Alejandro Landa won the San Luis Open last weekend in San Luis Potosi, Mexico - a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Landa defeated Alvaro Beltran in the final, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5. In the semi-finals, Landa beat Edson Martinez, Andree Parrilla, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6, while Beltran needed five games to get past Edson Martinez, 2-11, 11-7, 2-11, 11-5, 11-7.
Landa and Beltran played doubles together in San Luis, so you’d think that they won that title, but you’d be wrong, as Martinez and Parrilla got the better of Landa and Beltran, 15-11, 15-8.
There are two IRT Tier 1 events in November. This weekend a large field of 34 players will be in Georgia for the Atlanta Pro-Am, November 2-5. Then they will be in St Louis for the Pro Racquetball Winter Rollout, November 16-18.
2017 IRT San Luis Open
San Luis Potosi, Mexico - October 24-29, 2017
IRT Singles - Final
Alejandro Landa d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5
IRT Singles - Semi-Finals
Alvaro Beltran d. Edson Martinez, 2-11, 11-7, 2-11, 11-5, 11-7
Alejandro Landa d. Andree Parrilla, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6
IRT Singles - Quarterfinals
Alvaro Beltran d. Abraham Peña, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2
Edson Martinez d. Fabian Parrilla, 11-2, 11-2, 11-2
Andree Parrilla d. Alejandro Romo, 11-7, 11-5, 13-11
Alejandro Landa d. Adrian Fernandez, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2
IRT Doubles - Final
Edson Martinez & Andree Parrilla d. Alvaro Beltran & Alejandro Landa, 15-11, 15-8
IRT Doubles - Semi-Finals
Alvaro Beltran & Alejandro Landa d. Eduardo Aguilar & Alejandro Romo, 15-8, 15-10
Edson Martinez & Andree Parrilla d. Ruben Martinez & Fabian Parrilla, 15-1, 15-14
Follow the bouncing ball….
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Longoria wins twice at 2017 LPRT Boston Open
Paola Longoria - the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) - defeated LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert to win the 2017 Boston Open in Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, but sadly the outcome was due to Lambert’s retirement due to injury, rather than an on court win.
Longoria had won game one, 11-6, when Lambert felt that she couldn’t continue, as she was still feeling the effects of a blow to the head she suffered during a match on Saturday. Lambert had a headache Sunday that was worse than she felt on Saturday.
Longoria also won doubles with Alexandra Herrera, as they defeated Christina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-9. It’s the second time in October that Longoria has beaten Amaya and Riveros in an LPRT doubles final, as she and Gabriela Martinez beat them in the US Open final earlier this month.
Longoria and Herrera took the early lead in game one, 5-0, and although Amaya and Riveros cut the lead to 5-3 and then 9-5, Longoria and Herrera never trailed. Herrera got them the game winning point with a drive serve ace down the left side.
In game two, Longoria and Herrera again led early, but only 3-0. Amaya and Riveros had a better response, as they scored seven unanswered points to lead 7-3. But momentum swung back to the Mexicans, as Herrera and Longoria got nine points in a row to lead 12-7. In that nine point run, Amaya and Riveros had three chances to score, but were held off the board. They did get a couple of points before Herrera ended the game and match with a pinch shot from deep on the left side that made it 15-9.
Herrera is left handed, but Amaya and Riveros served to her and Longoria as if they were both right handed. That is, all of Amaya and Riveros’s serves were towards the back corners. None were into the middle, which would have been to the backhands of both Herrera and Longoria.
The next LPRT event will be the Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 8-10. If you missed the action from Boston, you can check it out at the LPRT YouTube channel but note that it has been categorized under Torneo Milenio (as of Oct 29).
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria d. 2 Frédérique Lambert, 11-6, injury forfeit
LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera d. 3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-9
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria had won game one, 11-6, when Lambert felt that she couldn’t continue, as she was still feeling the effects of a blow to the head she suffered during a match on Saturday. Lambert had a headache Sunday that was worse than she felt on Saturday.
Longoria also won doubles with Alexandra Herrera, as they defeated Christina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-9. It’s the second time in October that Longoria has beaten Amaya and Riveros in an LPRT doubles final, as she and Gabriela Martinez beat them in the US Open final earlier this month.
Longoria and Herrera took the early lead in game one, 5-0, and although Amaya and Riveros cut the lead to 5-3 and then 9-5, Longoria and Herrera never trailed. Herrera got them the game winning point with a drive serve ace down the left side.
In game two, Longoria and Herrera again led early, but only 3-0. Amaya and Riveros had a better response, as they scored seven unanswered points to lead 7-3. But momentum swung back to the Mexicans, as Herrera and Longoria got nine points in a row to lead 12-7. In that nine point run, Amaya and Riveros had three chances to score, but were held off the board. They did get a couple of points before Herrera ended the game and match with a pinch shot from deep on the left side that made it 15-9.
Herrera is left handed, but Amaya and Riveros served to her and Longoria as if they were both right handed. That is, all of Amaya and Riveros’s serves were towards the back corners. None were into the middle, which would have been to the backhands of both Herrera and Longoria.
The next LPRT event will be the Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 8-10. If you missed the action from Boston, you can check it out at the LPRT YouTube channel but note that it has been categorized under Torneo Milenio (as of Oct 29).
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria d. 2 Frédérique Lambert, 11-6, injury forfeit
LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera d. 3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-9
Follow the bouncing ball….
Horn defeats Bredenbeck to win 2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
David Horn defeated Jake Bredenbeck, 13-15, 15-5, 11-6, to win the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) 2017 Rocky Mountain Open in Taylorsville, Utah Saturday. Horn’s victory is his fourth WRT title. In the semi-finals, Horn beat Sebastian Franco, 15-7, 15-12, and Bredenbeck, seeded 3rd, upset the 2nd seed Alejandro Cardona, 15-7, 15-14.
However, Franco helped Sudsy Monchik make a successful WRT debut, as the pair won the doubles title in Utah by defeating Cardona and Gerardo Franco, 15-3, 14-15, 11-8.
The next two WRT events are both in Texas. The Alamo City Open will be December 1-3 in San Antonio and the Longhorn Open is December 12-14 in Austin.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) David Horn d. 13) Sebastian Franco, 15-7, 15-12
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 2) Alejandro Cardona, 15-7, 15-14
Final - Saturday
1) David Horn d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 13-15, 15-5, 11-6
Doubles - Final - Saturday
3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik d. 1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco, 15-3, 14-15, 11-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
However, Franco helped Sudsy Monchik make a successful WRT debut, as the pair won the doubles title in Utah by defeating Cardona and Gerardo Franco, 15-3, 14-15, 11-8.
The next two WRT events are both in Texas. The Alamo City Open will be December 1-3 in San Antonio and the Longhorn Open is December 12-14 in Austin.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) David Horn d. 13) Sebastian Franco, 15-7, 15-12
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 2) Alejandro Cardona, 15-7, 15-14
Final - Saturday
1) David Horn d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 13-15, 15-5, 11-6
Doubles - Final - Saturday
3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik d. 1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco, 15-3, 14-15, 11-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria & Lambert to face off at 2017 LPRT Boston Open
It will be #1 versus #2 in the final of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2017 Boston Open in Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, when LPRT #1 Paola Longoria faces #2 Frédérique Lambert. Longoria had the easier time in the semi-finals, as she faced a hobbled Rhonda Rajsich, winning 11-0, 11-0, 11-0. Lambert needed four games to defeat 3rd seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12.
The doubles final will be a repeat of the US Open final - almost. US Open runners up Christina Amaya and Adriana Riveros will face Longoria and Alexandra Herrera, and they lost to Longoria and Gabriela Martinez at the US Open earlier this month.
Longoria and Herrera had a more difficult time than expected of getting to the final, as they were up against Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts in the semi-finals, and Rajsich could hardly move. But Lotts played very well, and covered shots all over the court. She and Rajsich were ahead for most of game one, and looked like they might take it. But Longoria and Herrera came back to win it, and then won the second game, though again it wasn’t an easy one, making the final score, 15-13, 15-9.
Amaya and Riveros came back from a game down to defeat Natalia Mendez and Maria Paz Muñoz, 13-15, 15-3, 11-7, in the other semi.
The singles final is Sunday morning at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the LPRT YouTube channel for the action live streamed.
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 9 Carla Muñoz, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 11-1, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10
3 Jessica Parrilla d. 6 Cristina Amaya, 11-3, 3-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 23 Maria Paz Muñoz, 11-3, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 5 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 3 Jessica Parrilla, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria v. 2 Frédérique Lambert - 11 AM
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera d. 4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-13, 15-9
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz, 13-15, 15-3, 11-7
LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera v. 3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
The doubles final will be a repeat of the US Open final - almost. US Open runners up Christina Amaya and Adriana Riveros will face Longoria and Alexandra Herrera, and they lost to Longoria and Gabriela Martinez at the US Open earlier this month.
Longoria and Herrera had a more difficult time than expected of getting to the final, as they were up against Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts in the semi-finals, and Rajsich could hardly move. But Lotts played very well, and covered shots all over the court. She and Rajsich were ahead for most of game one, and looked like they might take it. But Longoria and Herrera came back to win it, and then won the second game, though again it wasn’t an easy one, making the final score, 15-13, 15-9.
Amaya and Riveros came back from a game down to defeat Natalia Mendez and Maria Paz Muñoz, 13-15, 15-3, 11-7, in the other semi.
The singles final is Sunday morning at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the LPRT YouTube channel for the action live streamed.
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 9 Carla Muñoz, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 11-1, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10
3 Jessica Parrilla d. 6 Cristina Amaya, 11-3, 3-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 23 Maria Paz Muñoz, 11-3, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 5 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 3 Jessica Parrilla, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria v. 2 Frédérique Lambert - 11 AM
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera d. 4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-13, 15-9
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz, 13-15, 15-3, 11-7
LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera v. 3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 27, 2017
WRT - 2017 Rocky Mountain Open - Quarterfinals
Sebastian Franco continued his run through the field at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) 2017 Rocky Mountain Open in Taylorsville, Utah with a quarterfinal win over 5th seed Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-7. But veteran Sudsy Monchik’s run ended in the quarters, as he fell to 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-12.
Franco will play either top seed David Horn - a quarterfinal winner over 8th seed Felipe Camacho, 15-7, 15-8 - in one semi on Saturday, and Bredenbeck will face Alejandro Cardona in the other semi, as Cardona beat Erik Garcia in a tie-breaker, 15-1, 7-15, 11-6.
Monchik is still alive in the doubles competition, though. He and Sebastian Franco won their semi-final match against Justus Benson and Erik Garcia, 15-8, 15-5. They’ll play Cardona and Gerardo Franco in the final, as Cardona and Franco beat Felipe Camacho and Robert Collins in the other semi, 15-13, 15-2.
The semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final Saturday at 5 PM. You should be able to watch the action live Friday and Saturday via the WRT website.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) David Horn d. 8) Felipe Camacho, 15-7, 15-8
13) Sebastian Franco d. 5) Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-7
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 11) Sudsy Monchik, 15-5, 15-12
2) Alejandro Cardona d. 10) Erik Garcia, 15-1, 7-15, 11-6
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) David Horn v. 13) Sebastian Franco - Noon
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck - 11 AM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins, 15-13, 15-2
3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik d. 2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia, 15-8, 15-5
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Franco will play either top seed David Horn - a quarterfinal winner over 8th seed Felipe Camacho, 15-7, 15-8 - in one semi on Saturday, and Bredenbeck will face Alejandro Cardona in the other semi, as Cardona beat Erik Garcia in a tie-breaker, 15-1, 7-15, 11-6.
Monchik is still alive in the doubles competition, though. He and Sebastian Franco won their semi-final match against Justus Benson and Erik Garcia, 15-8, 15-5. They’ll play Cardona and Gerardo Franco in the final, as Cardona and Franco beat Felipe Camacho and Robert Collins in the other semi, 15-13, 15-2.
The semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final Saturday at 5 PM. You should be able to watch the action live Friday and Saturday via the WRT website.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) David Horn d. 8) Felipe Camacho, 15-7, 15-8
13) Sebastian Franco d. 5) Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-7
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 11) Sudsy Monchik, 15-5, 15-12
2) Alejandro Cardona d. 10) Erik Garcia, 15-1, 7-15, 11-6
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) David Horn v. 13) Sebastian Franco - Noon
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck - 11 AM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins, 15-13, 15-2
3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik d. 2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia, 15-8, 15-5
Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Round of 16 at 2017 LPRT Boston Open
The top seeds are all through to the quarterfinals at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2017 Boston Open in Boston, Massachusetts, including LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, who was a straight game winner over Eleni Guzman, 11-3, 11-0, 11-1, and LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert, who also won in three games against Jenny Daza, 11-7, 11-0, 11-9. The 3rd, 4th and 5th seeds - Jessica Parrilla, Alexandra Herrera and Rhonda Rajsich, respectively - also won their matches.
Parrilla dropped the first game against Sheryl Lotts, but came back win the next three, taking the match 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-1. Rajsich also came back from a game down against Nancy Enriquez, who was up 2-1 before Rajsich won it in five games, 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-1.
Herrera won in three straight against Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-0, 12-10, 11-2, but the match wasn’t without drama, as Rodriguez was up 9-2 in game two, but Herrera came back to win it 12-10. Rodriguez took timeouts at 9-5 and 9-9, and got the serve back immediately after the 9-9 timeout. She scored a point to get a game point at 10-9, but Rodriguez then changed from the serve she’d been using most of the game - a drive Z serve where she stood left of center and hit the ball to the front left corner so it went to the back right corner so to the left-hander Herrera’s backhand. At 10-9, Rodriguez served a half lob Z to the right rather than the hard Z to the right, and that allowed Herrera time to step and cut it off, getting the serve back.
Rodriguez didn’t serve again, as Herrera ran three straight points, winning the game 12-10.
There were two upsets in the 16s, and they were the dramatic kind, as both 9th seed Carla Muñoz and 23rd seed Maria Paz Muñoz (who are no relation to each other) came back from two games down to reach the quarterfinals on Saturday. Paz Muñoz ousted 7th seed Natalia Mendez, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 13-11. Adding to the intrigue of that match is the fact that Muñoz and Mendez are playing doubles together this weekend. Then in the last match in the 16s, Carla Muñoz came back to beat 8th seed Adriana Riveros, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-3.
The quarterfinals are Saturday morning (10 AM & 11 AM) and semi-finals Saturday at 4 PM and 5 PM. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the LPRT YouTube channel for the action live streamed.
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Eleni Guzman, 11-3, 11-0, 11-1
9 Carla Muñoz d. 8 Adriana Riveros, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-3
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. 12 Nancy Enriquez, 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-1
4 Alexandra Herrera d. 13 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-0, 12-10, 11-2
3 Jessica Parrilla d. 14 Sheryl Lotts, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-1
6 Cristina Amaya d. 11 Adrianne Haynes, 11-6, 11-0, 11-3
23 Maria Paz Muñoz d. 7 Natalia Mendez, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 13-11
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 15 Jenny Daza, 11-7, 11-0, 11-9
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria v. 9 Carla Muñoz - 11 AM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 5 Rhonda Rajsich - 11 AM
3 Jessica Parrilla v. 6 Cristina Amaya - 10 AM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 23 Maria Paz Muñoz - 10 AM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera d. 8 Jenny Daza & Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 4-15, 11-7
4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 5 Carla Muñoz & Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 15-10
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 6 Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman, 15-11, 15-7
7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz d. 2 Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert, 15-6, 13-15, 11-5
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera v. 4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 7 PM
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Parrilla dropped the first game against Sheryl Lotts, but came back win the next three, taking the match 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-1. Rajsich also came back from a game down against Nancy Enriquez, who was up 2-1 before Rajsich won it in five games, 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-1.
Herrera won in three straight against Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-0, 12-10, 11-2, but the match wasn’t without drama, as Rodriguez was up 9-2 in game two, but Herrera came back to win it 12-10. Rodriguez took timeouts at 9-5 and 9-9, and got the serve back immediately after the 9-9 timeout. She scored a point to get a game point at 10-9, but Rodriguez then changed from the serve she’d been using most of the game - a drive Z serve where she stood left of center and hit the ball to the front left corner so it went to the back right corner so to the left-hander Herrera’s backhand. At 10-9, Rodriguez served a half lob Z to the right rather than the hard Z to the right, and that allowed Herrera time to step and cut it off, getting the serve back.
Rodriguez didn’t serve again, as Herrera ran three straight points, winning the game 12-10.
There were two upsets in the 16s, and they were the dramatic kind, as both 9th seed Carla Muñoz and 23rd seed Maria Paz Muñoz (who are no relation to each other) came back from two games down to reach the quarterfinals on Saturday. Paz Muñoz ousted 7th seed Natalia Mendez, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 13-11. Adding to the intrigue of that match is the fact that Muñoz and Mendez are playing doubles together this weekend. Then in the last match in the 16s, Carla Muñoz came back to beat 8th seed Adriana Riveros, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-3.
The quarterfinals are Saturday morning (10 AM & 11 AM) and semi-finals Saturday at 4 PM and 5 PM. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the LPRT YouTube channel for the action live streamed.
