 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 8 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the semi-finals, Mejia will face 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla, who defeated Jenny Daza, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9, while Martinez plays #1 seed Paola Longoria, who beat Natalia Mendez, 11-5, 11-3, 11-1.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lprtour/. The semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM with the doubles semis to follow. The singles final will be 2 PM Sunday with the doubles final afterwards.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Natalia Mendez, 11-5, 11-3, 11-1
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-5, 11-3, 3-11, 11-5
11) Monserrat Mejia d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 23) Jenny Daza, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 12) Gabriela Martinez - 6 PM
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 11) Monserrat Mejia - 5 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 8 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Top 4 seeds into quarters at 2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience
The top four seeds have reached the quarterfinals at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2017 Paola Longoria Experience in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, but there were upsets for seeds 5 through 8. Top seed and LPRT #1 Paola Longoria got the quarters with a win over Sheryl Lotts, 11-3, 11-4, 11-0. She’ll face Natalia Mendez Saturday morning, as 9th seeded Mendez beat 8th seed Susana Acosta, 11-6, 10-12, 11-2, 11-2, in the Round of 16.
Fourth seed Rhonda Rajsich defeated Nancy Enriquez in the 16s, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10, in what was a replay of the 2010 World Championship final, which Rajsich also won. Rajsich will face 12th seed Gabriela Martinez in the quarters, as Martinez upset 5th seed Cristina Amaya, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6. Rajsich and Martinez met in last year’s World Championships, and Martinez won that, so Rajsich may have extra incentive on Saturday.
Third seed Alexandra Herrera will face her sometime doubles partner Monserrat Mejia in the quarters, as Herrera fended off Maria Renee Rodriguez in five games, 11-5, 11-1, 2-11, 6-11, 11-2, and 11th seeded Mejia also won a five game match against 6th seed Carla Muñoz, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9.
In the final quarter, 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla plays Bolivian veteran Jenny Daza. In the 16s, Parrilla beat Erin Rivera, 11-5, 11-1, 11-2, and Daza got the best of her doubles partner Stefanny Barrios, 11-0, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The quarterfinals begin Saturday at 9 AM with the semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM. The singles final will be 2 PM Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Sheryl Lotts d. 17) Montserrat Perez, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
9) Natalia Mendez d. 24) Brenda Laime, 11-1, 11-13, 11-0, 11-2
8) Susana Acosta d. 25) Valeria Hernandez, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
5) Cristina Amaya - BYE
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 21) Sofia Rascon, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9
13) Nancy Enriquez d. 20) Danisse Maldonado, 11-2, 11-4, 11-5
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
19) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 14) Ana Laura Flores, 11-0, 2-11, 12-10, 12-10
11) Monserrat Mejia d. 22) Ana Kristin Rivera, 11-4, 11-3, 11-7
6) Carla Muñoz d. 27) Daniela Rico, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7
26) Stefanny Barrios d. 7) Adriana Riveros, 0-11, 2-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
23) Jenny Daza d. 10) Adrienne Haynes, 11-6, 11-8, 11-2
15) Erin Rivera d. 18) Carolina Rivera, 11-3, 11-13, 11-2, 11-2
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Sheryl Lotts, 11-3, 11-4, 11-0
9) Natalia Mendez d. 8) Susana Acosta, 11-6, 10-12, 11-2, 11-2
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Cristina Amaya, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 13) Nancy Enriquez, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 19) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-5, 11-1, 2-11, 6-11, 11-2
11) Monserrat Mejia d. 6) Carla Muñoz, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9
23) Jenny Daza d. 26) Stefanny Barrios, 11-0, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 15) Erin Rivera, 11-5, 11-1, 11-2
Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Natalia Mendez
4) Rhonda Rajsich v. 12) Gabriela Martinez
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 11) Monserrat Mejia
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 23) Jenny Daza
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera d. 9) Adrienne Haynes & Carolina Rivera, 15-1, 15-6
5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
4) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - BYE
6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon - BYE
10) Stefanny Barrios & Jenny Daza d. 7) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-13, 15-13
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia d. 8) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera, 15-5, 15-4
5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla, 15-9, 15-11
6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez, 15-9, 11-15, 11-10
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 10) Stefanny Barrios & Jenny Daza, 15-10, 15-6
Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Fourth seed Rhonda Rajsich defeated Nancy Enriquez in the 16s, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10, in what was a replay of the 2010 World Championship final, which Rajsich also won. Rajsich will face 12th seed Gabriela Martinez in the quarters, as Martinez upset 5th seed Cristina Amaya, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6. Rajsich and Martinez met in last year’s World Championships, and Martinez won that, so Rajsich may have extra incentive on Saturday.
Third seed Alexandra Herrera will face her sometime doubles partner Monserrat Mejia in the quarters, as Herrera fended off Maria Renee Rodriguez in five games, 11-5, 11-1, 2-11, 6-11, 11-2, and 11th seeded Mejia also won a five game match against 6th seed Carla Muñoz, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9.
