Round of 16 at 2017 IRT Phase IV Scientific Health & Performance Pro-Am

Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), won his first match at the Phase IV Scientific Health & Performance Pro-Am in Canoga Park, California, when he beat Jose Diaz, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7, in the Round of 16. Waselenchuk will play either Andree Parrilla or Sebastian Fernandez in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

IRT #2 Rocky Carson had a more difficult time Friday, as he needed four games to fend off Jake Bredenbeck, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9. Carson’s opponent in the quarters will be David Horn, who upset 7th seed Mario Mercado in five games, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-2.

Bredenbeck was right with Carson in the match. After splitting games one and two, thy were tied 6-6 in game three. But from there Carson went on a 14-2 scoring streak, which effectively ended the match, as he won game three and then took a 9-1 lead in game four.

Bredenbeck made an impressive comeback in game four, including fighting off two match points, as he got to within one of Carson at 10-9. Bredenbeck’s comeback was fueled primarily by drive serving to the right side. A drive serve ace to the right made the score 10-9, but on the next serve Bredenbeck inexplicably went to the left side, and Carson hit a winning backhand return cross court. On the next rally, Carson won the match when Bredenbeck skipped a backhand shot.

The other upset winner in the 16s was Gerardo Franco who beat 6th seed Sebastian Franco (no relation), 11-8, 11-8, 11-7. Gerardo Franco will play 3rd seed Daniel De La Rosa in the quarters, as De La Rosa got the best of Thomas Carter, 9-11, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7.

The quarter finals will be Saturday morning from 9 AM to noon and you can watch the action via the IRT Network, or the IRT Facebook page. The semi-finals will be 4 PM and 5 PM Saturday with the final Sunday at 11 AM. All times Pacific.

2017 IRT Phase IV Scientific Health & Performance Pro-Am, September 7-10, 2017
Canoga Park, California

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Diaz, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7
8) Andree Parrilla d. Sebastian Fernandez, 9-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8

Rodrigo Montoya d. 5) Jansen Allen, 3-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-6
4) Alvaro Beltran d. Nicholas Riffel, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6

3) Daniel De La Rosa d. Thomas Carter, 9-11, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7
Gerardo Franco d. 6) Sebastian Franco, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7

David Horn d. 7) Mario Mercado, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-2
2) Rocky Carson d. Jake Bredenbeck, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 8) Andree Parrilla - 11 AM
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Rodrigo Montoya - Noon

3) Daniel De La Rosa v. Gerardo Franco - 9 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. David Horn - 10 AM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk d. 8) Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn, 15-3, 15-12
5) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado d. 13) Tim Herman & Michael Myers, 15-3, 12-15, 11-3

3) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 6) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla, 13-15, 15-10, 11-9
7) Felipe Camacho & Samuel Murray d. 2) Rocky Carson & Tito Montanez, 15-1, 15-9

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. 5) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado - 7 PM
3) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. 7) Felipe Camacho & Samuel Murray - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….