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Eleni Guzman, 11-3, 11-0, 11-1
9 Carla Muñoz d. 8 Adriana Riveros, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-3
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. 12 Nancy Enriquez, 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-1
4 Alexandra Herrera d. 13 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-0, 12-10, 11-2
3 Jessica Parrilla d. 14 Sheryl Lotts, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-1
6 Cristina Amaya d. 11 Adrianne Haynes, 11-6, 11-0, 11-3
23 Maria Paz Muñoz d. 7 Natalia Mendez, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 13-11
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 15 Jenny Daza, 11-7, 11-0, 11-9
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria v. 9 Carla Muñoz - 11 AM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 5 Rhonda Rajsich - 11 AM
3 Jessica Parrilla v. 6 Cristina Amaya - 10 AM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 23 Maria Paz Muñoz - 10 AM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera d. 8 Jenny Daza & Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 4-15, 11-7
4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 5 Carla Muñoz & Lucia Gonzalez, 15-13, 15-10
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 6 Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman, 15-11, 15-7
7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz d. 2 Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert, 15-6, 13-15, 11-5
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera v. 4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 7 PM
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
WRT - 2017 Rocky Mountain Open - Round of 16
Sebastian Franco and veteran Sudsy Monchik had upset wins Friday in the Round of 16 at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) 2017 Rocky Mountain Open in Taylorsville, Utah. Franco knocked off 4th seed Gerardo Franco (no relation), 15-5, 15-3, and Monchik beat 6th seed Jose Diaz in a tie-breaker, 11-15, 15-12, 11-3. The wins set up quarterfinal matches between Franco and 5th seed Jaime Martell and between Monchik and 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck.
The quarterfinals will be Friday from 4 PM on. The semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final Saturday at 5 PM. You should be able to watch the action live Friday and Saturday via the WRT website.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Round of 16 - Friday
1) David Horn d. 16) Garrett Tyler, 15-4, 15-3
8) Felipe Camacho d. 9) Nicolai Miramontes, 15-7, 15-2
5) Jaime Martell d. 12) Justus Benson, 15-1, 15-7
13) Sebastian Franco d. 4) Gerardo Franco, 15-5, 15-3
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 14) Erick Fernandez, 15-6, 15-2
11) Sudsy Monchik d. 6) Jose Diaz, 11-15, 15-12, 11-3
10) Erik Garcia d. 26) Robert Collins, 15-11, 15-13
2) Alejandro Cardona d. 15) Andrew Gale, 15-8, 15-9
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) David Horn v. 8) Felipe Camacho - 7 PM
5) Jaime Martell v. 13) Sebastian Franco - 5 PM
3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 11) Sudsy Monchik - 4 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 10) Erik Garcia - 6 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins - 8 PM
2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia v. 3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik - 8 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
The quarterfinals will be Friday from 4 PM on. The semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final Saturday at 5 PM. You should be able to watch the action live Friday and Saturday via the WRT website.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Round of 16 - Friday
1) David Horn d. 16) Garrett Tyler, 15-4, 15-3
8) Felipe Camacho d. 9) Nicolai Miramontes, 15-7, 15-2
5) Jaime Martell d. 12) Justus Benson, 15-1, 15-7
13) Sebastian Franco d. 4) Gerardo Franco, 15-5, 15-3
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 14) Erick Fernandez, 15-6, 15-2
11) Sudsy Monchik d. 6) Jose Diaz, 11-15, 15-12, 11-3
10) Erik Garcia d. 26) Robert Collins, 15-11, 15-13
2) Alejandro Cardona d. 15) Andrew Gale, 15-8, 15-9
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) David Horn v. 8) Felipe Camacho - 7 PM
5) Jaime Martell v. 13) Sebastian Franco - 5 PM
3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 11) Sudsy Monchik - 4 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 10) Erik Garcia - 6 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins - 8 PM
2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia v. 3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik - 8 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
2017 LPRT Boston Open - Round of 32
Maria Paz Muñoz, seeded 23rd, upset 10th seed Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 7-11, 11-3, in the Round of 32 at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2017 Boston Open in Boston, Massachusetts Friday. Muñoz is a young player from Ecuador, who has plenty of experience at international events, so while it’s an upset by the seeding, her win over the veteran Acosta isn’t a big surprise. Muñoz will play 7th seed Natalia Mendez in the Round of 16 later today.
Also notable in the Round of 32, young American Sheryl Lotts defeated American veteran Cheryl Gudinas in three straight games, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3. In the only other match to go more than three games, Adrienne Haynes needed four games to fend off Michèle Morissette, 11-3, 11-9, 4-11, 11-9. Haynes will play 6th seed Cristina Amaya in the 16s, while Lotts takes on 3rd seed Jessica Parrilla.
The Round of 16 will be Friday afternoon with the quarterfinals Saturday morning (10 AM & 11 AM) and semi-finals Saturday at 4 PM and 5 PM. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the LPRT YouTube channel for the action live streamed.
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Eleni Guzman d. 17 Cecilia Pratt, 11-4, 11-3, 11-9
9 Carla Muñoz - BYE
8 Adriana Riveros - BYE
5 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12 Nancy Enriquez d. 21 Lucia Gonzalez, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5
13 Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 20 Cassandra Lee, 11-6, 11-1, 12-10
4 Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3 Jessica Parrilla - BYE
14 Sheryl Lotts d. 19 Cheryl Gudinas, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
11 Adrianne Haynes d. 22 Michèle Morissette, 11-3, 11-9, 4-11, 11-9
6 Cristina Amaya - BYE
7 Natalia Mendez - BYE
23 Maria Paz Muñoz d. 10 Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 7-11, 11-3
15 Jenny Daza d. 18 Maritza Franco, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5
2 Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Eleni Guzman - 6 PM
8 Adriana Riveros v. 9 Carla Muñoz - 6 PM
5 Rhonda Rajsich v. 12 Nancy Enriquez - 3 PM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 13 Maria Renee Rodriguez - 3 PM
3 Jessica Parrilla v. 14 Sheryl Lotts - 4 PM
6 Cristina Amaya v. 11 Adrianne Haynes - 4 PM
7 Natalia Mendez v. 23 Maria Paz Muñoz - 5 PM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 15 Jenny Daza - 5 PM
LPRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera - BYE
8 Jenny Daza & Nancy Enriquez d. 9 Cecilia Pratt & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-9, 15-8
5 Carla Muñoz & Lucia Gonzalez - BYE
4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
6 Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman - BYE
7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz d. 10 Maritza Franco & Adrianne Haynes, 15-8, 15-9
2 Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera v. 8 Jenny Daza & Nancy Enriquez - 8 PM
4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 5 Carla Muñoz & Lucia Gonzalez - 8 PM
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6 Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman - 7 PM
2 Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert v. 7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Also notable in the Round of 32, young American Sheryl Lotts defeated American veteran Cheryl Gudinas in three straight games, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3. In the only other match to go more than three games, Adrienne Haynes needed four games to fend off Michèle Morissette, 11-3, 11-9, 4-11, 11-9. Haynes will play 6th seed Cristina Amaya in the 16s, while Lotts takes on 3rd seed Jessica Parrilla.
The Round of 16 will be Friday afternoon with the quarterfinals Saturday morning (10 AM & 11 AM) and semi-finals Saturday at 4 PM and 5 PM. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the LPRT YouTube channel for the action live streamed.
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Eleni Guzman d. 17 Cecilia Pratt, 11-4, 11-3, 11-9
9 Carla Muñoz - BYE
8 Adriana Riveros - BYE
5 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12 Nancy Enriquez d. 21 Lucia Gonzalez, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5
13 Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 20 Cassandra Lee, 11-6, 11-1, 12-10
4 Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3 Jessica Parrilla - BYE
14 Sheryl Lotts d. 19 Cheryl Gudinas, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
11 Adrianne Haynes d. 22 Michèle Morissette, 11-3, 11-9, 4-11, 11-9
6 Cristina Amaya - BYE
7 Natalia Mendez - BYE
23 Maria Paz Muñoz d. 10 Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 7-11, 11-3
15 Jenny Daza d. 18 Maritza Franco, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5
2 Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Eleni Guzman - 6 PM
8 Adriana Riveros v. 9 Carla Muñoz - 6 PM
5 Rhonda Rajsich v. 12 Nancy Enriquez - 3 PM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 13 Maria Renee Rodriguez - 3 PM
3 Jessica Parrilla v. 14 Sheryl Lotts - 4 PM
6 Cristina Amaya v. 11 Adrianne Haynes - 4 PM
7 Natalia Mendez v. 23 Maria Paz Muñoz - 5 PM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 15 Jenny Daza - 5 PM
LPRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera - BYE
8 Jenny Daza & Nancy Enriquez d. 9 Cecilia Pratt & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-9, 15-8
5 Carla Muñoz & Lucia Gonzalez - BYE
4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
6 Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman - BYE
7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz d. 10 Maritza Franco & Adrianne Haynes, 15-8, 15-9
2 Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera v. 8 Jenny Daza & Nancy Enriquez - 8 PM
4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 5 Carla Muñoz & Lucia Gonzalez - 8 PM
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6 Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman - 7 PM
2 Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert v. 7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
WRT - 2017 Rocky Mountain Open - Round of 32
Only one upset in the Round of 32 at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) 2017 Rocky Mountain Open in Taylorsville, Utah, as 26th seed Robert Collins narrowly defeated 7th seed Mauricio Zelada, 15-13, 15-11, 11-10 [sic]. Collins will play Erik Garcia in the Round of 16, as Garcia defeated Devan Van Valkenburg, 15-5, 15-1.
Also of note, Sudsy Monchik won his first WRT match, beating Steve Black, 15-4, 15-2, to set up a showdown with 6th seed Jose Diaz, who was a straight game winner over Andrew Clarke, 15-8, 15-2.
The Round of 16 begins Friday morning. The quarterfinals will be Friday from 4 PM. The semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final Saturday at 5 PM. You should be able to watch the action live Friday and Saturday via the WRT website.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Round of 32
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Garrett Tyler d. 17) Jesse Van Valkenburg, 15-12, 15-10
9) Nicolai Miramontes d. 24) Shane McDougal, 15-6, 15-3
8) Felipe Camacho d. 25) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-6
5) Jaime Martell d. 28) Jacob Kingsford, 15-1, 15-5
12) Justus Benson d. 21) Gary Chun, 4-15, 15-13, 11-3
13) Sebastian Franco d. 29) Steve Bohman, 15-8, 15-1
4) Gerardo Franco d. 29) Gavin Usher, 15-4, 15-4
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 30) Christopher Ortiz, 15-7, 15-0
14) Erick Fernandez d. 19) Kevin Day, 15-9, 15-9
11) Sudsy Monchik d. 22) Steve Black, 15-4, 15-2
6) Jose Diaz d. 27) Andrew Clarke, 15-8, 15-2
26) Robert Collins d. 7) Mauricio Zelada, 15-13, 15-11, 11-10 [sic]
10) Erik Garcia d. 23) Devan Van Valkenburg, 15-5, 15-1
15) Andrew Gale d. 18) Alvaro Mejia, 15-3, 15-4
2) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
Round of 16 - Friday
1) David Horn v. 16) Garrett Tyler - 2 PM
8) Felipe Camacho v. 9) Nicolai Miramontes - 2 PM
5) Jaime Martell v. 12) Justus Benson - Noon
4) Gerardo Franco v. 13) Sebastian Franco - Noon
3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 14) Erick Fernandez - 11 AM
6) Jose Diaz v. 11) Sudsy Monchik - 11 AM
10) Erik Garcia v. 26) Robert Collins - 1 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 15) Andrew Gale - 1 PM
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins d. 5) Andrew Clarke & Nicolai Miramontes, 15-6, 15-12
3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik d. 6) Kevin Day & Garrett Tyler, 15-13, 15-7
2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia d. 7) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Christopher Ortiz, 15-8, 15-13
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins - 8 PM
2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia v. 3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik - 8 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Also of note, Sudsy Monchik won his first WRT match, beating Steve Black, 15-4, 15-2, to set up a showdown with 6th seed Jose Diaz, who was a straight game winner over Andrew Clarke, 15-8, 15-2.
The Round of 16 begins Friday morning. The quarterfinals will be Friday from 4 PM. The semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final Saturday at 5 PM. You should be able to watch the action live Friday and Saturday via the WRT website.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Round of 32
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Garrett Tyler d. 17) Jesse Van Valkenburg, 15-12, 15-10
9) Nicolai Miramontes d. 24) Shane McDougal, 15-6, 15-3
8) Felipe Camacho d. 25) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-6
5) Jaime Martell d. 28) Jacob Kingsford, 15-1, 15-5
12) Justus Benson d. 21) Gary Chun, 4-15, 15-13, 11-3
13) Sebastian Franco d. 29) Steve Bohman, 15-8, 15-1
4) Gerardo Franco d. 29) Gavin Usher, 15-4, 15-4
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 30) Christopher Ortiz, 15-7, 15-0
14) Erick Fernandez d. 19) Kevin Day, 15-9, 15-9
11) Sudsy Monchik d. 22) Steve Black, 15-4, 15-2
6) Jose Diaz d. 27) Andrew Clarke, 15-8, 15-2
26) Robert Collins d. 7) Mauricio Zelada, 15-13, 15-11, 11-10 [sic]
10) Erik Garcia d. 23) Devan Van Valkenburg, 15-5, 15-1
15) Andrew Gale d. 18) Alvaro Mejia, 15-3, 15-4
2) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
Round of 16 - Friday
1) David Horn v. 16) Garrett Tyler - 2 PM
8) Felipe Camacho v. 9) Nicolai Miramontes - 2 PM
5) Jaime Martell v. 12) Justus Benson - Noon
4) Gerardo Franco v. 13) Sebastian Franco - Noon
3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 14) Erick Fernandez - 11 AM
6) Jose Diaz v. 11) Sudsy Monchik - 11 AM
10) Erik Garcia v. 26) Robert Collins - 1 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona v. 15) Andrew Gale - 1 PM
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins d. 5) Andrew Clarke & Nicolai Miramontes, 15-6, 15-12
3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik d. 6) Kevin Day & Garrett Tyler, 15-13, 15-7
2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia d. 7) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Christopher Ortiz, 15-8, 15-13
Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins - 8 PM
2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia v. 3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik - 8 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open Preview
The World Racquetball Tour (WRT) is in Utah for the 2017 Rocky Mountain Open in Taylorsville, Utah. David Horn is the top seed with Alejandro Cardona 2nd seed, Jake Bredenbeck 3rd and Gerardo Franco 4th. Also, the event will have a Saturday night finish.
But perhaps the biggest news ahead of this event is that Sudsy Monchik is in the draw. He’s seeded 11th, which we’re surprised at as it’s Monchik’s first WRT event, so he doesn’t have any ranking points.
Monchik, a former #1 professional men’s player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and four time US Open winner, made the successful return to competitive racquetball earlier this month, when he made it to the US Open quarterfinals in his first pro appearance since 2012. In doing so, Monchik defeated two players who are in the draw this weekend: Felipe Camacho and Gerardo Franco.
Monchik likely has his eyes on winning this weekend, but his path to do it won’t be easy, as he’ll need to face the top three seeds to get the title (if there no upsets in the draw). Assuming he defeats his first round opponent, Steve Black, Monchik will likely face 6th seed Jose Diaz, then 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck, 2nd seed Alejandro Cardona, and 1st seed David Horn. Not a clear path.
Monchik is also in the doubles draw, partnering with Sebastian Franco. They are the 3rd seeds with Cardona and Gerardo Franco the 1st seeds.
The Round of 32 is Thursday afternoon and evening with the Round of 16 on Friday morning and afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Friday from 4 PM. The semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final Saturday at 5 PM. You should be able to watch the action live Friday and Saturday via the WRT website.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Round of 32
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Garrett Tyler v. 17) Jesse Van Valkenburg
9) Nicolai Miramontes v. 24) Shane McDougal
8) Felipe Camacho v. 25) Sam Bredenbeck
5) Jaime Martell v. 28) Jacob Kingsford
12) Justus Benson v. 21) Gary Chun
13) Sebastian Franco v. 29) Steve Bohman
4) Gerardo Franco v. 29) Gavin Usher
3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 30) Christopher Ortiz
14) Erick Fernandez v. 19) Kevin Day
11) Sudsy Monchik v. 22) Steve Black
6) Jose Diaz v. 27) Andrew Clarke
7) Mauricio Zelada v. 26) Robert Collins
10) Erik Garcia v. 23) Devan Van Valkenburg
15) Andrew Gale v. 18) Alvaro Mejia
2) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins v. 5) Andrew Clarke & Nicolai Miramontes
3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik v. 6) Kevin Day & Garrett Tyler
2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia v. 7) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Christopher Ortiz
Follow the bouncing ball….
But perhaps the biggest news ahead of this event is that Sudsy Monchik is in the draw. He’s seeded 11th, which we’re surprised at as it’s Monchik’s first WRT event, so he doesn’t have any ranking points.