In the final quarter, 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla plays Bolivian veteran Jenny Daza. In the 16s, Parrilla beat Erin Rivera, 11-5, 11-1, 11-2, and Daza got the best of her doubles partner Stefanny Barrios, 11-0, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The quarterfinals begin Saturday at 9 AM with the semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM. The singles final will be 2 PM Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Sheryl Lotts d. 17) Montserrat Perez, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
9) Natalia Mendez d. 24) Brenda Laime, 11-1, 11-13, 11-0, 11-2
8) Susana Acosta d. 25) Valeria Hernandez, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
5) Cristina Amaya - BYE
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 21) Sofia Rascon, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9
13) Nancy Enriquez d. 20) Danisse Maldonado, 11-2, 11-4, 11-5
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
19) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 14) Ana Laura Flores, 11-0, 2-11, 12-10, 12-10
11) Monserrat Mejia d. 22) Ana Kristin Rivera, 11-4, 11-3, 11-7
6) Carla Muñoz d. 27) Daniela Rico, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7
26) Stefanny Barrios d. 7) Adriana Riveros, 0-11, 2-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
23) Jenny Daza d. 10) Adrienne Haynes, 11-6, 11-8, 11-2
15) Erin Rivera d. 18) Carolina Rivera, 11-3, 11-13, 11-2, 11-2
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Sheryl Lotts, 11-3, 11-4, 11-0
9) Natalia Mendez d. 8) Susana Acosta, 11-6, 10-12, 11-2, 11-2
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Cristina Amaya, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 13) Nancy Enriquez, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 19) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-5, 11-1, 2-11, 6-11, 11-2
11) Monserrat Mejia d. 6) Carla Muñoz, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9
23) Jenny Daza d. 26) Stefanny Barrios, 11-0, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 15) Erin Rivera, 11-5, 11-1, 11-2
Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Natalia Mendez
4) Rhonda Rajsich v. 12) Gabriela Martinez
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 11) Monserrat Mejia
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 23) Jenny Daza
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera d. 9) Adrienne Haynes & Carolina Rivera, 15-1, 15-6
5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
4) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - BYE
6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon - BYE
10) Stefanny Barrios & Jenny Daza d. 7) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-13, 15-13
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia d. 8) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera, 15-5, 15-4
5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla, 15-9, 15-11
6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez, 15-9, 11-15, 11-10
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 10) Stefanny Barrios & Jenny Daza, 15-10, 15-6
Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience - Preview
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT’s) kicks off its 2017-18 season this weekend with the 2017 Paola Longoria Experience in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. LPRT #1 Paola Longoria will be in action, but the #2 and #3 players are absent. Frédérique Lambert, the #2 player, has just started back at medical school this week, and #3 Samantha Salas is still recovering from shoulder surgery that she had shortly after winning the last event of last season. We understand that Salas hopes to play before the end of the year, and maybe even at the US Open in October, although that may be overly optimistic.
Thus, the top four seeds are rounded out by Jessica Parrilla at #2, Alexandra Herrera #3, and Rhonda Rajsich #4.
Also, Salas’s absence means Longoria is without her long time doubles partner. Instead, Longoria has teamed up with Mexican junior Monserrat Mejia, and they are still the #1 seed in the doubles draw with Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros the #2 seeds.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday from 9 AM to noon and the semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM. The singles final will be 2 PM Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Sheryl Lotts v. 17) Montserrat Perez
9) Natalia Mendez v. 24) Brenda Laime
8) Susana Acosta v. 25) Valeria Hernandez
5) Cristina Amaya - BYE
12) Gabriela Martinez v. 21) Sofia Rascon
13) Nancy Enriquez v. 20) Danisse Maldonado
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Ana Laura Flores v. 19) Maria Renee Rodriguez
11) Monserrat Mejia v. 22) Ana Kristin Rivera
6) Carla Muñoz v. 27) Daniela Rico
7) Adriana Riveros v. 26) Stefanny Barrios
10) Adrienne Haynes v. 23) Jenny Daza
15) Erin Rivera v. 18) Carolina Rivera
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera v. 9) Adrienne Haynes & Carolina Rivera
5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
4) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - BYE
6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon - BYE
7) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 10) Stefanny Barrios & Jenny Daza
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thus, the top four seeds are rounded out by Jessica Parrilla at #2, Alexandra Herrera #3, and Rhonda Rajsich #4.
Also, Salas’s absence means Longoria is without her long time doubles partner. Instead, Longoria has teamed up with Mexican junior Monserrat Mejia, and they are still the #1 seed in the doubles draw with Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros the #2 seeds.
You can watch this weekend’s action live via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday from 9 AM to noon and the semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM. The singles final will be 2 PM Sunday with the doubles final to follow.
2017 LPRT Paola Longoria Experience, August 18-20, 2017
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Sheryl Lotts v. 17) Montserrat Perez
9) Natalia Mendez v. 24) Brenda Laime
8) Susana Acosta v. 25) Valeria Hernandez
5) Cristina Amaya - BYE
12) Gabriela Martinez v. 21) Sofia Rascon
13) Nancy Enriquez v. 20) Danisse Maldonado
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Ana Laura Flores v. 19) Maria Renee Rodriguez
11) Monserrat Mejia v. 22) Ana Kristin Rivera
6) Carla Muñoz v. 27) Daniela Rico
7) Adriana Riveros v. 26) Stefanny Barrios
10) Adrienne Haynes v. 23) Jenny Daza
15) Erin Rivera v. 18) Carolina Rivera
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Monserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Montserrat Perez & Erin Rivera v. 9) Adrienne Haynes & Carolina Rivera
5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
4) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera & Natalia Mendez - BYE
6) Carla Muñoz & Sofia Rascon - BYE
7) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 10) Stefanny Barrios & Jenny Daza
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
IRT under new leadership
The big racquetball news of the summer came last month with the announcement that E.J. Promotions purchased the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). The IRT is the longest running men’s professional racquetball tour, and was under the leadership of Jason Mannino, who had been its leader since 2009.
Who is E.J. Promotions?
E.J. Promotions is an investor group led by John Scott, who started the IRT Network in 2010. The Racquetball Blog recently interviewed Scott on this development. Scott said that he and Mannino had talked about the IRT Network taking over the IRT in the past, but Scott felt the timing wasn’t right. But the more Scott thought about it the more it made sense to him to align the broadcasting more closely with the tour. Also, he has put together a group of successful business people to back him. Scott stressed that the investment group are “business people who like racquetball, rather than racquetball people who like business,” which is an important distinction for him.
Scott had “strategic purposes both business wise and geographically” for selecting people to help him, as he wanted to have people in different parts of the United States. This led to him partner with Rick Betts and Cindy Tilbury in California, Sal and Dee Perconti in Florida, Dean Bear in New York and Robert Blumenshine in Missouri. Each member of the group brings different business skills to the table to help make the IRT successful. Mannino is still consulted from time to time - currently about one a week according to Scott - but Mannino has no ownership or management role.
Scott is motivated by a desire to grow racquetball in general, so he is looking for ways to put the tour in front of more people and is developing marketing strategies that will benefit both the tour and its players, as well as racquetball in general. Thus, he’s more focussed on off court developments than on court changes.
For example, Scott plans a junior player incentive program that will bring local kids to IRT events to showcase racquetball to them, so they are introduced to the sport to see how fun and exciting it can be. The idea would be that these kids would be provided with some equipment as well, and trial memberships at the facility hosting the IRT event, so they would have reason and opportunity to start playing racquetball.