Monchik, a former #1 professional men’s player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and four time US Open winner, made the successful return to competitive racquetball earlier this month, when he made it to the US Open quarterfinals in his first pro appearance since 2012. In doing so, Monchik defeated two players who are in the draw this weekend: Felipe Camacho and Gerardo Franco.
Monchik likely has his eyes on winning this weekend, but his path to do it won’t be easy, as he’ll need to face the top three seeds to get the title (if there no upsets in the draw). Assuming he defeats his first round opponent, Steve Black, Monchik will likely face 6th seed Jose Diaz, then 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck, 2nd seed Alejandro Cardona, and 1st seed David Horn. Not a clear path.
Monchik is also in the doubles draw, partnering with Sebastian Franco. They are the 3rd seeds with Cardona and Gerardo Franco the 1st seeds.
The Round of 32 is Thursday afternoon and evening with the Round of 16 on Friday morning and afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Friday from 4 PM. The semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final Saturday at 5 PM. You should be able to watch the action live Friday and Saturday via the WRT website.
2017 WRT Rocky Mountain Open
Taylorsville, Utah
Round of 32
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Garrett Tyler v. 17) Jesse Van Valkenburg
9) Nicolai Miramontes v. 24) Shane McDougal
8) Felipe Camacho v. 25) Sam Bredenbeck
5) Jaime Martell v. 28) Jacob Kingsford
12) Justus Benson v. 21) Gary Chun
13) Sebastian Franco v. 29) Steve Bohman
4) Gerardo Franco v. 29) Gavin Usher
3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 30) Christopher Ortiz
14) Erick Fernandez v. 19) Kevin Day
11) Sudsy Monchik v. 22) Steve Black
6) Jose Diaz v. 27) Andrew Clarke
7) Mauricio Zelada v. 26) Robert Collins
10) Erik Garcia v. 23) Devan Van Valkenburg
15) Andrew Gale v. 18) Alvaro Mejia
2) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
4) Felipe Camacho & Robert Collins v. 5) Andrew Clarke & Nicolai Miramontes
3) Sebastian Franco & Sudsy Monchik v. 6) Kevin Day & Garrett Tyler
2) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia v. 7) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Christopher Ortiz
Follow the bouncing ball….
2017 LPRT Boston Open - Preview
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is back in action this weekend with the 2017 Boston Open in Boston, Massachusetts. LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, fresh off her 8th US Open victory earlier this month, will be there, as will LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert, who a US Open finalist for the first time in her career this month.
Both Longoria and Lambert are playing doubles as well. Longoria has teamed up with left hander Alexandra Herrera, so she’ll likely make a rare appearance playing the right side. They are the #1 seeds. Lambert and Jessica Parrilla are #2 seeds.
Two interesting matches in the Round of 32 could be young American Sheryl Lotts versus American veteran Cheryl Gudinas, and veteran left hander Susana Acosta against Maria Paz Muñoz. The winner of Lotts and Gudinas will face 3rd seed Jessica Parrilla with the Acosta-Muñoz winner to play 7th seed Natalia Mendez.
The tournament starts Friday morning with the Round of 32. The Round of 16 will be Friday afternoon with the quarterfinals Saturday morning (10 AM & 11 AM) and semi-finals Saturday at 4 PM and 5 PM. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the LPRT YouTube channel for the action livestream.
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Eleni Guzman v. 17 Cecilia Pratt
9 Carla Muñoz - BYE
8 Adriana Riveros - BYE
5 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12 Nancy Enriquez v. 21 Lucia Gonzalez
13 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 20 Cassandra Lee
4 Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3 Jessica Parrilla - BYE
14 Sheryl Lotts v. 19 Cheryl Gudinas
11 Adrianne Haynes v. 22 Michèle Morissette
6 Cristina Amaya - BYE
7 Natalia Mendez - BYE
10 Susana Acosta v. 23 Maria Paz Muñoz
15 Jenny Daza v. 18 Maritza Franco
2 Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Doubles - Round of 16
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera - BYE
8 Jenny Daza & Nancy Enriquez v. 9 Cecilia Pratt & Maria Renee Rodriguez
5 Carla Muñoz & Lucia Gonzalez - BYE
4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
6 Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman - BYE
7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz v. 10 Maritza Franco & Adrianne Haynes
2 Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Both Longoria and Lambert are playing doubles as well. Longoria has teamed up with left hander Alexandra Herrera, so she’ll likely make a rare appearance playing the right side. They are the #1 seeds. Lambert and Jessica Parrilla are #2 seeds.
Two interesting matches in the Round of 32 could be young American Sheryl Lotts versus American veteran Cheryl Gudinas, and veteran left hander Susana Acosta against Maria Paz Muñoz. The winner of Lotts and Gudinas will face 3rd seed Jessica Parrilla with the Acosta-Muñoz winner to play 7th seed Natalia Mendez.
The tournament starts Friday morning with the Round of 32. The Round of 16 will be Friday afternoon with the quarterfinals Saturday morning (10 AM & 11 AM) and semi-finals Saturday at 4 PM and 5 PM. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the LPRT YouTube channel for the action livestream.
2017 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 27-29, 2017
LPRT Singles - Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Eleni Guzman v. 17 Cecilia Pratt
9 Carla Muñoz - BYE
8 Adriana Riveros - BYE
5 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12 Nancy Enriquez v. 21 Lucia Gonzalez
13 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 20 Cassandra Lee
4 Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3 Jessica Parrilla - BYE
14 Sheryl Lotts v. 19 Cheryl Gudinas
11 Adrianne Haynes v. 22 Michèle Morissette
6 Cristina Amaya - BYE
7 Natalia Mendez - BYE
10 Susana Acosta v. 23 Maria Paz Muñoz
15 Jenny Daza v. 18 Maritza Franco
2 Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Doubles - Round of 16
1 Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera - BYE
8 Jenny Daza & Nancy Enriquez v. 9 Cecilia Pratt & Maria Renee Rodriguez
5 Carla Muñoz & Lucia Gonzalez - BYE
4 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
6 Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman - BYE
7 Natalia Mendez & Maria Paz Muñoz v. 10 Maritza Franco & Adrianne Haynes
2 Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, October 16, 2017
Longoria win Women's Open at 2017 Casino Racquetball Open
Paola Longoria won the Women’s Open event at the 2017 Casino Racquetball Open in Mexicali, Mexico on the weekend, going undefeated in a five player round robin. She won her matches in three straight games, except against Carla Muñoz, who took a game off the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour’s (LPRT’s) #1 player. Longoria won that match 15-1, 11-15, 11-3.
But Muñoz finished 3rd in the competition, as she lost to Jessica Parrilla, 15-7, 15-4, so Parrilla came in 2nd. Longoria defeated Parrilla, 15-9, 15-4.
Maritza Franco was 4th, and Delia Aguilar 5th, as Franco defeated Aguilar, 15-9, 15-6.
The LPRT will next be in action at the Boston Open, October 27-29, in Boston, Massachusetts.
2017 Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Women’s Open
1) Paola Longoria - 4-0
2) Jesssica Parrilla - 3-1
3) Carla Muñoz - 2-2
4) Maritza Franco - 1-3
5) Delia Aguilar - 0-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
But Muñoz finished 3rd in the competition, as she lost to Jessica Parrilla, 15-7, 15-4, so Parrilla came in 2nd. Longoria defeated Parrilla, 15-9, 15-4.
Maritza Franco was 4th, and Delia Aguilar 5th, as Franco defeated Aguilar, 15-9, 15-6.
The LPRT will next be in action at the Boston Open, October 27-29, in Boston, Massachusetts.
2017 Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Women’s Open
1) Paola Longoria - 4-0
2) Jesssica Parrilla - 3-1
3) Carla Muñoz - 2-2
4) Maritza Franco - 1-3
5) Delia Aguilar - 0-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Parrilla defeats Beltran to win 2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open
Andree Parrilla defeated Alvaro Beltran, 15-9, 15-9, to win the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Casino Racquetball Open in Mexicali, Mexico Saturday, which was his 4th WRT title. Parrilla was full measure for the win, as he defeated Alejandro Landa - a 9 time WRT event winner - in the semi-finals, and then Beltran, the 4th ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and a semi-finalist as last week’s US Open, as well as Gerardo Franco in the quarterfinals. Thus, Parrilla’s victory was well earned.
He was generally in control of the match. Parrilla had a large lead in game one, getting to 14 when Beltran was still at 5. But Beltran fought off a few game points before Parrilla was able to finish it off.
Parrilla again had a lead early in game two, 3-1. But Beltran tied it at 3-3, and he went ahead at 6-5. Then Parrilla regained the momentum, scoring six unanswered points, to go up 11-6. Beltran did call a timeout at 9-6, but to no avail.
Yet, Beltran did draw within two again at 11-9. But Parrilla continued to work for every point. For example, he dove to retrieve a ball that led to a Beltran skip, which put Parrilla on match point at 14-9.
He won it on the next rally by drive serving to the left side that Beltran returned with a backhand down the line, but Parrilla covered that shot, and hit a controlled re-kill to get the 15th and final point.
Next WRT event will include Monchik
The next WRT event will be in Salt Lake City when the Rocky Mountain Open takes place, October 25-28. Sudsy Monchik tweeted that he will be playing Salt Lake City, so it will be interesting to see how he fares. Monchik made the quarterfinals of the US Open - racquetball’s Grand Slam - only getting stopped by Beltran, so he could be a threat to win it all in Salt Lake.
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Singles - Final - Saturday
3) Andree Parrilla d. 21) Alvaro Beltran, 15-9, 15-9
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
21) Alvaro Beltran d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-13, 8-15, 11-10
3) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Alejandro Landa, 15-8, 15-11
Follow the bouncing ball….
He was generally in control of the match. Parrilla had a large lead in game one, getting to 14 when Beltran was still at 5. But Beltran fought off a few game points before Parrilla was able to finish it off.
Parrilla again had a lead early in game two, 3-1. But Beltran tied it at 3-3, and he went ahead at 6-5. Then Parrilla regained the momentum, scoring six unanswered points, to go up 11-6. Beltran did call a timeout at 9-6, but to no avail.
Yet, Beltran did draw within two again at 11-9. But Parrilla continued to work for every point. For example, he dove to retrieve a ball that led to a Beltran skip, which put Parrilla on match point at 14-9.
He won it on the next rally by drive serving to the left side that Beltran returned with a backhand down the line, but Parrilla covered that shot, and hit a controlled re-kill to get the 15th and final point.
Next WRT event will include Monchik
The next WRT event will be in Salt Lake City when the Rocky Mountain Open takes place, October 25-28. Sudsy Monchik tweeted that he will be playing Salt Lake City, so it will be interesting to see how he fares. Monchik made the quarterfinals of the US Open - racquetball’s Grand Slam - only getting stopped by Beltran, so he could be a threat to win it all in Salt Lake.
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Singles - Final - Saturday
3) Andree Parrilla d. 21) Alvaro Beltran, 15-9, 15-9
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
21) Alvaro Beltran d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-13, 8-15, 11-10
3) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Alejandro Landa, 15-8, 15-11
Follow the bouncing ball….
Quarterfinal results from 2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open
They are down to the semi-finals at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Casino Racquetball Open in Mexicali, Mexico, and there have been a couple of upsets along the way, but no real surprises, as the players causing the upsets are well known: Alvaro Beltran and Alejandro Landa. Beltran’s the 4th ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and Landa is a multiple WRT event winner, but neither have played many WRT events recently, so their seeding does not accurately reflect their skill level.
Beltran, seeded 21st, defeated 5th seed Jaime Martell in the Round of 16, 15-9, 8-15, 11-9, and then took out 4th seed Jake Bredenbeck in the quarterfinals, 15-4, 12-15, 11-5. He’ll face top seed Rodrigo Montoya in the semi-finals, as Montoya defeated 8th seed Christian Longoria, 15-14, 15-5, in the quarters.
Landa only needed two games in each of the 16s and quarters to reach the semis. He took out Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-9, in the Round of 16, and 2nd seed David Horn, 15-12, 15-12, in the quarterfinals. Landa will play 3rd seed Andree Parrilla in the other semi-final. Parrilla was a straight game winner over Gerardo Franco, 15-7, 15-13, in the quarters.
You can watch the semi-finals live from Mexicali via WRT website beginning at 11 AM Saturday with the final at 5 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Singles - Round of 16
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Juan Loreto, 15-2, 15-5
8) Christian Longoria d. 9) Francisco Troncoso, 15-5, 15-9
21) Alvaro Beltran d. 5) Jaime Martell, 15-9, 8-15, 11-9
4) Jake Bredenbeck d. 13) Nicolai Miramontes, 15-5, 15-4
3) Andree Parrilla d. 14) Ernesto Ochoa, 15-11, 15-5
6) Gerardo Franco d. 11) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-12, 15-14
7) Alejandro Landa d. 10) Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-9
2) David Horn d. 15) Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-3
Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Christian Longoria, 15-14, 15-5
21) Alvaro Beltran d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-4, 12-15, 11-5
3) Andree Parrilla d. 6) Gerardo Franco, 15-7, 15-13
7) Alejandro Landa d. 2) David Horn, 15-12, 15-12
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 21) Alvaro Beltran - 12:30 PM
3) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Alejandro Landa - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Beltran, seeded 21st, defeated 5th seed Jaime Martell in the Round of 16, 15-9, 8-15, 11-9, and then took out 4th seed Jake Bredenbeck in the quarterfinals, 15-4, 12-15, 11-5. He’ll face top seed Rodrigo Montoya in the semi-finals, as Montoya defeated 8th seed Christian Longoria, 15-14, 15-5, in the quarters.
Landa only needed two games in each of the 16s and quarters to reach the semis. He took out Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-9, in the Round of 16, and 2nd seed David Horn, 15-12, 15-12, in the quarterfinals. Landa will play 3rd seed Andree Parrilla in the other semi-final. Parrilla was a straight game winner over Gerardo Franco, 15-7, 15-13, in the quarters.
You can watch the semi-finals live from Mexicali via WRT website beginning at 11 AM Saturday with the final at 5 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Singles - Round of 16
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Juan Loreto, 15-2, 15-5
8) Christian Longoria d. 9) Francisco Troncoso, 15-5, 15-9
21) Alvaro Beltran d. 5) Jaime Martell, 15-9, 8-15, 11-9
4) Jake Bredenbeck d. 13) Nicolai Miramontes, 15-5, 15-4
3) Andree Parrilla d. 14) Ernesto Ochoa, 15-11, 15-5
6) Gerardo Franco d. 11) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-12, 15-14
7) Alejandro Landa d. 10) Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-9
2) David Horn d. 15) Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-3
Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Christian Longoria, 15-14, 15-5
21) Alvaro Beltran d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-4, 12-15, 11-5
3) Andree Parrilla d. 6) Gerardo Franco, 15-7, 15-13
7) Alejandro Landa d. 2) David Horn, 15-12, 15-12
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 21) Alvaro Beltran - 12:30 PM
3) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Alejandro Landa - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 13, 2017
Round of 16 - 2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open
No upsets in the first round of the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Casino Racquetball Open in Mexicali, Mexico. In fact, only one match even went to a tie-breaker. But surprisingly it was Alejandro Landa who needed three games to get past 26th seed German Gracia Dominguez, 15-11, 13-15, 11-0. Surprising, because Landa has won several WRT events, and was a semi-finalist at last week’s US Open, so not who we would have picked to be needing a breaker to win his first round match.
Watch the action live from Mexicali via WRT website starting with the quarterfinals Friday at 5 PM. The semi-finals will begin at 11 AM Saturday with the final at 5 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Singles - Round of 32
1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Juan Loreto d. 17) Daniel Maldonado, 15-10, 15-10
9) Francisco Troncoso d. 24) Manuel Moncada, 15-7, 15-7
8) Christian Longoria d. 25) German Gracia, 15-8, 15-8
5) Jaime Martell - BYE
21) Alvaro Beltran d. 12) Victor Camacho, forfeit
13) Nicolai Miramontes d. 20) Javier Moreno, forfeit
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
3) Andree Parrilla - BYE
14) Ernesto Ochoa d. 14) Felipe Muñoz, 15-12, 15-11
11) Sebastian Fernandez d. 22) Enrique Ainslie, 15-1, 15-8
6) Gerardo Franco - BYE
7) Alejandro Landa d. 26) German Gracia Dominguez, 15-11, 13-15, 11-0
10) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. d. 23) Rafael Morales, 15-6, 15-12
15) Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 18) Erick Fernandez, 15-7, 15-6
2) David Horn - BYE
Singles - Round of 16
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 16) Juan Loreto
8) Christian Longoria v. 9) Francisco Troncoso
5) Jaime Martell v. 21) Alvaro Beltran
4) Jake Bredenbeck v. 13) Nicolai Miramontes
3) Andree Parrilla v. 14) Ernesto Ochoa
6) Gerardo Franco v. 11) Sebastian Fernandez
7) Alejandro Landa v. 10) Miguel Rodriguez Jr.
2) David Horn v. 15) Rodrigo Rodriguez
Follow the bouncing ball….
Watch the action live from Mexicali via WRT website starting with the quarterfinals Friday at 5 PM. The semi-finals will begin at 11 AM Saturday with the final at 5 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Singles - Round of 32
1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Juan Loreto d. 17) Daniel Maldonado, 15-10, 15-10
9) Francisco Troncoso d. 24) Manuel Moncada, 15-7, 15-7
8) Christian Longoria d. 25) German Gracia, 15-8, 15-8
5) Jaime Martell - BYE
21) Alvaro Beltran d. 12) Victor Camacho, forfeit
13) Nicolai Miramontes d. 20) Javier Moreno, forfeit
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
3) Andree Parrilla - BYE
14) Ernesto Ochoa d. 14) Felipe Muñoz, 15-12, 15-11
11) Sebastian Fernandez d. 22) Enrique Ainslie, 15-1, 15-8
6) Gerardo Franco - BYE
7) Alejandro Landa d. 26) German Gracia Dominguez, 15-11, 13-15, 11-0
10) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. d. 23) Rafael Morales, 15-6, 15-12
15) Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 18) Erick Fernandez, 15-7, 15-6
2) David Horn - BYE
Singles - Round of 16
1) Rodrigo Montoya v. 16) Juan Loreto
8) Christian Longoria v. 9) Francisco Troncoso
5) Jaime Martell v. 21) Alvaro Beltran
4) Jake Bredenbeck v. 13) Nicolai Miramontes
3) Andree Parrilla v. 14) Ernesto Ochoa
6) Gerardo Franco v. 11) Sebastian Fernandez
7) Alejandro Landa v. 10) Miguel Rodriguez Jr.
2) David Horn v. 15) Rodrigo Rodriguez
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, October 12, 2017
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open - Preview
The World Racquetball Tour (WRT) travels to Mexicali, Mexico for the Casino Racquetball Open beginning Thursday. Nine of the top 10 WRT players will be in Mexicali, including #1 Rodrigo Montoya and #2 David Horn. Also, veterans Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno are in the draw, and will likely be playing doubles together (the doubles draw has not be finalized at this time), so they will be tough for whoever faces them.
Horn will be trying to win back to back WRT events for the 3rd time, as he won the WRT Grace Warrior event last month in Atlanta.
Watch the action live from Mexicali via WRT website starting with the quarterfinals Friday at 5 PM. The semi-finals will begin at 11 AM Saturday with the final at 5 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Singles - Round of 32
1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Juan Loreto v. 17) Daniel Maldonado
9) Francisco Troncoso v. 24) Manuel Moncada
8) Christian Longoria v. 25) German Gracia
5) Jaime Martell - BYE
12) Victor Camacho v. 21) Alvaro Beltran
13) Nicolai Miramontes v. 20) Javier Moreno
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
3) Andree Parrilla - BYE
14) Ernesto Ochoa v. 14) Felipe Muñoz
11) Sebastian Fernandez v. 22) Enrique Ainslie
6) Gerardo Franco - BYE
7) Alejandro Landa v. 26) German Gracia Dominguez
10) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. v. 23) Rafael Morales
15) Rodrigo Rodriguez v. 18) Erick Fernandez
2) David Horn - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Horn will be trying to win back to back WRT events for the 3rd time, as he won the WRT Grace Warrior event last month in Atlanta.
Watch the action live from Mexicali via WRT website starting with the quarterfinals Friday at 5 PM. The semi-finals will begin at 11 AM Saturday with the final at 5 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
2017 WRT Casino Racquetball Open, Mexicali, Mexico
October 11-15, 2017
Singles - Round of 32
1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Juan Loreto v. 17) Daniel Maldonado
9) Francisco Troncoso v. 24) Manuel Moncada
8) Christian Longoria v. 25) German Gracia
5) Jaime Martell - BYE
12) Victor Camacho v. 21) Alvaro Beltran
13) Nicolai Miramontes v. 20) Javier Moreno
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
3) Andree Parrilla - BYE
14) Ernesto Ochoa v. 14) Felipe Muñoz
11) Sebastian Fernandez v. 22) Enrique Ainslie
6) Gerardo Franco - BYE
7) Alejandro Landa v. 26) German Gracia Dominguez
10) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. v. 23) Rafael Morales
15) Rodrigo Rodriguez v. 18) Erick Fernandez
2) David Horn - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Reid & Daza win Open divisons at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Dylan Reid and Jenny Daza won the Men’s and Women’s Open divisions, respectively, at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis on Sunday. Reid, seeded 2nd, defeated #1 seed Mario Mercado, 4-15, 15-11, 11-8, in the Men’s final, while Daza an all-Bolivia Women’s final against Angelica Barrios, 15-2, 15-14.
Reid’s win was a margin of revenge, as he lost in the Men’s Open final to Mercado at last year’s US Open. Reid is the second US player to win Men’s Open in three years. Adam Manilla was the winner in 2015.
Daza’a win continues the streak of non-US players winning Women’s Open. Krystal Csuk is the only US player to win in the last eleven US Opens.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
Men’s Open
Final
2) Dylan Reid d. 1) Mario Mercado, 4-15, 15-11, 11-8
Semi-finals
1) Mario Mercado d. 5) Andres Acuña, 11-15, 15-8, 11-0
2) Dylan Reid d. 6) Felipe Camacho, 15-12, 15-1
Quarterfinals
1) Mario Mercado d. 8) Teobaldo Fumero, 15-3, 15-13
5) Andres Acuña d. 45) Eduardo Portillo, 15-14, 15-11
6) Felipe Camacho d. 14) Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-3
2) Dylan Reid d. 7) Alejandro Herrera, 12-15, 15-5, 11-6
Women’s Open
Final
10) Jenny Daza d. 20) Angelica Barrios, 15-2, 15-14
Semi-finals
20) Angelica Barrios d. 24) Maria Paz Muñoz, 8-15, 15-14, 11-7
10) Jenny Daza d. 3) Erika Manilla, 15-12, 15-2
Quarterfinals
24) Maria Paz Muñoz d. 1) Carla Muñoz, 15-13, 15-7
20) Angelica Barrios d. 12) Melania Sauma, 15-14, 15-4
3) Erika Manilla d. 6) Cristina Amaya, 15-11, 15-6
10) Jenny Daza d. 2) Adrienne Haynes, 15-5, 15-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
Reid’s win was a margin of revenge, as he lost in the Men’s Open final to Mercado at last year’s US Open. Reid is the second US player to win Men’s Open in three years. Adam Manilla was the winner in 2015.
Daza’a win continues the streak of non-US players winning Women’s Open. Krystal Csuk is the only US player to win in the last eleven US Opens.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
Men’s Open
Final
2) Dylan Reid d. 1) Mario Mercado, 4-15, 15-11, 11-8
Semi-finals
1) Mario Mercado d. 5) Andres Acuña, 11-15, 15-8, 11-0
2) Dylan Reid d. 6) Felipe Camacho, 15-12, 15-1
Quarterfinals
1) Mario Mercado d. 8) Teobaldo Fumero, 15-3, 15-13
5) Andres Acuña d. 45) Eduardo Portillo, 15-14, 15-11
6) Felipe Camacho d. 14) Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-3
2) Dylan Reid d. 7) Alejandro Herrera, 12-15, 15-5, 11-6
Women’s Open
Final
10) Jenny Daza d. 20) Angelica Barrios, 15-2, 15-14
Semi-finals
20) Angelica Barrios d. 24) Maria Paz Muñoz, 8-15, 15-14, 11-7
10) Jenny Daza d. 3) Erika Manilla, 15-12, 15-2
Quarterfinals
24) Maria Paz Muñoz d. 1) Carla Muñoz, 15-13, 15-7
20) Angelica Barrios d. 12) Melania Sauma, 15-14, 15-4
3) Erika Manilla d. 6) Cristina Amaya, 15-11, 15-6
10) Jenny Daza d. 2) Adrienne Haynes, 15-5, 15-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Waselenchuk wins 13th title at 2017 UnitedHeathcare US Open
Kane Waselenchuk defeated Rocky Carson, 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, to win the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) final at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis. The win is Waselenchuk's 13th US Open title. He's undefeated in US Open finals.
The match started slowly, and Carson had a small lead early in game one at 4-2. They were tied at 5-5, when Waselenchuk took a timeout. From there he seemed to turn it up a notch, and scored six of the next seven points to win 11-6. Waselenchuk wasn't getting his drive serves in early in the game, and lob served on second serve. He improved that in the second half of the game.
In game two, Waselenchuk kept the pressure up, as he took an 6-0 lead on consecutive rallies. Waselenchuk got two more before Carson got on the board. But Carson never got close, as Waselenchuk closed it out at 11-4 with a forehand cross court shot. One of the shots of that game came when Waselenchuk was forced to the back wall and could only get a weak shot off. It came off the left side wall, and just made the front wall, where Carson was waiting, but the ball bounced twice before he could play it.
In game three, it looked like Waselenchuk was going to sweep Carson, as he was again up early at 5-1 and 7-4. But Carson held firm, and worked his way back into the game. There were a couple of calls that Waselenchuk wanted to appeal, but he had used his appeal earlier, so he wasn't able to appeal them. Carson ended the game with a forehand shot in the front court off a ball Waselenchuk has just managed to keep in play.
Game four started the same as game three, as Waselenchuk went up 5-0. Carson did come back, but only got within three at 7-4. Waselenchuk kept him at four, and got the last four points to end the game and match. The match winner was a drive serve to the left side that Carson was unable to return.
The IRT has three Tier 1 events left in 2017. They'll be in Atlanta for the Creatix - Atlanta Pro-Am, November 2-5. The Party with the Pros event goes November 16-19 in St Louis, and then the Portland Tournament of Champions happens November 30 to December 3 in Portland, Oregon.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Final - Sunday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 2) Rocky Carson, 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
The match started slowly, and Carson had a small lead early in game one at 4-2. They were tied at 5-5, when Waselenchuk took a timeout. From there he seemed to turn it up a notch, and scored six of the next seven points to win 11-6. Waselenchuk wasn't getting his drive serves in early in the game, and lob served on second serve. He improved that in the second half of the game.
In game two, Waselenchuk kept the pressure up, as he took an 6-0 lead on consecutive rallies. Waselenchuk got two more before Carson got on the board. But Carson never got close, as Waselenchuk closed it out at 11-4 with a forehand cross court shot. One of the shots of that game came when Waselenchuk was forced to the back wall and could only get a weak shot off. It came off the left side wall, and just made the front wall, where Carson was waiting, but the ball bounced twice before he could play it.
In game three, it looked like Waselenchuk was going to sweep Carson, as he was again up early at 5-1 and 7-4. But Carson held firm, and worked his way back into the game. There were a couple of calls that Waselenchuk wanted to appeal, but he had used his appeal earlier, so he wasn't able to appeal them. Carson ended the game with a forehand shot in the front court off a ball Waselenchuk has just managed to keep in play.
Game four started the same as game three, as Waselenchuk went up 5-0. Carson did come back, but only got within three at 7-4. Waselenchuk kept him at four, and got the last four points to end the game and match. The match winner was a drive serve to the left side that Carson was unable to return.
The IRT has three Tier 1 events left in 2017. They'll be in Atlanta for the Creatix - Atlanta Pro-Am, November 2-5. The Party with the Pros event goes November 16-19 in St Louis, and then the Portland Tournament of Champions happens November 30 to December 3 in Portland, Oregon.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Final - Sunday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 2) Rocky Carson, 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria defeats Lambert for 8th title at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Paola Longoria won her 8th US Open Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) title by defeating Frédérique Lambert, 11-7, 11-4, 2-11, 11-3, at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis on Sunday. The win is Longoria's 7th straight US Open title and 10th consecutive US Open final. Lambert was a first time US Open finalist.
Longoria started well in game one, going up 6-1. But Lambert settled into the match, and got within one at 7-6. That prompted Longoria to call a timeout. Ten rallies later and they were still separated by one at 8-7. Longoria called her second timeout.
When play resumed, Lambert hit a backhand pinch serve return that a skipped big: 9-7. Longoria then got a service winner on a drive jam serve to the left side: 10-7. She got the game winner on the next rally with a ceiling ball that was tight to left wall, and Lambert swung and missed it.
In game two, Lambert got the good start with a 3-1 lead. But to defeat Longoria it's essential to prevent her going on scoring streak, but that's what Longoria did at that point, as she put together eight unanswered points to lead 9-3. Longoria closed it out at 11-4 with a backhand cross court shot.
Up 2-0, it seemed that Longoria would cruise to her 8th title. But Lambert had other ideas, as she came out strong in game three, taking a 6-0 lead. Longoria took a timeout, and managed to score two points, making it 6-2. But that was all she got, as Lambert got the serve back with a backhand cross court, and then scored five points on consecutive rallies. Longoria did call a timeout at 9-2, but that didn't stop Lambert, who took the game 11-2.
They were close early in game four, and tied 3-3. Then Longoria went on another scoring streak, getting eight points over eleven rallies. Lambert served once in that stretch, hitting a drive serve short, and then having Longoria hit a winning return of her lob that nicked off the side wall. Longoria won the match with a forehand reverse pinch into the front left corner.
The LPRT has two events before the end of the year. They will play next at The Boston Open in Boston, Massachusetts, October 27-29, and then at The Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 8-10.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria d. 3 Frédérique Lambert, 11-7, 11-4, 2-11, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria started well in game one, going up 6-1. But Lambert settled into the match, and got within one at 7-6. That prompted Longoria to call a timeout. Ten rallies later and they were still separated by one at 8-7. Longoria called her second timeout.
When play resumed, Lambert hit a backhand pinch serve return that a skipped big: 9-7. Longoria then got a service winner on a drive jam serve to the left side: 10-7. She got the game winner on the next rally with a ceiling ball that was tight to left wall, and Lambert swung and missed it.
In game two, Lambert got the good start with a 3-1 lead. But to defeat Longoria it's essential to prevent her going on scoring streak, but that's what Longoria did at that point, as she put together eight unanswered points to lead 9-3. Longoria closed it out at 11-4 with a backhand cross court shot.
Up 2-0, it seemed that Longoria would cruise to her 8th title. But Lambert had other ideas, as she came out strong in game three, taking a 6-0 lead. Longoria took a timeout, and managed to score two points, making it 6-2. But that was all she got, as Lambert got the serve back with a backhand cross court, and then scored five points on consecutive rallies. Longoria did call a timeout at 9-2, but that didn't stop Lambert, who took the game 11-2.
They were close early in game four, and tied 3-3. Then Longoria went on another scoring streak, getting eight points over eleven rallies. Lambert served once in that stretch, hitting a drive serve short, and then having Longoria hit a winning return of her lob that nicked off the side wall. Longoria won the match with a forehand reverse pinch into the front left corner.
The LPRT has two events before the end of the year. They will play next at The Boston Open in Boston, Massachusetts, October 27-29, and then at The Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 8-10.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria d. 3 Frédérique Lambert, 11-7, 11-4, 2-11, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Longoria & Martinez win 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Paola Longoria and Gabriela Martinez defeated Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-8, to claim the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Doubles title at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis Saturday. It's the fourth year of LPRT Doubles at the US Open, and Longoria has won all four years, although with three different partners.
In 2014, she played with Veronica Sotomayor. In 2015 and 2016, Longoria played with her usual partner, Samantha Salas. But Salas had shoulder surgery in June, and wasn't able to play this year. Thus, Longoria teamed up with Martinez creating another successful partnership.
Longoria and Martinez started on fire, as they scored the first nine points of the match to go up 9-0 on the 4th seeded Amaya and Riveros. They maintained that advantage, and won game one 15-5. But in game two, the teams were neck and neck up 8-8.
That was when Longoria and Martinez again put a string of points together without giving up the serve, as they went on to win game two 15-8, and take the final in two straight games.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
In 2014, she played with Veronica Sotomayor. In 2015 and 2016, Longoria played with her usual partner, Samantha Salas. But Salas had shoulder surgery in June, and wasn't able to play this year. Thus, Longoria teamed up with Martinez creating another successful partnership.
Longoria and Martinez started on fire, as they scored the first nine points of the match to go up 9-0 on the 4th seeded Amaya and Riveros. They maintained that advantage, and won game one 15-5. But in game two, the teams were neck and neck up 8-8.
That was when Longoria and Martinez again put a string of points together without giving up the serve, as they went on to win game two 15-8, and take the final in two straight games.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-5, 15-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
Croft & Waselenchuk win IRT Doubles for 3rd time at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk won their third US Open International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Doubles title by defeating Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa, 15-10, 10-15, 11-7, Saturday at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis.
Early it looked like it would go the way of the Mexican pair, as Beltran and De La Rosa led 8-3 in game one. But Croft and Waselenchuk slowly cut the deficit to one at 8-7. From there Croft drove serve jams off the left wall, so the ball came between his opponents, and sometimes cracked out. It was an effective strategy that led to seven points, putting Croft and Waselenchuk on game point at 14-8. Beltran and De La Rosa did get a side out as Croft skipped a shot and Beltran hit a great soft pinch, but they were only able to get a couple of points before Waselenchuk ended the game with a forehand cross court that got caught in the back right corner.
Game two had a similar story, as the Mexicans again led; this time 8-2. Croft and Waselenchuk closed to within one at 10-9, but they never caught up, as Beltran and De La Rosa were able to close it out, 15-10. Thus, we were on to a third game to decide the US Open championship.