Scott wants to put racquetball in front of more people, and to go to where people are. Asked if that means using the portable court more, Scott said he’d like to see the portable court used more, but the cost of using it, which is now only used for the US Open, makes it difficult to do. Nonetheless, he said it was a possibility and even without it, they are working on bringing racquetball to the masses.
What about the WRT?
For many years, the IRT was the only men’s pro tour, but in 2012 the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) began with the idea of creating opportunities for younger players. The Racquetball Blog asked Scott about the WRT. He said the reasoning for creating the WRT was “admirable,” although Scott wishes the same goals could have been achieved in a different way.
Scott feels that while racquetball has a good foundation often racquetball organizations have worked against each other in trying to achieve the same goals. He would like to unite the sport, so Scott feels it would be inconsistent to have that goal, and say “except for the WRT.”
Thus, Scott acknowledges the “WRT is there,” and it’s a competitor to the IRT, which he doesn’t like, because he wants to “work with them.” They have reached out to the WRT through Gearbox and its owner Rafael Filippini and they are to the point of setting up a time for the new IRT ownership group to meet with the WRT and discuss the situation and what can be done to move forward and how they can work together.
Scott is “very interested in working with the WRT. That’s my goal. If we can make that happen, fantastic! But if we can’t, then that’s too bad, and we will continue to work to be the better tour.”
Will there be changes on court?
There are 10 Tier 1 or Grand Slam tournaments on the IRT schedule for the coming 2017-18 season, and Scott feels that’s a good number, although 13 is the goal for the season, so some events could be added. In general, he’d like 13-15 Tier 1 or Grand Slam events over the season. The tournament format with the top 8 seeds put into the Round of 16 and other players qualifying for the 16s that the IRT has used for many years now will continue for this season at least. That may change going forward, but the players will continue to have input when considering such changes.
Asked about how the players have greeted the IRT ownership change, Scott said “it’s been pretty positive. Not one person [has been] worried about it,” and most have been “excited” about the change and opportunities.
Also, Scott is looking to set up a “Futures” draw that would be a second event for players outside the top 8. This Futures draw could be singles or doubles, but would have prize money and the chance to get IRT ranking points. Thus, it would be a way for up and coming players to benefit more from playing in an IRT event than simply the main IRT draw. Scott’s going to have a trial period of five Futures events and then assess how to move forward with it.
Where will the IRT be in 5 years?
Scott has ambitious 5 year goals. Their season targets are 3 Grand Slams with 13 Tier 1 events, so 16 total events per season. Moreover, they want to be a national platform with a broadcasting company.
Moreover, Scott wants racquetball to not be the sport people used to play, and he wants to stop having people’s first reaction be “that thing still exists?” when they hear the of racquetball. Scott’s looking to make racquetball the household word it used to be.
In summary, Scott is very enthusiastic about the future of the IRT and racquetball in general. He's got big goals, but Scott isn't in this alone, and has been on the scene for several years, so he's aware of what's involved. We're very interested to see where Scott and his group are going to take the IRT and how racquetball will develop in the near future.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Who is E.J. Promotions?
E.J. Promotions is an investor group led by John Scott, who started the IRT Network in 2010. The Racquetball Blog recently interviewed Scott on this development. Scott said that he and Mannino had talked about the IRT Network taking over the IRT in the past, but Scott felt the timing wasn’t right. But the more Scott thought about it the more it made sense to him to align the broadcasting more closely with the tour. Also, he has put together a group of successful business people to back him. Scott stressed that the investment group are “business people who like racquetball, rather than racquetball people who like business,” which is an important distinction for him.
Scott had “strategic purposes both business wise and geographically” for selecting people to help him, as he wanted to have people in different parts of the United States. This led to him partner with Rick Betts and Cindy Tilbury in California, Sal and Dee Perconti in Florida, Dean Bear in New York and Robert Blumenshine in Missouri. Each member of the group brings different business skills to the table to help make the IRT successful. Mannino is still consulted from time to time - currently about one a week according to Scott - but Mannino has no ownership or management role.
Scott is motivated by a desire to grow racquetball in general, so he is looking for ways to put the tour in front of more people and is developing marketing strategies that will benefit both the tour and its players, as well as racquetball in general. Thus, he’s more focussed on off court developments than on court changes.
For example, Scott plans a junior player incentive program that will bring local kids to IRT events to showcase racquetball to them, so they are introduced to the sport to see how fun and exciting it can be. The idea would be that these kids would be provided with some equipment as well, and trial memberships at the facility hosting the IRT event, so they would have reason and opportunity to start playing racquetball.
Scott wants to put racquetball in front of more people, and to go to where people are. Asked if that means using the portable court more, Scott said he’d like to see the portable court used more, but the cost of using it, which is now only used for the US Open, makes it difficult to do. Nonetheless, he said it was a possibility and even without it, they are working on bringing racquetball to the masses.
What about the WRT?
For many years, the IRT was the only men’s pro tour, but in 2012 the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) began with the idea of creating opportunities for younger players. The Racquetball Blog asked Scott about the WRT. He said the reasoning for creating the WRT was “admirable,” although Scott wishes the same goals could have been achieved in a different way.
Scott feels that while racquetball has a good foundation often racquetball organizations have worked against each other in trying to achieve the same goals. He would like to unite the sport, so Scott feels it would be inconsistent to have that goal, and say “except for the WRT.”
Thus, Scott acknowledges the “WRT is there,” and it’s a competitor to the IRT, which he doesn’t like, because he wants to “work with them.” They have reached out to the WRT through Gearbox and its owner Rafael Filippini and they are to the point of setting up a time for the new IRT ownership group to meet with the WRT and discuss the situation and what can be done to move forward and how they can work together.
Scott is “very interested in working with the WRT. That’s my goal. If we can make that happen, fantastic! But if we can’t, then that’s too bad, and we will continue to work to be the better tour.”
Will there be changes on court?