After the first rally of game three, things got a little heated, and the players came together. It seemed the championship might be decided with shots that weren't off a racquet. But cooler heads did prevail, and when they got back to playing racquetball, it was again Beltran and De La Rosa who took the early lead, 5-1.
Once again, Croft and Waselnchuk came back. They tied it at 7-7, and then Beltran and De La Rosa got the serve back. Yet they couldn't score. Beltran skipped a shot that he'd been making all match, and then De La Rosa hit a lob serve in the middle, which he'd been doing for much of the match. But this time Waselenchuk returned it with a forehand reverse pinch for a winner.
The Mexicans didn't serve again as Croft and Waselenchuk scored four straight points. The winner came as Waselenchuk drove served to Beltran on the right side, and he wasn't able to return it.
It's the fourth year of IRT Doubles at the US Open, and Croft and Waselenchuk have won three of the four years. After the final, Waselenchuk declared he would not play doubles with anyone else but Croft, who's competitive appearances have been limited to doubles since injuring his shoulder two years ago.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran, 15-10, 10-15, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball….
Early it looked like it would go the way of the Mexican pair, as Beltran and De La Rosa led 8-3 in game one. But Croft and Waselenchuk slowly cut the deficit to one at 8-7. From there Croft drove serve jams off the left wall, so the ball came between his opponents, and sometimes cracked out. It was an effective strategy that led to seven points, putting Croft and Waselenchuk on game point at 14-8. Beltran and De La Rosa did get a side out as Croft skipped a shot and Beltran hit a great soft pinch, but they were only able to get a couple of points before Waselenchuk ended the game with a forehand cross court that got caught in the back right corner.
Game two had a similar story, as the Mexicans again led; this time 8-2. Croft and Waselenchuk closed to within one at 10-9, but they never caught up, as Beltran and De La Rosa were able to close it out, 15-10. Thus, we were on to a third game to decide the US Open championship.
After the first rally of game three, things got a little heated, and the players came together. It seemed the championship might be decided with shots that weren't off a racquet. But cooler heads did prevail, and when they got back to playing racquetball, it was again Beltran and De La Rosa who took the early lead, 5-1.
Once again, Croft and Waselnchuk came back. They tied it at 7-7, and then Beltran and De La Rosa got the serve back. Yet they couldn't score. Beltran skipped a shot that he'd been making all match, and then De La Rosa hit a lob serve in the middle, which he'd been doing for much of the match. But this time Waselenchuk returned it with a forehand reverse pinch for a winner.
The Mexicans didn't serve again as Croft and Waselenchuk scored four straight points. The winner came as Waselenchuk drove served to Beltran on the right side, and he wasn't able to return it.
It's the fourth year of IRT Doubles at the US Open, and Croft and Waselenchuk have won three of the four years. After the final, Waselenchuk declared he would not play doubles with anyone else but Croft, who's competitive appearances have been limited to doubles since injuring his shoulder two years ago.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran, 15-10, 10-15, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria & Lambert into LPRT Final at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), will have a chance to extend her US Open winning streak Sunday at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis, as she defeated Rhonda Rajsich in straight games, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6. Rajsich turned 39 today, but wasn't able to give herself a gift of another US Open final appearance.
Rajsich holds the record for most US Open final appearances with 11. Sunday will be Longoria's 10th consecutive US Open final, and she's won seven of those, including the last six.
It looked like Rajsich might be able to upset the six time defending champion early on, as she led 7-4 in game one. But she wasn't able to the lead, as Longoria came back with seven unanswered points to win it, 11-7. Longoria's game winner was a forehand pinch shot off a ceiling ball serve return.
In game two and three, the pattern duplicated itself, as Rajsich looked strong early, and was tied with Longoria at 5-5 in both games. But Longoria was the one able to finish each. Longoria won the match with a forehand reverse pinch from the left side of the court.
Thus, the Longoria-Rajsich rivalry will be renewed on Saturday in the semi-finals. They have met 58 times on tour with Longoria holding the advantage 43-15. But Rajsich did beat Longoria recently, when they met in the final of the 2017 Pan American Championship in April.
In the final, Longoria will play 3rd seed Frédérique Lambert, who defeated 7th seed Natalia Mendez, 11-8, 2-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, in what was the first LPRT meeting between the two. The win made Lambert "super, duper happy," and puts her in the US Open final for the first time ever. She was a first time semi-finalist last year.
After dropping game one, Mendez stormed out to an 8-0 lead in game two, so easily won that game to level the match at 1-1. But momentum from game two didn't carry over to game three, as Lambert jumped out to the early lead, 4-0, and then 7-2. In game three, Lambert hit several effective Z serves to the right side: Mendez's forehand.
Mendez used a variety of serves through the match, and especially Z serves to the left side: Lambert's backhand. In game four, Lambert hit a couple of Zs to the right, as in game three, but they were not as deep, so Mendez was able to return them effectively, which led to Lambert using more lob serves to Mendez's backhand.
There were four lead changes in game four. Lambert led first, but Mendez led last, so she forced a deciding game five tie-breaker. In breaker, Lambert never trailed, but when it got to the end, it was nervy, as she served for the match four times. On the first match point, Lambert hit a drive serve to the right side, which may have been only second of the match, and Mendez hit a winning forehand return.
Lambert skipped the second match point, and Mendez fended off the third with a great backhand serve return off a lob serve. Mendez followed that up with a drive serve to the right, which was a winner, and made the score 10-8. She had a good chance to make it 10-9, but Mendez skipped a backhand pinch shot. That error gave Lambert her fourth match point, and that time she made good with a forehand cross court winner.
Over the last seven seasons, Longoria has only lost three times. But one of those was to Lambert. Sunday, Lambert will try to make it two, while Longoria tries to win her 7th US Open title.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT final will be at 10 AM Sunday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 5 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6
3 Frédérique Lambert d. 7 Natalia Mendez, 11-8, 2-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8
LPRT - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria v. 3 Frédérique Lambert - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Rajsich holds the record for most US Open final appearances with 11. Sunday will be Longoria's 10th consecutive US Open final, and she's won seven of those, including the last six.
It looked like Rajsich might be able to upset the six time defending champion early on, as she led 7-4 in game one. But she wasn't able to the lead, as Longoria came back with seven unanswered points to win it, 11-7. Longoria's game winner was a forehand pinch shot off a ceiling ball serve return.
In game two and three, the pattern duplicated itself, as Rajsich looked strong early, and was tied with Longoria at 5-5 in both games. But Longoria was the one able to finish each. Longoria won the match with a forehand reverse pinch from the left side of the court.
Thus, the Longoria-Rajsich rivalry will be renewed on Saturday in the semi-finals. They have met 58 times on tour with Longoria holding the advantage 43-15. But Rajsich did beat Longoria recently, when they met in the final of the 2017 Pan American Championship in April.
In the final, Longoria will play 3rd seed Frédérique Lambert, who defeated 7th seed Natalia Mendez, 11-8, 2-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, in what was the first LPRT meeting between the two. The win made Lambert "super, duper happy," and puts her in the US Open final for the first time ever. She was a first time semi-finalist last year.
After dropping game one, Mendez stormed out to an 8-0 lead in game two, so easily won that game to level the match at 1-1. But momentum from game two didn't carry over to game three, as Lambert jumped out to the early lead, 4-0, and then 7-2. In game three, Lambert hit several effective Z serves to the right side: Mendez's forehand.
Mendez used a variety of serves through the match, and especially Z serves to the left side: Lambert's backhand. In game four, Lambert hit a couple of Zs to the right, as in game three, but they were not as deep, so Mendez was able to return them effectively, which led to Lambert using more lob serves to Mendez's backhand.
There were four lead changes in game four. Lambert led first, but Mendez led last, so she forced a deciding game five tie-breaker. In breaker, Lambert never trailed, but when it got to the end, it was nervy, as she served for the match four times. On the first match point, Lambert hit a drive serve to the right side, which may have been only second of the match, and Mendez hit a winning forehand return.
Lambert skipped the second match point, and Mendez fended off the third with a great backhand serve return off a lob serve. Mendez followed that up with a drive serve to the right, which was a winner, and made the score 10-8. She had a good chance to make it 10-9, but Mendez skipped a backhand pinch shot. That error gave Lambert her fourth match point, and that time she made good with a forehand cross court winner.
Over the last seven seasons, Longoria has only lost three times. But one of those was to Lambert. Sunday, Lambert will try to make it two, while Longoria tries to win her 7th US Open title.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT final will be at 10 AM Sunday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 5 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6
3 Frédérique Lambert d. 7 Natalia Mendez, 11-8, 2-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8
LPRT - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria v. 3 Frédérique Lambert - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk & Carson into final at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Kane Waselenchuk dropped a game for the first time in over 16 months, but still won his International Racquetball Tour (IRT) semi-final against Alvaro Beltran, 11-5, 11-0, 11-13, 11-3, at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis. The win puts Waselenchuk into his 13th US Open final, and he's won all of them. Waselenchuk will play IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the final, as Carson defeated 11th seed Alejandro Landa, 11-3, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6, in the other semi.
Waselenchuk's last game loss was in May 2016 to Beltran in the semi-finals of the Coast to Coast Open in Reseda, California. One hundred and six games later, and Beltran took a game off Waselenchuk again.
It didn't look likely to happen, as Waselenchuk won the first two games comfortably, including blanking Beltran in game two. For most of game two, Waselenchuk lob served to Beltran.
Even in game three after Beltran took the early lead at 4-1, Waselenchuk came back to lead 7-4, and it didn't look like any more games were be needed. He was four points clear of Beltran on his first match point at 10-6.
But Beltran kept fighting, and forced Waselenchuk into skipping some shots. Two match points went by as Beltran tied it at 10-10. Yet Waselenchuk got another match point when he hit a drive serve ace to the right side. But Beltran fought off that match point with a great backhand pinch shot, and a fourth match point with a backhand return.
Waselenchuk skipped two more shots to put Beltran on game point at 12-11. On the next rally, the ball went to the left side, and Beltran moved around to take it with his forehand, and flat rolled a reverse pinch shot out of the front left corner.
Thus, they were on to game four. Waselenchuk got his first point with his first serve, but he didn't get his second until the 19th rally, which made the score 3-2 in Beltran's favour. That was the start of Waselenchuk scoring 9 points on consecutive rallies - including two drive serve aces to the right side - to close out game four and win the match.
In the Carson and Landa match the first two games developed slowly, as neither played took a big lead. In game two, Carson tied it at 3-3 on the 21st rally. But after the games got into the mid-game, Carson took over with eight unanswered points to win game one, and five unanswered to win game two.
When Carson took a 6-2 lead in game three, it looked like he'd win in straight games. But Landa wasn't going to go that quietly. He came back and tied it up at 7-7. Landa held Carson off the score board from there, although it took 11 rallies to get the last four points and force a fourth game.
In game four, they again started slowly. After 15 rallies, they were tied 2-2. Carson then eased ahead at 5-2 and 7-4. But when Landa drew within one at 7-6, it looked like the match was headed to a tie-breaker. However, Carson hit two winners to make it 9-6, and then Landa hit a poor forehand pinch shot that skipped, giving Carson his first match point.
To his credit, Landa hit a backhand serve return winner to fight off that match point. Then Carson did likewise to get the serve back. After a hinder, Carson won the match with a backhand rekill right at the front left corner.
The win puts Carson in the US Open final for an 8th time. His only US Open win came ten years ago, when the event was still in Memphis.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT final will be noon Sunday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Alvaro Beltran, 11-5, 11-0, 11-13, 11-3
2) Rocky Carson d. 11) Alejandro Landa, 11-3, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6
Final - Sunday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 2) Rocky Carson - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk's last game loss was in May 2016 to Beltran in the semi-finals of the Coast to Coast Open in Reseda, California. One hundred and six games later, and Beltran took a game off Waselenchuk again.
It didn't look likely to happen, as Waselenchuk won the first two games comfortably, including blanking Beltran in game two. For most of game two, Waselenchuk lob served to Beltran.
Even in game three after Beltran took the early lead at 4-1, Waselenchuk came back to lead 7-4, and it didn't look like any more games were be needed. He was four points clear of Beltran on his first match point at 10-6.
But Beltran kept fighting, and forced Waselenchuk into skipping some shots. Two match points went by as Beltran tied it at 10-10. Yet Waselenchuk got another match point when he hit a drive serve ace to the right side. But Beltran fought off that match point with a great backhand pinch shot, and a fourth match point with a backhand return.
Waselenchuk skipped two more shots to put Beltran on game point at 12-11. On the next rally, the ball went to the left side, and Beltran moved around to take it with his forehand, and flat rolled a reverse pinch shot out of the front left corner.
Thus, they were on to game four. Waselenchuk got his first point with his first serve, but he didn't get his second until the 19th rally, which made the score 3-2 in Beltran's favour. That was the start of Waselenchuk scoring 9 points on consecutive rallies - including two drive serve aces to the right side - to close out game four and win the match.
In the Carson and Landa match the first two games developed slowly, as neither played took a big lead. In game two, Carson tied it at 3-3 on the 21st rally. But after the games got into the mid-game, Carson took over with eight unanswered points to win game one, and five unanswered to win game two.
When Carson took a 6-2 lead in game three, it looked like he'd win in straight games. But Landa wasn't going to go that quietly. He came back and tied it up at 7-7. Landa held Carson off the score board from there, although it took 11 rallies to get the last four points and force a fourth game.
In game four, they again started slowly. After 15 rallies, they were tied 2-2. Carson then eased ahead at 5-2 and 7-4. But when Landa drew within one at 7-6, it looked like the match was headed to a tie-breaker. However, Carson hit two winners to make it 9-6, and then Landa hit a poor forehand pinch shot that skipped, giving Carson his first match point.
To his credit, Landa hit a backhand serve return winner to fight off that match point. Then Carson did likewise to get the serve back. After a hinder, Carson won the match with a backhand rekill right at the front left corner.
The win puts Carson in the US Open final for an 8th time. His only US Open win came ten years ago, when the event was still in Memphis.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT final will be noon Sunday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Alvaro Beltran, 11-5, 11-0, 11-13, 11-3
2) Rocky Carson d. 11) Alejandro Landa, 11-3, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6
Final - Sunday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 2) Rocky Carson - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 6, 2017
Top seeds to meet in IRT Doubles final at 2017 UnitedHeathcare US Open
Two time US Open International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Doubles Champions, Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk will have a chance to make it three on Saturday at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis, as they beat Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla in a feisty semi-final, 15-5, 15-10. Montoya and Parrilla were making their first appearance in the US Open semi-finals.
Croft and Waselenchuk started well, taking a 5-1 lead in game one. But Montoya and Parrilla worked their way back into the game, and got to within three at 6-3. However, Croft and Waselenchuk held them to only two points from there, while scoring nine of their own to take game one 15-5.
In game two, Croft and Waselenchuk went up 7-0 before their opponents even served. They added three more points to lead 10-0 before Montoya and Parrilla got on the board. Yet the young Mexicans got the lead down to three at 13-10, and there was some doubt whether the former champions could get it done in two games.
But Waselenchuk, the #1 IRT player, removed that doubt with winners on three consecutive rallies. He got his side the serve back with a forehand return, put them match point with a forehand cross court shot, and won it with another forehand cross court shot. Parrilla felt there was a hinder on the last play, but the referee did not call a hinder, which seemed to be the appropriate call.
In the other semi, 2nd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran went tie-breaker with 3rd seeds Jansen Allen and Samuel Murray, winning 15-6, 14-15, 11-5. It almost didn't go breaker, even though Allen and Murray had a 14-8 lead in game two. De La Rosa and Beltran fought off several game points to get to a match point that slipped away, as Beltran skipped a shot.
In the breaker, it was Allen and Murray who took control early, going up 5-1. However, De La Rosa and Beltran were not to be denied, as they came back with 10 unanswered points to win it, and advance to the finals for the first time. The best shot of the run might have been De La Rosa's rollout that he hit forwards while facing the back wall. The match ended when Allen skipped a makable forehand pinch shot when standing in the service box.
The IRT doubles final at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Saturday at 5 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft d. Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-5, 15-10
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran d. 3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray, 15-6, 14-15, 11-5
IRT Men’s Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran - 5 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Croft and Waselenchuk started well, taking a 5-1 lead in game one. But Montoya and Parrilla worked their way back into the game, and got to within three at 6-3. However, Croft and Waselenchuk held them to only two points from there, while scoring nine of their own to take game one 15-5.
In game two, Croft and Waselenchuk went up 7-0 before their opponents even served. They added three more points to lead 10-0 before Montoya and Parrilla got on the board. Yet the young Mexicans got the lead down to three at 13-10, and there was some doubt whether the former champions could get it done in two games.
But Waselenchuk, the #1 IRT player, removed that doubt with winners on three consecutive rallies. He got his side the serve back with a forehand return, put them match point with a forehand cross court shot, and won it with another forehand cross court shot. Parrilla felt there was a hinder on the last play, but the referee did not call a hinder, which seemed to be the appropriate call.