There are 10 Tier 1 or Grand Slam tournaments on the IRT schedule for the coming 2017-18 season, and Scott feels that’s a good number, although 13 is the goal for the season, so some events could be added. In general, he’d like 13-15 Tier 1 or Grand Slam events over the season. The tournament format with the top 8 seeds put into the Round of 16 and other players qualifying for the 16s that the IRT has used for many years now will continue for this season at least. That may change going forward, but the players will continue to have input when considering such changes.
Asked about how the players have greeted the IRT ownership change, Scott said “it’s been pretty positive. Not one person [has been] worried about it,” and most have been “excited” about the change and opportunities.
Also, Scott is looking to set up a “Futures” draw that would be a second event for players outside the top 8. This Futures draw could be singles or doubles, but would have prize money and the chance to get IRT ranking points. Thus, it would be a way for up and coming players to benefit more from playing in an IRT event than simply the main IRT draw. Scott’s going to have a trial period of five Futures events and then assess how to move forward with it.
Where will the IRT be in 5 years?
Scott has ambitious 5 year goals. Their season targets are 3 Grand Slams with 13 Tier 1 events, so 16 total events per season. Moreover, they want to be a national platform with a broadcasting company.
Moreover, Scott wants racquetball to not be the sport people used to play, and he wants to stop having people’s first reaction be “that thing still exists?” when they hear the of racquetball. Scott’s looking to make racquetball the household word it used to be.
In summary, Scott is very enthusiastic about the future of the IRT and racquetball in general. He's got big goals, but Scott isn't in this alone, and has been on the scene for several years, so he's aware of what's involved. We're very interested to see where Scott and his group are going to take the IRT and how racquetball will develop in the near future.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Mar wins WRT La Loma Open, defeating Montoya in final
Javier Mar won his first World Racquetball Tour (WRT) title Saturday, when he defeated Rodrigo Montoya in the final of the La Loma Open, 15-14, 15-4, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Mar and Montoya previously met in a WRT final earlier this year at the Longhorn Open in Austin, Texas, where Montoya won in a tie-breaker.
Mar is the 14th player to win a WRT event. Half of those players have won more than once with Alejandro Cardona leading the way with 12 tournament wins. Montoya is 5th all time with four wins.
Montoya did win the doubles title in San Luis Potosi Saturday, as he and Andree Parrilla defeated Mar and Edson Martinez, 15-1, 15-12, in the final.
The WRT has two events next month. They’ll be in Georgia for the Atlanta Open, September 14-17, and then in Illinois for the Lifetime Chicago Open, September 28-October 1.
2017 WRT La Loma Open, San Luis Potosi, Mexico August 10-12, 2017
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 5) Christian Longoria, 15-9, 15-(-1)
6) Javier Mar d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 5-15, 15-8, 11-3
Singles - Final - Saturday
6) Javier Mar d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-4
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 3) Edson Martinez & Javier Mar, 15-1, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball….
Mar is the 14th player to win a WRT event. Half of those players have won more than once with Alejandro Cardona leading the way with 12 tournament wins. Montoya is 5th all time with four wins.
Montoya did win the doubles title in San Luis Potosi Saturday, as he and Andree Parrilla defeated Mar and Edson Martinez, 15-1, 15-12, in the final.
The WRT has two events next month. They’ll be in Georgia for the Atlanta Open, September 14-17, and then in Illinois for the Lifetime Chicago Open, September 28-October 1.
2017 WRT La Loma Open, San Luis Potosi, Mexico August 10-12, 2017
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 5) Christian Longoria, 15-9, 15-(-1)
6) Javier Mar d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 5-15, 15-8, 11-3
Singles - Final - Saturday
6) Javier Mar d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-4
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 3) Edson Martinez & Javier Mar, 15-1, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, August 12, 2017
2017 WRT La Loma Open - Early Round Results
This weekend the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) stops in San Luis Potosi, Mexico for the La Loma Open, the second of back to back WRT events this month. Last weekend, Jake Bredenbeck won the WRT Life Time Denver Open in Centennial, Colorado, but he won’t make it two wins in a row, as Javier Mar defeated Bredenbeck, 15-14, 15-10, in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Mar will face 2nd seed Andree Parrilla in the semi-finals, as Parrilla beat Erick Garcia, 15-11, 15-11, in the quarters.
WRT #1 Rodrigo Montoya is the top seed this weekend, and he reached the semi-finals comfortably, beating Edson Martinez, 15-1, 15-1 in the quarters. Montoya will play Christian Longoria in the semis. Longoria, the 5th seed, won a close match over 4th seed Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 15-14.
You can view the semi-finals live Saturday via WRT website starting at 11 AM. Note the final will be at 5 PM Saturday with the doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 WRT La Loma Open, San Luis Potosi, Mexico August 10-12, 2017
Singles - Round of 32
1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Carlos Bacmeister d. 17) Erick Cuevas
9) Edson Martinez d. 24) Saul Rivera, 15-4, 15-1
8) Alex David Cocco Hayes - BYE
5) Christian Longoria - BYE
12) Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 21) Alejandro Martinez, 15-2, 15-1
20) Fabian Parrilla d. 13) Daniel Maldonado, 9-15, 15-10, 11-7
4) Gerardo Franco - BYE
3) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
19) Juan Loreto d. 14) Edwin Galicia, 15-13, 15-13
11) Eduardo Portillo d. 22) Alan Hernandez, forfeit
6) Javier Mar - BYE
7) Jordy Alonso - BYE
10) Erick Garcia d. 23) Elias Nieto, 15-1, 15-7
18) Alfonso Luna d. 15) Christian Wer, 15-9, 15-7
2) Andree Parrilla - BYE
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Carlos Bacmeister, 15-6, 15-5
9) Edson Martinez d. 8) Alex David Cocco Hayes, 15-5, 15-2
5) Christian Longoria d. 12) Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-2
4) Gerardo Franco d. 20) Fabian Parrilla, 15-0, 15-13
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 19) Juan Loreto, 15-10, 15-7
6) Javier Mar d. 11) Eduardo Portillo, 9-15, 15-13, 11-0
10) Erick Garcia d. 7) Jordy Alonso, 15-8, 14-15, 11-5
2) Andree Parrilla d. 18) Alfonso Luna, 15-6, 15-3
Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Edson Martinez, 15-1, 15-1
5) Christian Longoria d. 4) Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 15-14
6) Javier Mar d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-14, 15-10
2) Andree Parrilla d. 10) Erick Garcia, 15-11, 15-11
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 5) Christian Longoria - Noon
2) Andree Parrilla v. 6) Javier Mar - 11 AM
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 8) Juan Loreto & Fabian Parrilla, 15-8, 14-15, 11-4
5) Elias Nieto & Eduardo Portillo d. 4) Daniel Maldonado & Erick Cuevas
3) Edson Martinez & Javier Mar d. 6) Alan Alonso & Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-5, 15-5
2) Christian Longoria & Gerardo Franco d. 7) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer, 15-9, 15-10
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 5) Elias Nieto & Eduardo Portillo
3) Edson Martinez & Javier Mar d. 2) Christian Longoria & Gerardo Franco
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 3) Edson Martinez & Javier Mar
Follow the bouncing ball….