In the other semi, 2nd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran went tie-breaker with 3rd seeds Jansen Allen and Samuel Murray, winning 15-6, 14-15, 11-5. It almost didn't go breaker, even though Allen and Murray had a 14-8 lead in game two. De La Rosa and Beltran fought off several game points to get to a match point that slipped away, as Beltran skipped a shot.
In the breaker, it was Allen and Murray who took control early, going up 5-1. However, De La Rosa and Beltran were not to be denied, as they came back with 10 unanswered points to win it, and advance to the finals for the first time. The best shot of the run might have been De La Rosa's rollout that he hit forwards while facing the back wall. The match ended when Allen skipped a makable forehand pinch shot when standing in the service box.
The IRT doubles final at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Saturday at 5 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft d. Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-5, 15-10
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran d. 3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray, 15-6, 14-15, 11-5
IRT Men’s Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran - 5 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Amaya & Riveros in 1st ever UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT Doubles final
Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros ousted top seeds Jessica Parrilla and Frédérique Lambert from the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles competition Friday at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis, winning in three games, 15-12, 12-15, 11-5. Seeded 4th Amaya and Riveros will play 2nd seeds Paola Longoria and Gabriela Martinez, who defeated Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-9, 15-9, in the other semi-final.
In their tie-breaker, Amaya and Riveros got on the board with the first rally, but it was nine more before they were able to score again. Slowly but surely they built up an 8-0 lead before Lambert and Parrilla were able to get on the board. But when they did score, they did so in a bunch, as they got five points on one inning in the service box.
With the score 8-5 in their favour, but without the serve, Amaya and Riveros called a timeout. They got the serve back on the next rally. Amaya and Riveros scored twice to put themselves on match point, which resulted in a timeout by Lambert and Parrilla. That was effective in breaking Amaya and Riveros's momentum, as Lambert and Parrilla won the next two rallies, the second of which was off a skip by Riveros.
However, Parrilla's serve to Amaya on the right side came back as a reverse pinch roll out from the front left corner, putting Lambert and Parrilla half down. On the next rally, Lambert was forced into skipping a shot, as the ball was driven over to the left side.
Facing match point for the third time, Lambert and Parrilla were able to fight another one off. But on their fourth match point, Riveros put the ball away with a nice backhand pinch shot. That shot put them in their first US Open LPRT Doubles final.
In Longoria and Martinez, Amaya and Riveros will face a team that has a three time US Open Champion (Longoria) and a teenager (Martinez). It will be the second time Amaya and Riveros face Longoria and a teenager in an LPRT Doubles final this season, as they went up against Longoria and Monserrat Mejia in August in San Luis Potosi, where Longoria and Mejia came out on top in two games, albeit a 15-14 second game.
Amaya and Riveros will be looking to write a different story Saturday.
The LPRT doubles final at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 1) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert, 15-12, 12-15, 11-5
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-9, 15-9
LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez v. 4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 4:00 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In their tie-breaker, Amaya and Riveros got on the board with the first rally, but it was nine more before they were able to score again. Slowly but surely they built up an 8-0 lead before Lambert and Parrilla were able to get on the board. But when they did score, they did so in a bunch, as they got five points on one inning in the service box.
With the score 8-5 in their favour, but without the serve, Amaya and Riveros called a timeout. They got the serve back on the next rally. Amaya and Riveros scored twice to put themselves on match point, which resulted in a timeout by Lambert and Parrilla. That was effective in breaking Amaya and Riveros's momentum, as Lambert and Parrilla won the next two rallies, the second of which was off a skip by Riveros.
However, Parrilla's serve to Amaya on the right side came back as a reverse pinch roll out from the front left corner, putting Lambert and Parrilla half down. On the next rally, Lambert was forced into skipping a shot, as the ball was driven over to the left side.
Facing match point for the third time, Lambert and Parrilla were able to fight another one off. But on their fourth match point, Riveros put the ball away with a nice backhand pinch shot. That shot put them in their first US Open LPRT Doubles final.
In Longoria and Martinez, Amaya and Riveros will face a team that has a three time US Open Champion (Longoria) and a teenager (Martinez). It will be the second time Amaya and Riveros face Longoria and a teenager in an LPRT Doubles final this season, as they went up against Longoria and Monserrat Mejia in August in San Luis Potosi, where Longoria and Mejia came out on top in two games, albeit a 15-14 second game.
Amaya and Riveros will be looking to write a different story Saturday.
The LPRT doubles final at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 1) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert, 15-12, 12-15, 11-5
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-9, 15-9
LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez v. 4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 4:00 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Mendez makes her 1st semi, Rajsich her 13th at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
After no upsets in the Round of 16, two of the three quarterfinals so far have been upsets in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) competition at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis. Natalia Mendez had the biggest one, as she took out LPRT #2 Jessica Parrilla, 12-10, 3-11, 11-5, 11-1, to reach the US Open for the first time in her career.
The other upset wasn't a real surprise, as the 4 time US Open Champion Rhonda Rajsich defeated Alexandra Herrera, 11-1, 11-6, 11-3. Rajsich was the 5th seed, and Herrera 4th, but Rajsich's 6th win against no losses against the young Mexican left-hander.
Six time defending US Open Champion, Paola Longoria defeated Adriana Riveros, 11-8, 12-10, 11-4. Riveros was up 8-1 in game two, but Longoria found a way back and pull it out, 12-10. So even though Riveros lost in three games, she played well.
Thus, the Longoria-Rajsich rivalry will be renewed on Saturday in the semi-finals. They have met 58 times on tour with Longoria holding the advantage 43-15. But Rajsich did beat Longoria recently, when they met in the final of the 2017 Pan American Championship in April.
In the other semi-final, Mendez will play 3rd seed Frédérique Lambert, who defeated 6th seed Cristina Amaya, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5, in the quarters. It will be the first meeting between them, and on the line is a spot in the US Open final.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT semi-finals are Friday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota with the final on Sunday at 10 AM.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria d. 9 Adriana Riveros, 11-8, 12-10, 11-4
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 11-1, 11-6, 11-3
3 Frédérique Lambert d. 6 Cristina Amaya, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5
7 Natalia Mendez d. 2 Jessica Parrilla, 12-10, 3-11, 11-5, 11-1
LPRT - Semi-inals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria v. 5 Rhonda Rajsich - 1 PM
3 Frédérique Lambert v. 7 Natalia Mendez - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
The other upset wasn't a real surprise, as the 4 time US Open Champion Rhonda Rajsich defeated Alexandra Herrera, 11-1, 11-6, 11-3. Rajsich was the 5th seed, and Herrera 4th, but Rajsich's 6th win against no losses against the young Mexican left-hander.
Six time defending US Open Champion, Paola Longoria defeated Adriana Riveros, 11-8, 12-10, 11-4. Riveros was up 8-1 in game two, but Longoria found a way back and pull it out, 12-10. So even though Riveros lost in three games, she played well.
Thus, the Longoria-Rajsich rivalry will be renewed on Saturday in the semi-finals. They have met 58 times on tour with Longoria holding the advantage 43-15. But Rajsich did beat Longoria recently, when they met in the final of the 2017 Pan American Championship in April.
In the other semi-final, Mendez will play 3rd seed Frédérique Lambert, who defeated 6th seed Cristina Amaya, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5, in the quarters. It will be the first meeting between them, and on the line is a spot in the US Open final.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT semi-finals are Friday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota with the final on Sunday at 10 AM.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria d. 9 Adriana Riveros, 11-8, 12-10, 11-4
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 11-1, 11-6, 11-3
3 Frédérique Lambert d. 6 Cristina Amaya, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5
7 Natalia Mendez d. 2 Jessica Parrilla, 12-10, 3-11, 11-5, 11-1
LPRT - Semi-inals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria v. 5 Rhonda Rajsich - 1 PM
3 Frédérique Lambert v. 7 Natalia Mendez - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Beltran & Landa 1st UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT semi-finalists
Alvaro Beltran ended the run of former US Open Champion Sudsy Monchik in the quarterfinals of the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis Friday, winning 11-7, 11-6, 1-11, 11-8. The win puts Beltran in the semi-finals where he'll face Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and 9 time defending US Open Champion. Two of those final wins have been over Beltran.
There was an upset in the IRT quarters Friday, as 11th seed Alejandro Landa defeated IRT #3 Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4. Landa will play the winner of IRT #2 Rocky Carson and Javier Mar in what will be his 2nd US Open semi-final appearance. Landa was a US Open semi-finalist for the first time in 2014.
But the top two seeds had little trouble advancing to the semis, as they each defeated their young opponents in three straight games. Top seed Waselenchuk defeated Conrrado Moscoso, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8, and IRT #2 Rocky Carson beat Javier Mar, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT quarterfinals begin at 10 AM Friday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The semi-finals will be 11 AM and 2 PM Saturday with the final set for noon on Sunday.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Conrrado Moscoso, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8
4) Alvaro Beltran d. Sudsy Monchik, 11-7, 11-6, 1-11, 11-8
11) Alejandro Landa d. 3) Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4
2) Rocky Carson d. Javier Mar, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Alvaro Beltran
2) Rocky Carson or Javier Mar v. 11) Alejandro Landa
Follow the bouncing ball….
There was an upset in the IRT quarters Friday, as 11th seed Alejandro Landa defeated IRT #3 Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4. Landa will play the winner of IRT #2 Rocky Carson and Javier Mar in what will be his 2nd US Open semi-final appearance. Landa was a US Open semi-finalist for the first time in 2014.
But the top two seeds had little trouble advancing to the semis, as they each defeated their young opponents in three straight games. Top seed Waselenchuk defeated Conrrado Moscoso, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8, and IRT #2 Rocky Carson beat Javier Mar, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT quarterfinals begin at 10 AM Friday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The semi-finals will be 11 AM and 2 PM Saturday with the final set for noon on Sunday.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Conrrado Moscoso, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8
4) Alvaro Beltran d. Sudsy Monchik, 11-7, 11-6, 1-11, 11-8
11) Alejandro Landa d. 3) Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4
2) Rocky Carson d. Javier Mar, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Alvaro Beltran
2) Rocky Carson or Javier Mar v. 11) Alejandro Landa
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT Doubles Quarterfinals at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
The clock struck midnight on Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger in Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles play Thursday at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis, and they lost to 4th seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 14-15, 15-6, 11-1. Ruiz and Tisinger had staged a big tie-breaker comeback on Wednesday, but they were not able to repeat the feat Thursday.
Amaya and Riveros will play top seeds Jessica Parrilla and Frédérique Lambert in the semi-finals Friday, as Parrilla and Lambert beat Monserrat Perez and Erin Groves, 15-8, 15-2.
On the other side of the draw, Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts upset 3rd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Monserrat Mejia, 15-14, 11-15, 11-7, to set up a semi-final against 2nd seeds Paola Longoria and Gabriela Martinez, who were straight game winners over Susana Acosta and Eleni Guzman, 15-7, 15-4.
The LPRT semi-finals at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Friday evening at 4:20 PM and 6:20 PM with the final Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert d. Monserrat Perez & Erin Groves, 15-8, 15-2
4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. Janel Tisinger & Aimee Ruiz, 14-15, 15-6, 11-1
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia, 15-14, 11-15, 11-7
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman, 15-7, 15-4
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert v. 4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 6:20 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez v. Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 4:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Amaya and Riveros will play top seeds Jessica Parrilla and Frédérique Lambert in the semi-finals Friday, as Parrilla and Lambert beat Monserrat Perez and Erin Groves, 15-8, 15-2.
On the other side of the draw, Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts upset 3rd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Monserrat Mejia, 15-14, 11-15, 11-7, to set up a semi-final against 2nd seeds Paola Longoria and Gabriela Martinez, who were straight game winners over Susana Acosta and Eleni Guzman, 15-7, 15-4.
The LPRT semi-finals at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Friday evening at 4:20 PM and 6:20 PM with the final Saturday at 4 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert d. Monserrat Perez & Erin Groves, 15-8, 15-2
4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. Janel Tisinger & Aimee Ruiz, 14-15, 15-6, 11-1
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia, 15-14, 11-15, 11-7
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman, 15-7, 15-4
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert v. 4) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 6:20 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez v. Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 4:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Top IRT doubles seeds through to semi-finals at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
The top three seeds won in quarterfinals of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles competition at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis. Two time US Open Champions, Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk beat Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso, 15-6, 15-11. Second seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran also won in straight games over Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-11.
But the other two quarters went tie-breaker. Third seeds Jansen Allen and Samuel Murray came back from a game down to defeat Jose Diaz and Jake Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6, while Andree Parrilla and Rodrigo Montoya were able to upset 4th seeds Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, 15-13, 14-15, 11-1.
The IRT semi-finals at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Friday evening at 5:20 PM and 7:20 PM with the final Saturday at 5 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday night
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-6, 15-11
Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-13, 14-15, 11-1
3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray d. Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-11
IRT Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya - 7:20 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran v. 3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray - 5:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
But the other two quarters went tie-breaker. Third seeds Jansen Allen and Samuel Murray came back from a game down to defeat Jose Diaz and Jake Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6, while Andree Parrilla and Rodrigo Montoya were able to upset 4th seeds Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, 15-13, 14-15, 11-1.
The IRT semi-finals at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Friday evening at 5:20 PM and 7:20 PM with the final Saturday at 5 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday night
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-6, 15-11
Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-13, 14-15, 11-1
3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray d. Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-7, 15-11
IRT Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya - 7:20 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran v. 3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray - 5:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, October 5, 2017
IRT Round of 32 at 2017 UnitedHeathcare US Open
(Note: these Round of 32 results happened earlier today, but we omitted publishing them prior to the Round of 16 results; apologies for the omission.)
Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), won his Round of 32 match at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis in three straight games, but it was much closer than most observers would have expected, as he trailed late in game two and was tied at 9-9 in game three, before Waselenchuk prevailed over unheralded Mexican 18 year old Eduardo Portillo, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9. It might not get easier for Waselenchuk as he'll face the winner of Jose Diaz and Jake Bredenbeck in the Round of 16 later today.
How was Portillo so successful against Waselenchuk? He didn't try to hit big serves. Instead, Portillo went for half lobs, and some slice drive serves, sometimes trying to crack the ball out just over the short line. Then Portillo hit precision shots during the rallies. Again, he didn't go for big power. It was a sensible strategy, and almost successful. But in the end the 9 time defending US Open Champion had too much for the teenager. Waselenchuk may not have been in his top gear, but he didn't play poorly. Portillo was full measure for all the points he got.
Sudsy Monchik's return to the US Open continued to be successful, as the four time US Open Champion knocked off 12th seed Felipe Camacho, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9, in the 32s. He'll play 5th seed Jansen Allen next, as Allen was a winner over Edson Martinez, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 13-11.
Monchik's upset wasn't the only one in the Round of 32, nor was it the biggest. Fernando Rios, a veteran player in international play representing Ecuador, got an upset win over 6th seed Sebastian Franco, 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 12-10. Next up for Rios is Alejandro Landa, who also played a long five game match against Rodrigo Montoya, which he barely survived, winning 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9.
The IRT Round of 16 goes later Thursday at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Eduardo Portillo, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
Jake Bredenbeck d. 16) Jose Diaz, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-1
Conrrado Moscoso d. 9) David Horn, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8
8) Andree Parrilla d. Shai Manzuri, 11-2, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7
5) Jansen Allen d. Edson Martinez, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 13-11
Sudsy Monchik d. 12) Felipe Camacho, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9
Nicolas Bousquet d. 13) Robert Collins 11-4, 11-3, 11-2
4) Alvaro Beltran d. Adam Manilla, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
3) Daniel De La Rosa d. Carlos Keller, 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5
14) Charles Pratt d. Erik Garcia, 11-3, 11-6, 11-0
11) Alejandro Landa v. Rodrigo Montoya, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9
Fernando Rios d. 6) Sebastian Franco, 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 12-10
7) Mario Mercado d. Fernando Kurzbard, 11-4, 11-6, 11-3
Javier Mar d. 10) Samuel Murray, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3
Andres Acuña d. 15) Scott McClellan, 11-3, 11-8, 11-2
2) Rocky Carson d. Roland Keller, forfeit
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Jake Bredenbeck
8) Andree Parrilla v. Conrrado Moscoso
5) Jansen Allen v. Sudsy Monchik
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Nicolas Bousquet
3) Daniel De La Rosa v. 14) Charles Pratt
11) Alejandro Landa v. Fernando Rios
7) Mario Mercado v. Javier Mar
2) Rocky Carson v. Andres Acuña
Follow the bouncing ball….
Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), won his Round of 32 match at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis in three straight games, but it was much closer than most observers would have expected, as he trailed late in game two and was tied at 9-9 in game three, before Waselenchuk prevailed over unheralded Mexican 18 year old Eduardo Portillo, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9. It might not get easier for Waselenchuk as he'll face the winner of Jose Diaz and Jake Bredenbeck in the Round of 16 later today.
How was Portillo so successful against Waselenchuk? He didn't try to hit big serves. Instead, Portillo went for half lobs, and some slice drive serves, sometimes trying to crack the ball out just over the short line. Then Portillo hit precision shots during the rallies. Again, he didn't go for big power. It was a sensible strategy, and almost successful. But in the end the 9 time defending US Open Champion had too much for the teenager. Waselenchuk may not have been in his top gear, but he didn't play poorly. Portillo was full measure for all the points he got.