Mar will face 2nd seed Andree Parrilla in the semi-finals, as Parrilla beat Erick Garcia, 15-11, 15-11, in the quarters.
WRT #1 Rodrigo Montoya is the top seed this weekend, and he reached the semi-finals comfortably, beating Edson Martinez, 15-1, 15-1 in the quarters. Montoya will play Christian Longoria in the semis. Longoria, the 5th seed, won a close match over 4th seed Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 15-14.
You can view the semi-finals live Saturday via WRT website starting at 11 AM. Note the final will be at 5 PM Saturday with the doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 WRT La Loma Open, San Luis Potosi, Mexico August 10-12, 2017
Singles - Round of 32
1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Carlos Bacmeister d. 17) Erick Cuevas
9) Edson Martinez d. 24) Saul Rivera, 15-4, 15-1
8) Alex David Cocco Hayes - BYE
5) Christian Longoria - BYE
12) Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 21) Alejandro Martinez, 15-2, 15-1
20) Fabian Parrilla d. 13) Daniel Maldonado, 9-15, 15-10, 11-7
4) Gerardo Franco - BYE
3) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
19) Juan Loreto d. 14) Edwin Galicia, 15-13, 15-13
11) Eduardo Portillo d. 22) Alan Hernandez, forfeit
6) Javier Mar - BYE
7) Jordy Alonso - BYE
10) Erick Garcia d. 23) Elias Nieto, 15-1, 15-7
18) Alfonso Luna d. 15) Christian Wer, 15-9, 15-7
2) Andree Parrilla - BYE
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Carlos Bacmeister, 15-6, 15-5
9) Edson Martinez d. 8) Alex David Cocco Hayes, 15-5, 15-2
5) Christian Longoria d. 12) Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-2
4) Gerardo Franco d. 20) Fabian Parrilla, 15-0, 15-13
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 19) Juan Loreto, 15-10, 15-7
6) Javier Mar d. 11) Eduardo Portillo, 9-15, 15-13, 11-0
10) Erick Garcia d. 7) Jordy Alonso, 15-8, 14-15, 11-5
2) Andree Parrilla d. 18) Alfonso Luna, 15-6, 15-3
Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Edson Martinez, 15-1, 15-1
5) Christian Longoria d. 4) Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 15-14
6) Javier Mar d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-14, 15-10
2) Andree Parrilla d. 10) Erick Garcia, 15-11, 15-11
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 5) Christian Longoria - Noon
2) Andree Parrilla v. 6) Javier Mar - 11 AM
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 8) Juan Loreto & Fabian Parrilla, 15-8, 14-15, 11-4
5) Elias Nieto & Eduardo Portillo d. 4) Daniel Maldonado & Erick Cuevas
3) Edson Martinez & Javier Mar d. 6) Alan Alonso & Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-5, 15-5
2) Christian Longoria & Gerardo Franco d. 7) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer, 15-9, 15-10
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 5) Elias Nieto & Eduardo Portillo
3) Edson Martinez & Javier Mar d. 2) Christian Longoria & Gerardo Franco
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 3) Edson Martinez & Javier Mar
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Bredenbeck wins 2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open
Jake Bredenbeck knocked off the Rodrigo Montoya, the #1 player on the World Racquetball Tour (WRT), to win the 2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open in Centennial, Colorado. Bredenbeck won in two straight games, 15-12, 15-11, but it was not a straight forward victory, as he had to comeback from a 10 to -1 deficit in game one to win. It’s Bredenbeck’s fourth WRT title, but his first since November 2015.
In game one, Montoya took a large lead at 10-0, and a frustrated Bredenbeck threw his racquet, which resulted in a technical from the referee. Montoya got another point after that, which made the score 11-(-1). But the technical seemed to spur Bredenbeck on, as he started to turn the tide against Montoya, scoring eight unanswered points to make it 11-7.
Montoya then got a sideout and called a timeout. When play resumed, Montoya got another point to make it 12-7, but the momentum hadn’t really shifted away from Bredenbeck, who continued to pile up the points. He tied the game at 12-12 with a drive serve ace to the left side.
A forehand pinch shot then made it 13-12, which led to a Montoya timeout. When play resumed Bredenbeck hit another ace drive serve to the left to give himself game point at 14-12. But Bredenbeck lost serve after hitting a short drive serve to the right on second serve.
Yet he got the serve right back with a forehand serve return. Bredenbeck closed out the game by hitting a drive serve to the right side from left side of the service box, which was a different look for him, and may have put Montoya off balance.
In game two, Bredenbeck to a big lead early, going up 8-1. However, Montoya slowly came back in the game, eventually tying it at 11-11. But that was as many as he would get, as Bredenbeck got a side out, and then put together a run of four straight points to win it 15-11. Montoya took a timeout at 13-11, but to no avail. The winning point came as Montoya skipped a shot, and tried to indicate that he felt he was hindered, but the referee disagreed, so the skip ended the game and match.
Bredenbeck and Montoya have now played five times on the WRT, and Montoya still holds a 3-2 advantage.
Montoya did win the doubles title, as he and Andree Parrilla came back from a game down to defeat Alejandro Cardona and Gerardo Franco, 13-15, 15-10, 11-7. Cardona and Franco were up in the tie-breaker 7-3, but Montoya and Parrilla scored eight straight points - several of which were errors by Cardona - to pull out the win.
The WRT will be back in action next weekend with the La Loma Open in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Final - Saturday
7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-12, 15-11
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco, 13-15, 15-10, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball….