Sudsy Monchik's return to the US Open continued to be successful, as the four time US Open Champion knocked off 12th seed Felipe Camacho, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9, in the 32s. He'll play 5th seed Jansen Allen next, as Allen was a winner over Edson Martinez, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 13-11.
Monchik's upset wasn't the only one in the Round of 32, nor was it the biggest. Fernando Rios, a veteran player in international play representing Ecuador, got an upset win over 6th seed Sebastian Franco, 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 12-10. Next up for Rios is Alejandro Landa, who also played a long five game match against Rodrigo Montoya, which he barely survived, winning 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9.
The IRT Round of 16 goes later Thursday at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Eduardo Portillo, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
Jake Bredenbeck d. 16) Jose Diaz, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-1
Conrrado Moscoso d. 9) David Horn, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8
8) Andree Parrilla d. Shai Manzuri, 11-2, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7
5) Jansen Allen d. Edson Martinez, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 13-11
Sudsy Monchik d. 12) Felipe Camacho, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9
Nicolas Bousquet d. 13) Robert Collins 11-4, 11-3, 11-2
4) Alvaro Beltran d. Adam Manilla, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
3) Daniel De La Rosa d. Carlos Keller, 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5
14) Charles Pratt d. Erik Garcia, 11-3, 11-6, 11-0
11) Alejandro Landa v. Rodrigo Montoya, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9
Fernando Rios d. 6) Sebastian Franco, 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 12-10
7) Mario Mercado d. Fernando Kurzbard, 11-4, 11-6, 11-3
Javier Mar d. 10) Samuel Murray, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3
Andres Acuña d. 15) Scott McClellan, 11-3, 11-8, 11-2
2) Rocky Carson d. Roland Keller, forfeit
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Jake Bredenbeck
8) Andree Parrilla v. Conrrado Moscoso
5) Jansen Allen v. Sudsy Monchik
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Nicolas Bousquet
3) Daniel De La Rosa v. 14) Charles Pratt
11) Alejandro Landa v. Fernando Rios
7) Mario Mercado v. Javier Mar
2) Rocky Carson v. Andres Acuña
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk, Monchik & Mar into the IRT quarters at 2017 UnitedHealthCare US Open
Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), was again a straight game winner Friday at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis, as he defeated Jake Bredenbeck in three straight games, 11-3, 11-4, 11-4, as the young Minnesotan tried to go toe to toe, and drive for drive with the 9 time defending US Open Champion. It wasn't a successful strategy. But it did make for some good viewing and impressive shot making.
There were two upsets in the 16s, as Sudsy Monchik reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003 with a win over 5th seed Jansen Allen, 11-3, 12-10, 4-11, 4-11, 11-6. Monchik, who's only played one US Open since 2003, will face the man who he last lost to at a US Open, when he plays 4th seed Alvaro Beltran on Friday. Beltran was a straight game winner over Nicolas Bousquet, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6.
Unheralded Mexican Javier Mar was the other upset winner in Thursday's Round of 16, as he defeated 7th seed Mario Mercado, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9. The victory earns Mar a date with IRT #2 Rocky Carson, who beat Andres Acuña, 11-4, 11-8, 11-0, in the 16s.
Finally, Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso, who was the silver medalist at the 2014 World Championships, staved off a comeback by the 8th seed Andree Parrilla to win in five games, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 2-11, 11-8. Moscoso's reward for the victory is a meeting with Waselenchuk in the quarters on Friday.
The other quarterfinal will be a Mexican standoff between 3rd seed Daniel De La Rosa and 11th seed Alejandro Landa. In the 16s, De La Rosa beat Charlie Pratt, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, and Landa ended the good tournament run of Fernando Rios, 11-5, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7.
2003 all over again
So, Friday will be a little like 2003, as that was the last time Monchik was in the US Open quarterfinals, and the first time Waselenchuk won the US Open, beating Monchik in the quarters en route to the title.
In 2003, Javier Mar was 8 years old.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT quarterfinals begin at 10 AM Friday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The semi-finals will be 11 AM and 2 PM Saturday with the final set for noon on Sunday.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Jake Bredenbeck, 11-3, 11-4, 11-4
Conrrado Moscoso d. 8) Andree Parrilla, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 2-11, 11-8
Sudsy Monchik d. 5) Jansen Allen, 11-3, 12-10, 4-11, 4-11, 11-6
4) Alvaro Beltran d. Nicolas Bousquet, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6
3) Daniel De La Rosa d. 14) Charles Pratt, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6
11) Alejandro Landa d. Fernando Rios, 11-5, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7
Javier Mar d. 7) Mario Mercado, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9
2) Rocky Carson d. Andres Acuña, 11-4, 11-8, 11-0
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Conrrado Moscoso - 2 PM
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Sudsy Monchik - 10 AM
3) Daniel De La Rosa v. 11) Alejandro Landa - 11 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. Javier Mar - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
There were two upsets in the 16s, as Sudsy Monchik reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003 with a win over 5th seed Jansen Allen, 11-3, 12-10, 4-11, 4-11, 11-6. Monchik, who's only played one US Open since 2003, will face the man who he last lost to at a US Open, when he plays 4th seed Alvaro Beltran on Friday. Beltran was a straight game winner over Nicolas Bousquet, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6.
Unheralded Mexican Javier Mar was the other upset winner in Thursday's Round of 16, as he defeated 7th seed Mario Mercado, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9. The victory earns Mar a date with IRT #2 Rocky Carson, who beat Andres Acuña, 11-4, 11-8, 11-0, in the 16s.
Finally, Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso, who was the silver medalist at the 2014 World Championships, staved off a comeback by the 8th seed Andree Parrilla to win in five games, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 2-11, 11-8. Moscoso's reward for the victory is a meeting with Waselenchuk in the quarters on Friday.
The other quarterfinal will be a Mexican standoff between 3rd seed Daniel De La Rosa and 11th seed Alejandro Landa. In the 16s, De La Rosa beat Charlie Pratt, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, and Landa ended the good tournament run of Fernando Rios, 11-5, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7.
2003 all over again
So, Friday will be a little like 2003, as that was the last time Monchik was in the US Open quarterfinals, and the first time Waselenchuk won the US Open, beating Monchik in the quarters en route to the title.
In 2003, Javier Mar was 8 years old.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT quarterfinals begin at 10 AM Friday at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The semi-finals will be 11 AM and 2 PM Saturday with the final set for noon on Sunday.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Jake Bredenbeck, 11-3, 11-4, 11-4
Conrrado Moscoso d. 8) Andree Parrilla, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 2-11, 11-8
Sudsy Monchik d. 5) Jansen Allen, 11-3, 12-10, 4-11, 4-11, 11-6
4) Alvaro Beltran d. Nicolas Bousquet, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6
3) Daniel De La Rosa d. 14) Charles Pratt, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6
11) Alejandro Landa d. Fernando Rios, 11-5, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7
Javier Mar d. 7) Mario Mercado, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9
2) Rocky Carson d. Andres Acuña, 11-4, 11-8, 11-0
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Conrrado Moscoso - 2 PM
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Sudsy Monchik - 10 AM
3) Daniel De La Rosa v. 11) Alejandro Landa - 11 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. Javier Mar - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT Round of 16 at the 2017 UnitedHealthCare US Open
Eight of the top nine seeds in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) draw are through to the quarterfinals at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis led by LPRT #1 and six time defending US Open Champion, Paola Longoria, as she beat Maria Renee Rodriguez in the Round of 16, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2.
LPRT #2 Jessica Parrilla also won in straight games, as she defeated Erin Groves, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8. In fact, the top six seeds all won in straight games, and the other two matches only went four games. The LPRT's best players brought their best racquetball to Minneapolis.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT quarterfinals are Friday during the day at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. With the semi-finals Saturday, and the final on Sunday at 10 AM.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT - Round of 16
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
9 Adriana Riveros d. Angelica Barrios, 11-4, 4-11, 11-3, 11-2
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. 12 Adrianne Haynes, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7
4 Alexandra Herrera d. 13 Nancy Enriquez, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3
3 Frédérique Lambert d. 19 Sheryl Lotts, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
6 Cristina Amaya d. 11 Monserrat Mejia, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3
7 Natalia Mendez d. 10 Carla Muñoz, 11-7, 11-3, 4-11, 11-6
2 Jessica Parrilla d. 15 Erin Groves, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8
LPRT - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria v. 9 Adriana Riveros - 2 PM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 5 Rhonda Rajsich - 10 AM
3 Frédérique Lambert v. 6 Cristina Amaya - 11 AM
2 Jessica Parrilla v. 7 Natalia Mendez - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT #2 Jessica Parrilla also won in straight games, as she defeated Erin Groves, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8. In fact, the top six seeds all won in straight games, and the other two matches only went four games. The LPRT's best players brought their best racquetball to Minneapolis.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open LPRT quarterfinals are Friday during the day at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. With the semi-finals Saturday, and the final on Sunday at 10 AM.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT - Round of 16
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
9 Adriana Riveros d. Angelica Barrios, 11-4, 4-11, 11-3, 11-2
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. 12 Adrianne Haynes, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7
4 Alexandra Herrera d. 13 Nancy Enriquez, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3
3 Frédérique Lambert d. 19 Sheryl Lotts, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
6 Cristina Amaya d. 11 Monserrat Mejia, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3
7 Natalia Mendez d. 10 Carla Muñoz, 11-7, 11-3, 4-11, 11-6
2 Jessica Parrilla d. 15 Erin Groves, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8
LPRT - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria v. 9 Adriana Riveros - 2 PM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 5 Rhonda Rajsich - 10 AM
3 Frédérique Lambert v. 6 Cristina Amaya - 11 AM
2 Jessica Parrilla v. 7 Natalia Mendez - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT Round of 32 at the 2017 UnitedHealthCare US Open
Two upsets in the Round of 32 of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) competition at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis. Angelica Barrios took out the 8th seed Susana Acosta, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1, and 19th seed Sheryl Lotts got the best of 14th seed Gabriela Martinez, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6.
But top seed and six time defending US Open Champion, Paola Longoria moved into the Round of 16 comfortably, as she defeated Janel Tisinger, 11-3, 11-3, 11-3, in the 32s. Longoria will play Maria Renee Rodriguez in the 16s, as Rodriguez outlasted Cecilia Pratt over five games, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9.
The LPRT Round of 16 goes later today at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Singles - Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria d. Janel Tisinger, 11-3, 11-3, 11-3
16 Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 17 Cecilia Pratt, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9
9 Adriana Riveros d. 24 Jordan Cooperrider, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1
Angelica Barrios d. 8 Susana Acosta, 11-3, 3-11, 11-2, 11-6
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. Maria Vargas, 11-3, 11-4, 11-4
12 Adrianne Haynes d. 21 Eleni Guzman, 11-3, 11-5, 13-11
13 Nancy Enriquez d. 20 Monserrat Perez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6
4 Alexandra Herrera d. Masiel Rivera, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9
3 Frédérique Lambert d. Robin Whitmire, 11-4, 11-1, 11-2
19 Sheryl Lotts d. 14 Gabriela Martinez, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6
11 Monserrat Mejia d. 22 Jenny Daza, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4
6 Cristina Amaya d. Michelle De La Rosa, 11-4, 2-11, 11-5, 11-8
7 Natalia Mendez d. Sara Jeys, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4
10 Carla Muñoz d. 23 Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0
15 Erin Groves d. 18 Hollie Scott, 5-11, 11-8, 11-2, 4-11, 11-9
2 Jessica Parrilla d. Erika Manilla, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4
LPRT Singles - Round of 16
1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Maria Renee Rodriguez - 5:20 PM
9 Adriana Riveros v. Angelica Barrios - 5:20 PM
5 Rhonda Rajsich v. 12 Adrianne Haynes - 1:30 PM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 13 Nancy Enriquez - 1:30 PM
3 Frédérique Lambert v. 19 Sheryl Lotts - 2:40 PM
6 Cristina Amaya v. 11 Monserrat Mejia - 2:40 PM
7 Natalia Mendez v. 10 Carla Muñoz - 4:10 PM
15 Erin Groves v. 2 Jessica Parrilla - 4:10 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
But top seed and six time defending US Open Champion, Paola Longoria moved into the Round of 16 comfortably, as she defeated Janel Tisinger, 11-3, 11-3, 11-3, in the 32s. Longoria will play Maria Renee Rodriguez in the 16s, as Rodriguez outlasted Cecilia Pratt over five games, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9.
The LPRT Round of 16 goes later today at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Singles - Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria d. Janel Tisinger, 11-3, 11-3, 11-3
16 Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 17 Cecilia Pratt, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9
9 Adriana Riveros d. 24 Jordan Cooperrider, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1
Angelica Barrios d. 8 Susana Acosta, 11-3, 3-11, 11-2, 11-6
5 Rhonda Rajsich d. Maria Vargas, 11-3, 11-4, 11-4
12 Adrianne Haynes d. 21 Eleni Guzman, 11-3, 11-5, 13-11
13 Nancy Enriquez d. 20 Monserrat Perez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6
4 Alexandra Herrera d. Masiel Rivera, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9
3 Frédérique Lambert d. Robin Whitmire, 11-4, 11-1, 11-2
19 Sheryl Lotts d. 14 Gabriela Martinez, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6
11 Monserrat Mejia d. 22 Jenny Daza, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4
6 Cristina Amaya d. Michelle De La Rosa, 11-4, 2-11, 11-5, 11-8
7 Natalia Mendez d. Sara Jeys, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4
10 Carla Muñoz d. 23 Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0
15 Erin Groves d. 18 Hollie Scott, 5-11, 11-8, 11-2, 4-11, 11-9
2 Jessica Parrilla d. Erika Manilla, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4
LPRT Singles - Round of 16
1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Maria Renee Rodriguez - 5:20 PM
9 Adriana Riveros v. Angelica Barrios - 5:20 PM
5 Rhonda Rajsich v. 12 Adrianne Haynes - 1:30 PM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 13 Nancy Enriquez - 1:30 PM
3 Frédérique Lambert v. 19 Sheryl Lotts - 2:40 PM
6 Cristina Amaya v. 11 Monserrat Mejia - 2:40 PM
7 Natalia Mendez v. 10 Carla Muñoz - 4:10 PM
15 Erin Groves v. 2 Jessica Parrilla - 4:10 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
IRT Doubles set for 2017 UnitedHealthCare US Open
Another day of doubles action, and another 11-10 tie-breaker. This time is was Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso surviving a comeback by Thomas Carter and Kyle Ulliman, 15-8, 12-15, 11-10, in the last round of qualifying in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) competition at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis. The win gets Keller and Moscoso a spot in the quarterfinals against the top seeds and two time US Open IRT Doubles Champions Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk this evening.
After splitting the first two games, Bolivians Keller and Moscoso took the early lead in the break at 4-0 and 6-2. Then then got to match point at 10-5, but lefty-righty team of Carter and Ulliman were not going to go quietly. They got the serve back when Moscoso was hit by the ball, and got within three at 10-7. But Moscoso got his side the serve back with a forehand cross court shot to the right side.
Yet Keller and Moscoso's second and third match points disappeared as they each made an unforced error. That allowed Carter and Ulliman another opportunity to score, and score they did, adding three to their total and tying the game at 10-10 with two winners from Carter and a serve return error by Keller. But a long rally ended when Ulliman, who had shot driven to his side, tried to go to the ceiling, and didn't get the ball to the front wall.
Carter managed to fend off Moscoso and Keller's fourth match point with a winner down the middle, but 5 was the lucky number for the team from Bolivia, as they won it on a Moscoso forehand wide angle pass over to the right side.
The IRT semi-finals at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Friday evening at 7:20 and 5:20 with the final Saturday at 5 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Doubles Qualifying
Round 3 - Thursday morning
Q1 - Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya d. Javier Mar & Edson Martinez, 15-13, 15-12
Q4 - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman, 15-8, 12-15, 11-10
Q3 - Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Nicholas Riffel & Adam Manilla, 15-7, 15-10
Q2 - Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck d. Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco, 15-5, 15-5
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday night
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso - 8:50 PM
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya - 8:50 PM
3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray v. Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck - 7:40 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran v. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde - 7:40 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
After splitting the first two games, Bolivians Keller and Moscoso took the early lead in the break at 4-0 and 6-2. Then then got to match point at 10-5, but lefty-righty team of Carter and Ulliman were not going to go quietly. They got the serve back when Moscoso was hit by the ball, and got within three at 10-7. But Moscoso got his side the serve back with a forehand cross court shot to the right side.
Yet Keller and Moscoso's second and third match points disappeared as they each made an unforced error. That allowed Carter and Ulliman another opportunity to score, and score they did, adding three to their total and tying the game at 10-10 with two winners from Carter and a serve return error by Keller. But a long rally ended when Ulliman, who had shot driven to his side, tried to go to the ceiling, and didn't get the ball to the front wall.
Carter managed to fend off Moscoso and Keller's fourth match point with a winner down the middle, but 5 was the lucky number for the team from Bolivia, as they won it on a Moscoso forehand wide angle pass over to the right side.