In game one, Montoya took a large lead at 10-0, and a frustrated Bredenbeck threw his racquet, which resulted in a technical from the referee. Montoya got another point after that, which made the score 11-(-1). But the technical seemed to spur Bredenbeck on, as he started to turn the tide against Montoya, scoring eight unanswered points to make it 11-7.
Montoya then got a sideout and called a timeout. When play resumed, Montoya got another point to make it 12-7, but the momentum hadn’t really shifted away from Bredenbeck, who continued to pile up the points. He tied the game at 12-12 with a drive serve ace to the left side.
A forehand pinch shot then made it 13-12, which led to a Montoya timeout. When play resumed Bredenbeck hit another ace drive serve to the left to give himself game point at 14-12. But Bredenbeck lost serve after hitting a short drive serve to the right on second serve.
Yet he got the serve right back with a forehand serve return. Bredenbeck closed out the game by hitting a drive serve to the right side from left side of the service box, which was a different look for him, and may have put Montoya off balance.
In game two, Bredenbeck to a big lead early, going up 8-1. However, Montoya slowly came back in the game, eventually tying it at 11-11. But that was as many as he would get, as Bredenbeck got a side out, and then put together a run of four straight points to win it 15-11. Montoya took a timeout at 13-11, but to no avail. The winning point came as Montoya skipped a shot, and tried to indicate that he felt he was hindered, but the referee disagreed, so the skip ended the game and match.
Bredenbeck and Montoya have now played five times on the WRT, and Montoya still holds a 3-2 advantage.
Montoya did win the doubles title, as he and Andree Parrilla came back from a game down to defeat Alejandro Cardona and Gerardo Franco, 13-15, 15-10, 11-7. Cardona and Franco were up in the tie-breaker 7-3, but Montoya and Parrilla scored eight straight points - several of which were errors by Cardona - to pull out the win.
The WRT will be back in action next weekend with the La Loma Open in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Final - Saturday
7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-12, 15-11
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco, 13-15, 15-10, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball….
Montoya & Bredenbeck win semi-finals at 2017 WRT LifeTime Denver Open
Rodrigo Montoya, the #1 player on the World Racquetball Tour (WRT), has reached the final of the 2017 WRT LifeTime Denver Open in Centennial, Colorado with a semi-final win over his doubles partner, Andree Parrilla, 15-12, 15-1. In the final, Montoya will play 7th seed Jake Bredenbeck who defeated 22nd seed Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-10, in the other semi.
Montoya and Parrilla were close early in game one of their match, but Montoya had a slight lead at 7-5. From there he scored six unanswered points to lead 13-5. However, Parrilla kept working away, and closed the gap to two points again at 14-12. Parrilla fought off four game points before Montoya was able to end the game with a backhand down the line shot.
Game two was all Montoya, as he took an early lead at 5-0, and pushed on to win 15-1, taking the match in two straight games.
Bredenbeck also defeated Acuña in straight games, and he led the entire match, taking 6-0 leads in both games one and two. Acuña didn’t roll over, though, and he cut the lead to two points in game one, when he trailed 10-8.
But Bredenbeck extended the lead again to 12-8, and got to game point at 14-9 after two drive serve aces to the left side - Acuña’s backhand side. Acuña did fight off the first game point, and scored a point before surrendering the serve back to Bredenbeck, who then closed out the game, 15-10.
In game two, Bredenbeck was up 7-0 before Acuña scored. He extended the lead to 12-4, and Acuña took a timeout. When play resumed Bredenbeck served off speed Z serves to the left side, rather than the drive serves he had been using. Although it appeared he was taking his foot off the gas, Bredenbeck did score twice with those Z serves, making the score 14-4. But then Acuña got the serve back, and proceeded to run a six points to make the score 14-10.
But an error by Acuña stopped his run, and allowed Bredenbeck the opportunity to end the game and match, which he took advantage of.
Montoya and Bredenbeck have met four times on the WRT with Montoya winning three of those matches and Bredenbeck one.
You can see the final live Saturday at 5 PM MDT via the WRT Facebook page with the doubles final to follow the singles final.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-12, 15-1
7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 22) Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-10
Singles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck - 5 PM
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Montoya and Parrilla were close early in game one of their match, but Montoya had a slight lead at 7-5. From there he scored six unanswered points to lead 13-5. However, Parrilla kept working away, and closed the gap to two points again at 14-12. Parrilla fought off four game points before Montoya was able to end the game with a backhand down the line shot.
Game two was all Montoya, as he took an early lead at 5-0, and pushed on to win 15-1, taking the match in two straight games.
Bredenbeck also defeated Acuña in straight games, and he led the entire match, taking 6-0 leads in both games one and two. Acuña didn’t roll over, though, and he cut the lead to two points in game one, when he trailed 10-8.
But Bredenbeck extended the lead again to 12-8, and got to game point at 14-9 after two drive serve aces to the left side - Acuña’s backhand side. Acuña did fight off the first game point, and scored a point before surrendering the serve back to Bredenbeck, who then closed out the game, 15-10.
In game two, Bredenbeck was up 7-0 before Acuña scored. He extended the lead to 12-4, and Acuña took a timeout. When play resumed Bredenbeck served off speed Z serves to the left side, rather than the drive serves he had been using. Although it appeared he was taking his foot off the gas, Bredenbeck did score twice with those Z serves, making the score 14-4. But then Acuña got the serve back, and proceeded to run a six points to make the score 14-10.
But an error by Acuña stopped his run, and allowed Bredenbeck the opportunity to end the game and match, which he took advantage of.
Montoya and Bredenbeck have met four times on the WRT with Montoya winning three of those matches and Bredenbeck one.
You can see the final live Saturday at 5 PM MDT via the WRT Facebook page with the doubles final to follow the singles final.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-12, 15-1
7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 22) Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-10
Singles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck - 5 PM
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
2017 WRT LifeTime Denver Open - Quarterfinals
The bottom of the draw at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Life Time Denver Open in Centennial, Colorado continues to be problematic for higher seeds, as both lower seeds won their respective quarterfinal matches Friday. Seventh seed Jake Bredenbeck took out 2nd seed Alejandro Cardona in two straight games, 15-8, 15-4, in one quarterfinal, while 22nd seed Andres Acuña beat 14th seed Shai Manzuri in the other quarter, 15-8, 15-9, to set up a semi-final meeting between Bredenbeck and Acuña for Saturday morning.
On the top side of the draw, it’s situation normal, as #1 seed Rodrigo Montoya will play #4 Andree Parrilla after Montoya defeated Mauro Rojas, 15-6, 15-10, and Parrilla beat Jose Diaz, 15-11, 15-10, in their quarterfinal matches.
You can see the semi-finals live Saturday via the WRT website beginning at 11 AM Mountain Time with the final Saturday at 5 PM. The doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Mauro Rojas, 15-6, 15-10
4) Andree Parrilla d. 12) Jose Diaz, 15-11, 15-10
22) Andres Acuña d. 14) Shai Manzuri, 15-8, 15-9
7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 2) Alejandro Cardona, 15-8, 15-4
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 4) Andree Parrilla - Noon
7) Jake Bredenbeck v. 22) Andres Acuña - 11 AM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 3) Andres Acuña & Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-9
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla or 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri v. 2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
On the top side of the draw, it’s situation normal, as #1 seed Rodrigo Montoya will play #4 Andree Parrilla after Montoya defeated Mauro Rojas, 15-6, 15-10, and Parrilla beat Jose Diaz, 15-11, 15-10, in their quarterfinal matches.
You can see the semi-finals live Saturday via the WRT website beginning at 11 AM Mountain Time with the final Saturday at 5 PM. The doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Mauro Rojas, 15-6, 15-10
4) Andree Parrilla d. 12) Jose Diaz, 15-11, 15-10
22) Andres Acuña d. 14) Shai Manzuri, 15-8, 15-9
7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 2) Alejandro Cardona, 15-8, 15-4
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 4) Andree Parrilla - Noon
7) Jake Bredenbeck v. 22) Andres Acuña - 11 AM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 3) Andres Acuña & Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-9
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla or 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri v. 2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, August 4, 2017
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open - Round of 16
There have been three significant upsets in the Round of 16 at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Life Time Denver Open in Centennial, Colorado, as the 3rd, 5th and 6th seeds are out. Veteran Shai Manzuri knocked of the 3rd seed David Horn in two straight games, 15-5, 15-11. Manzuri will play Andres Acuña in the quarterfinals later on Friday, as Acuña upset 6th seed Gerardo Franco, 5-15, 15-13, 11-5, in the 16s.
In an upset by the seeding, but perhaps not based on lifetime results, Jose Diaz, seeded 12th, defeated 5th seed Jaime Martell, 15-12, 15-4, and will play 4th seed Andree Parrilla in the quarters, as Parrilla beat Sebastian Fernandez, 15-6, 15-9.
A fourth upset happened in the 8/9 match, as 9th seed Mauro Rojas won a tie-breaker with 8th seed Francisco Troncoso, 15-7, 11-15, 11-4. Rojas will play #1 seed Rodrigo Montoya in the quarters, after Montoya easily advanced past Fernando Kurzbard, 15-4, 15-2.
You can view the action live this weekend starting with the quarterfinals from 4 PM Friday via the WRT website. Note the semi-finals will be at 11 AM and noon Saturday with the final Saturday at 5 PM. The doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Fernando Kurzbard, 15-4, 15-2
9) Mauro Rojas d. 8) Francisco Troncoso, 15-7, 11-15, 11-4
12) Jose Diaz d. 5) Jaime Martell, 15-12, 15-4
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-6, 15-9
14) Shai Manzuri d. 3) David Horn, 15-5, 15-11
22) Andres Acuña d. 6) Gerardo Franco, 5-15, 15-13, 11-5
7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 10) Mauricio Zelada
2) Alejandro Cardona d. 15) Alan Natera, 15-3, 15-1
Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 9) Mauro Rojas - 7 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 12) Jose Diaz - 5 PM
14) Shai Manzuri v. 22) Andres Acuña - 4 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck - 6 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 3) Andres Acuña & Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-9
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla or 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri v. 2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In an upset by the seeding, but perhaps not based on lifetime results, Jose Diaz, seeded 12th, defeated 5th seed Jaime Martell, 15-12, 15-4, and will play 4th seed Andree Parrilla in the quarters, as Parrilla beat Sebastian Fernandez, 15-6, 15-9.
A fourth upset happened in the 8/9 match, as 9th seed Mauro Rojas won a tie-breaker with 8th seed Francisco Troncoso, 15-7, 11-15, 11-4. Rojas will play #1 seed Rodrigo Montoya in the quarters, after Montoya easily advanced past Fernando Kurzbard, 15-4, 15-2.
You can view the action live this weekend starting with the quarterfinals from 4 PM Friday via the WRT website. Note the semi-finals will be at 11 AM and noon Saturday with the final Saturday at 5 PM. The doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Fernando Kurzbard, 15-4, 15-2
9) Mauro Rojas d. 8) Francisco Troncoso, 15-7, 11-15, 11-4
12) Jose Diaz d. 5) Jaime Martell, 15-12, 15-4
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-6, 15-9
14) Shai Manzuri d. 3) David Horn, 15-5, 15-11
22) Andres Acuña d. 6) Gerardo Franco, 5-15, 15-13, 11-5
7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 10) Mauricio Zelada
2) Alejandro Cardona d. 15) Alan Natera, 15-3, 15-1
Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 9) Mauro Rojas - 7 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 12) Jose Diaz - 5 PM
14) Shai Manzuri v. 22) Andres Acuña - 4 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck - 6 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 3) Andres Acuña & Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-9
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla or 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri v. 2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open - Round of 32
The World Racquetball Tour (WRT) resumes its 2017 season this weekend with the WRT Life Time Denver Open in Centennial, Colorado. It’s the first of back to back WRT events, as they’ll play the WRT La Loma Open next weekend in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Rodrigo Montoya is the top seed this weekend with Alejandro Cardona as 2nd seed, and David Horn and Andree Parrilla as 3rd and 4th seeds, respectively.
In the Round of 32 on Thursday, Jose Diaz, seeded 12th, defeated Remy Feldman, 15-2, 15-1, and will play Martell in the Round of 16 Friday. Also, 22nd seed Andres Acuña upset 11th seed Miguel Rodriguez Jr. in a tie-breaker, 15-4, 11-15, 11-3, so Acuña will play 6th seed Gerardo Franco in the 16s.
Also of note, 10th seed Mauricio Zelada beat 23rd seed Matt Meister, 15-14, 15-1, to set up a showdown with 7th seed Jake Bredenbeck in the Round of 16. And USA Racquetball Junior Team member Mauro Rojas defeated Nicholas Riffel, 15-13, 10-15, 11-3, and will play 8th seed Francisco Troncoso in the 16s Friday.
They have played the quarterfinals of doubles, which saw one upset, as 5th seeds Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri beat 4th seeds Sebastian Fernandez and Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-6. In the semi-finals, Kurzbard and Manzuri will play the top seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla, who were winners over 8th seeds Jacob Kingsford and Nicholas Riffel, 15—10, 15-12, in the quarters.
You can view the action live this weekend starting with the quarterfinals from 4 PM Friday via the WRT website. Note the semi-finals will be at 11 AM and noon Saturday with the final Saturday at 5 PM. The doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Round of 32
1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Fernando Kurzbard d. 17) Andrew Clarke, 15-5, 15-9
9) Mauro Rojas d. 24) Nicholas Riffel, 15-13, 10-15, 11-3
8) Francisco Troncoso - BYE
5) Jaime Martell - BYE
12) Jose Diaz d. 21) Remy Feldman, 15-2, 15-1
13) Sebastian Fernandez d. 20) Javier Estrada, 15-5, 4-15, 11-3
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) David Horn - BYE
14) Shai Manzuri d. 19) Rogelio Castillo, 15-1, 15-5
22) Andres Acuña d. 11) Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-4, 11-15, 11-3
6) Gerardo Franco - BYE
7) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
10) Mauricio Zelada d. 23) Matt Meister, 15-14, 15-1
15) Alan Natera d. 18) Ernesto Ochoa, 15-14, 14-15, 11-3
2) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 16) Fernando Kurzbard - 1 PM
8) Francisco Troncoso v. 9) Mauro Rojas - 1 PM
5) Jaime Martell v. 12) Jose Diaz - 11 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 13) Sebastian Fernandez - 11 AM
3) David Horn v. 14) Shai Manzuri - 10 AM
6) Gerardo Franco v. 22) Andres Acuña - 10 AM
7) Jake Bredenbeck v. 10) Mauricio Zelada - Noon
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 15) Alan Natera - Noon
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 8) Jacob Kingsford & Nicholas Riffel, 15—10, 15-12
5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri d. 4) Sebastian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-6
3) Andres Acuña & Jaime Martell d. 6) Rogelio Castillo & Ernesto Ochoa, forfeit
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 7) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera, 15-12, 15-12
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Andres Acuña & Jaime Martell - 2 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Rodrigo Montoya is the top seed this weekend with Alejandro Cardona as 2nd seed, and David Horn and Andree Parrilla as 3rd and 4th seeds, respectively.
In the Round of 32 on Thursday, Jose Diaz, seeded 12th, defeated Remy Feldman, 15-2, 15-1, and will play Martell in the Round of 16 Friday. Also, 22nd seed Andres Acuña upset 11th seed Miguel Rodriguez Jr. in a tie-breaker, 15-4, 11-15, 11-3, so Acuña will play 6th seed Gerardo Franco in the 16s.
Also of note, 10th seed Mauricio Zelada beat 23rd seed Matt Meister, 15-14, 15-1, to set up a showdown with 7th seed Jake Bredenbeck in the Round of 16. And USA Racquetball Junior Team member Mauro Rojas defeated Nicholas Riffel, 15-13, 10-15, 11-3, and will play 8th seed Francisco Troncoso in the 16s Friday.
They have played the quarterfinals of doubles, which saw one upset, as 5th seeds Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri beat 4th seeds Sebastian Fernandez and Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-6. In the semi-finals, Kurzbard and Manzuri will play the top seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla, who were winners over 8th seeds Jacob Kingsford and Nicholas Riffel, 15—10, 15-12, in the quarters.
You can view the action live this weekend starting with the quarterfinals from 4 PM Friday via the WRT website. Note the semi-finals will be at 11 AM and noon Saturday with the final Saturday at 5 PM. The doubles final will follow the singles final.
2017 WRT Life Time Denver Open, Centennial, Colorado August 3-6, 2017
Singles - Round of 32
1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Fernando Kurzbard d. 17) Andrew Clarke, 15-5, 15-9
9) Mauro Rojas d. 24) Nicholas Riffel, 15-13, 10-15, 11-3
8) Francisco Troncoso - BYE
5) Jaime Martell - BYE
12) Jose Diaz d. 21) Remy Feldman, 15-2, 15-1
13) Sebastian Fernandez d. 20) Javier Estrada, 15-5, 4-15, 11-3
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) David Horn - BYE
14) Shai Manzuri d. 19) Rogelio Castillo, 15-1, 15-5
22) Andres Acuña d. 11) Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-4, 11-15, 11-3
6) Gerardo Franco - BYE
7) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
10) Mauricio Zelada d. 23) Matt Meister, 15-14, 15-1
15) Alan Natera d. 18) Ernesto Ochoa, 15-14, 14-15, 11-3
2) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 16) Fernando Kurzbard - 1 PM
8) Francisco Troncoso v. 9) Mauro Rojas - 1 PM
5) Jaime Martell v. 12) Jose Diaz - 11 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 13) Sebastian Fernandez - 11 AM
3) David Horn v. 14) Shai Manzuri - 10 AM
6) Gerardo Franco v. 22) Andres Acuña - 10 AM
7) Jake Bredenbeck v. 10) Mauricio Zelada - Noon
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 15) Alan Natera - Noon
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 8) Jacob Kingsford & Nicholas Riffel, 15—10, 15-12
5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri d. 4) Sebastian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-6
3) Andres Acuña & Jaime Martell d. 6) Rogelio Castillo & Ernesto Ochoa, forfeit
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 7) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera, 15-12, 15-12
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 5) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Andres Acuña & Jaime Martell - 2 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