The IRT semi-finals at 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Friday evening at 7:20 and 5:20 with the final Saturday at 5 PM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Doubles Qualifying
Round 3 - Thursday morning
Q1 - Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya d. Javier Mar & Edson Martinez, 15-13, 15-12
Q4 - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman, 15-8, 12-15, 11-10
Q3 - Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Nicholas Riffel & Adam Manilla, 15-7, 15-10
Q2 - Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck d. Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco, 15-5, 15-5
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday night
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso - 8:50 PM
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya - 8:50 PM
3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray v. Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck - 7:40 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran v. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde - 7:40 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Monchik into Round of 32 at 2017 UnitedHealthCare US Open
Sudsy Monchik, a former #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), has reached the Round of 32 at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis. He defeated Gerardo Franco in the final round of qualifying, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4. Monchik is playing the US Open for the first time since 2006, when the event was still in Memphis, Tennessee. It moved to Minneapolis in 2010.
In 2006, Monchik reached the Round of 16, falling to Alvaro Beltran due to an injury forfeit. Thus, if he wins one more match, which will be against Felipe Camacho on Thursday, Monchik, who turns 43 next week, will equal his best US Open showing in over a decade. A win over Camacho would like pit Monchik against 5th seed Jansen Allen, and a win over Allen would put him in the quarterfinals. Monchik was last in the US Open quarters in 2003, when he lost to Kane Waselenchuk. Monchik has won the US Open four times, mostly recently in 2002.
Other players making it through qualifying include Bolivian Carlos Keller, who beat John Wolfe, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3. The win sets up a rematch of the Boy's U18 2011 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior final between Keller and Daniel De La Rosa, the IRT's #3 player. But in 2011, Keller won, denying De La Rosa his last chance to win Boy's U18 at World Juniors.
In doubles partner showdown, Adam Manilla came back from two games down to defeat Nicholas Riffel, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-1. Manilla will play IRT #4 Alvaro Beltran in the 32s Thursday, while Manilla and Riffel will play Andres Acuña and Gabriel Garcia in doubles qualifying tonight, and if they win, they'll play another doubles qualifier tomorrow morning.
In doubles qualifying, Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde came back from a game down, including fighting off two match points, to defeat Alejandro Herrera and Alejandro Landa, 10-15, 15-14, 11-8.
After winning game one, Herrera and Landa had a good lead early in game two at 6-0. But Rios and Ugalde came back to lead 11-8, yet they didn't hold that lead, as momentum swung back to Herrera and Landa who scored five straight points to lead 13-11. The next thirteen rallies produced only one point, and put the score at 13-12.
Herrera and Landa got the next point when Herrera hit a forehand reverse winner. That was only one of many reverse pinch shots hit in the match. That put them on game and match point at 14-12. But Ugalde hit winners to end the next two rallies, and keep his side alive.
Rios and Ugalde called a timeout at that point, and then proceeded to win three points in a row to take game two, 15-14, and force a tie-breaker. Rios closed out game two by cutting off a ceiling ball in the front court with a soft backhand shot.
Game three was similar to game two, as Herrera and Landa took the early lead at 8-1. But they didn't score another point, as Rios and Ugalde came scored 10 unanswered to win the breaker, 11-8, and the match, 2-1. Herrera and Landa only got two chances to serve (side ins, so to speak) during the comeback. The winning point came off an unforced error by Landa, as he skipped a backhand pinch shot in the front court. It was a sad end to a great match.
In one of the most anticipated matches, former #1s Sudsy Monchik and Cliff Swain lost in a tie-breaker to Javier Mar and Edson Martinez, 13-15, 15-12, 11-5. The veterans never seemed to hit their respective strides, while the young Mexican team grew more comfortable as the match went along.
It looked like Mar and Martinez were going to win game one until Monchik hit a winner to get the serve back at 13-13. After Monchik and Swain called a timeout, Monchik hit winners on the ensuing two rallies, with the game winner a pure reaction shot that dumped the ball into the front left corner.
The veterans seemed like they might take the match in two straight games late in game two, as they led 12-7. But Mar and Martinez put together a streak of eight unanswered points to force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, the story was similar to game two, as Monchik and Swain led 5-3, then Mar and Martinez went on a roll with eight unanswered points to win 11-5. Monchik and Swain called a timeout at 9-5, but to no avail. Martinez was especially hot down the stretch hitting three winners. Mar also did his part, making it 10-5 with a nice soft kill shot after Monchik's serve return came right to him on the left side.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open continues Wednesday and finishes Sunday October 8 at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Qualifying Round 2 - Wednesday
Q1 = 17 Jake Bredenbeck d. Sergio Acuña, 11-0, 11-1, 11-1
Q2 = 18 Andres Acuña d. Jose Flores, Jr., 11-7, 11-5, 11-5
Q3 = Erik Garcia d. 19 Justus Benson, 11-9, 11-5, 11-2
Q4 = Nicolas Bousquet d. 20 Set Cubillos, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9
Q5 = Sudsy Monchik d. 21 Gerardo Franco, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Q6 = 22 Rodrigo Montoya d. Jose Daniel Ugalde, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 11-9
Q7 = 23 Javier Mar d. Kyle Ulliman, 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
Q8 = Conrrado Moscoso d. Jose E. Ubilla, 11-2, 11-1, 11-5
Q9 = Shai Manzuri d. Brad Schopieray, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4
Q10 = Fernando Kurzbard d. Daeyong Kwon, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2
Q11 = Fernando Rios d. Jonathan Burns, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5
Q12 = Edson Martinez d. Teobaldo Fumero, 13-11, 11-9, 11-9
Q13 = Adam Manilla d. Nicholas Riffel, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-1
Q14 = Carlos Keller d. John Wolfe, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
Q15 = Roland Keller d. Christian Wer, 11-8, 15-13, 11-8
Q16 = Eduardo Portillo d. Kadim Carrasco, 10-12, 11-5, 11-1, 11-6
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Eduardo Portillo
16) Jose Diaz v. Jake Bredenbeck
9) David Horn v. Conrrado Moscoso
8) Andree Parrilla v. Shai Manzuri
5) Jansen Allen v. Edson Martinez
12) Felipe Camacho v. Sudsy Monchik
13) Robert Collins v. Nicolas Bousquet
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Adam Manilla
3) Daniel De La Rosa v. Carlos Keller
14) Charles Pratt v. Erik Garcia
11) Alejandro Landa v. Rodrigo Montoya
6) Sebastian Franco v. Fernando Rios
7) Mario Mercado v. Fernando Kurzbard
10) Samuel Murray v. Javier Mar
15) Scott McClellan v. Andres Acuña
2) Rocky Carson v. Roland Keller
IRT Men’s Doubles Qualifying - Wednesday
Round 2 - Wednesday
Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya d. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri, 15-7, 15-13
Javier Mar & Edson Martinez d. Sudsy Monchik & Cliff Swain, 13-15, 15-12, 11-5
Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman d. Charles Pratt & Bryan Crosser, 15-8, 9-15, 11-2
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero, 15-10, 10-15, 11-10
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Alejandro Herrera & Alejandro Landa, 10-15, 15-14, 11-8
Nicholas Riffel & Adam Manilla d. Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia, 15-11, 15-9
Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck d. Justus Benson & Erik Garcia, 5-15, 15-13, 11-7
Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco d. David Horn & Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 11-15, 11-5
Round 3 - Thursday morning
Q1 - Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya v. Javier Mar & Edson Martinez - 8 AM
Q4 - Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso - 9 AM
Q3 - Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde v. Nicholas Riffel & Adam Manilla - 8 AM
Q2 - Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck v. Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco - 9 AM
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday night
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. Q4
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. Q1
3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray v. Q2
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran v. Q3
Follow the bouncing ball….
In 2006, Monchik reached the Round of 16, falling to Alvaro Beltran due to an injury forfeit. Thus, if he wins one more match, which will be against Felipe Camacho on Thursday, Monchik, who turns 43 next week, will equal his best US Open showing in over a decade. A win over Camacho would like pit Monchik against 5th seed Jansen Allen, and a win over Allen would put him in the quarterfinals. Monchik was last in the US Open quarters in 2003, when he lost to Kane Waselenchuk. Monchik has won the US Open four times, mostly recently in 2002.
Other players making it through qualifying include Bolivian Carlos Keller, who beat John Wolfe, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3. The win sets up a rematch of the Boy's U18 2011 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior final between Keller and Daniel De La Rosa, the IRT's #3 player. But in 2011, Keller won, denying De La Rosa his last chance to win Boy's U18 at World Juniors.
In doubles partner showdown, Adam Manilla came back from two games down to defeat Nicholas Riffel, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-1. Manilla will play IRT #4 Alvaro Beltran in the 32s Thursday, while Manilla and Riffel will play Andres Acuña and Gabriel Garcia in doubles qualifying tonight, and if they win, they'll play another doubles qualifier tomorrow morning.
In doubles qualifying, Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Ugalde came back from a game down, including fighting off two match points, to defeat Alejandro Herrera and Alejandro Landa, 10-15, 15-14, 11-8.
After winning game one, Herrera and Landa had a good lead early in game two at 6-0. But Rios and Ugalde came back to lead 11-8, yet they didn't hold that lead, as momentum swung back to Herrera and Landa who scored five straight points to lead 13-11. The next thirteen rallies produced only one point, and put the score at 13-12.
Herrera and Landa got the next point when Herrera hit a forehand reverse winner. That was only one of many reverse pinch shots hit in the match. That put them on game and match point at 14-12. But Ugalde hit winners to end the next two rallies, and keep his side alive.
Rios and Ugalde called a timeout at that point, and then proceeded to win three points in a row to take game two, 15-14, and force a tie-breaker. Rios closed out game two by cutting off a ceiling ball in the front court with a soft backhand shot.
Game three was similar to game two, as Herrera and Landa took the early lead at 8-1. But they didn't score another point, as Rios and Ugalde came scored 10 unanswered to win the breaker, 11-8, and the match, 2-1. Herrera and Landa only got two chances to serve (side ins, so to speak) during the comeback. The winning point came off an unforced error by Landa, as he skipped a backhand pinch shot in the front court. It was a sad end to a great match.
In one of the most anticipated matches, former #1s Sudsy Monchik and Cliff Swain lost in a tie-breaker to Javier Mar and Edson Martinez, 13-15, 15-12, 11-5. The veterans never seemed to hit their respective strides, while the young Mexican team grew more comfortable as the match went along.
It looked like Mar and Martinez were going to win game one until Monchik hit a winner to get the serve back at 13-13. After Monchik and Swain called a timeout, Monchik hit winners on the ensuing two rallies, with the game winner a pure reaction shot that dumped the ball into the front left corner.
The veterans seemed like they might take the match in two straight games late in game two, as they led 12-7. But Mar and Martinez put together a streak of eight unanswered points to force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, the story was similar to game two, as Monchik and Swain led 5-3, then Mar and Martinez went on a roll with eight unanswered points to win 11-5. Monchik and Swain called a timeout at 9-5, but to no avail. Martinez was especially hot down the stretch hitting three winners. Mar also did his part, making it 10-5 with a nice soft kill shot after Monchik's serve return came right to him on the left side.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open continues Wednesday and finishes Sunday October 8 at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
IRT Men’s Singles
Qualifying Round 2 - Wednesday
Q1 = 17 Jake Bredenbeck d. Sergio Acuña, 11-0, 11-1, 11-1
Q2 = 18 Andres Acuña d. Jose Flores, Jr., 11-7, 11-5, 11-5
Q3 = Erik Garcia d. 19 Justus Benson, 11-9, 11-5, 11-2
Q4 = Nicolas Bousquet d. 20 Set Cubillos, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9
Q5 = Sudsy Monchik d. 21 Gerardo Franco, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Q6 = 22 Rodrigo Montoya d. Jose Daniel Ugalde, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 11-9
Q7 = 23 Javier Mar d. Kyle Ulliman, 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
Q8 = Conrrado Moscoso d. Jose E. Ubilla, 11-2, 11-1, 11-5
Q9 = Shai Manzuri d. Brad Schopieray, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4
Q10 = Fernando Kurzbard d. Daeyong Kwon, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2
Q11 = Fernando Rios d. Jonathan Burns, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5
Q12 = Edson Martinez d. Teobaldo Fumero, 13-11, 11-9, 11-9
Q13 = Adam Manilla d. Nicholas Riffel, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-1
Q14 = Carlos Keller d. John Wolfe, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
Q15 = Roland Keller d. Christian Wer, 11-8, 15-13, 11-8
Q16 = Eduardo Portillo d. Kadim Carrasco, 10-12, 11-5, 11-1, 11-6
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Eduardo Portillo
16) Jose Diaz v. Jake Bredenbeck
9) David Horn v. Conrrado Moscoso
8) Andree Parrilla v. Shai Manzuri
5) Jansen Allen v. Edson Martinez
12) Felipe Camacho v. Sudsy Monchik
13) Robert Collins v. Nicolas Bousquet
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Adam Manilla
3) Daniel De La Rosa v. Carlos Keller
14) Charles Pratt v. Erik Garcia
11) Alejandro Landa v. Rodrigo Montoya
6) Sebastian Franco v. Fernando Rios
7) Mario Mercado v. Fernando Kurzbard
10) Samuel Murray v. Javier Mar
15) Scott McClellan v. Andres Acuña
2) Rocky Carson v. Roland Keller
IRT Men’s Doubles Qualifying - Wednesday
Round 2 - Wednesday
Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya d. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri, 15-7, 15-13
Javier Mar & Edson Martinez d. Sudsy Monchik & Cliff Swain, 13-15, 15-12, 11-5
Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman d. Charles Pratt & Bryan Crosser, 15-8, 9-15, 11-2
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero, 15-10, 10-15, 11-10
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Alejandro Herrera & Alejandro Landa, 10-15, 15-14, 11-8
Nicholas Riffel & Adam Manilla d. Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia, 15-11, 15-9
Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck d. Justus Benson & Erik Garcia, 5-15, 15-13, 11-7
Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco d. David Horn & Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 11-15, 11-5
Round 3 - Thursday morning
Q1 - Andree Parrilla & Rodrigo Montoya v. Javier Mar & Edson Martinez - 8 AM
Q4 - Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso - 9 AM
Q3 - Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde v. Nicholas Riffel & Adam Manilla - 8 AM
Q2 - Jose Diaz & Jake Bredenbeck v. Carlos Keller & Kadim Carrasco - 9 AM
IRT Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday night
1) Kane Waselenchuk & Ben Croft v. Q4
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. Q1
3) Jansen Allen & Samuel Murray v. Q2
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alvaro Beltran v. Q3
Follow the bouncing ball….
2017 UnitedHealthCare US Open - LPRT Qualifying
Janel Tisinger has won twice in the early Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) action at the 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open in Minneapolis. She defeated Hannah Shnurman, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10, in singles and teamed up with Aimee Ruiz to beat Erika Manilla and Melania Sauma in doubles, 15-5, 15-3.
The singles win gets Tisinger a date with the LPRT #1 Paola Longoria in the Round of 32 on Thursday. But she and Ruiz played a second time in doubles. They managed to pull out a tie-breaker against Carla Muñoz and Michelle De La Rosa (née Key), winning 15-11, 9-15, 11-10.
Tisinger and Ruiz - the current World Champions - worked a big comeback in the breaker, as Muñoz and De La Rosa were down 9-1 and 10-8. But they fought off two match points by hitting one winning cross court each, and then got three points on consecutive serves, as De La Rosa skipped a forehand (unforced error) and the left-handed Ruiz then hit two winners, finishing the match off with a reverse pinch to the right corner.
The win gets Tisinger and Ruiz a quarterfinal match against top seeds Jessica Parrilla and Frédérique Lambert in Thursday evening.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open continues Thursday October 5 and finishes Sunday October 8 at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Singles
Qualifying Round
Q1 Angelica Barrios d. Maria Paz Muñoz, 11-9, 11-0, 12-10
Q2 Sara Jeys d. Youngock Lee, 11-1, 6-11, 1-11, 11-5, 11-9
Q3 Michelle De La Rosa d. Cassandra Lee, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9
Q4 Maria Vargas v. Brenda Laime, 6-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-1
Q5 Masiel Rivera d. Linda Tyler, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Q6 Robin Whitmire d. Jennifer Dering, 11-3, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9
Q7 Erika Manilla d. Michèle Morissette, 11-1, 12-10, 11-7
Q8 Janel Tisinger d. Hannah Shnurman, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10
Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria v. Janel Tisinger
16 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 17 Cecilia Pratt
9 Adriana Riveros v. 24 Jordan Cooperrider
8 Susana Acosta v. Angelica Barrios
5 Rhonda Rajsich v. Maria Vargas
12 Adrianne Haynes v. 21 Eleni Guzman
13 Nancy Enriquez v. 20 Monserrat Perez
4 Alexandra Herrera v. Masiel Rivera
3 Frédérique Lambert v. Robin Whitmire
14 Gabriela Martinez v. 19 Sheryl Lotts
11 Monserrat Mejia v. 22 Jenny Daza
6 Cristina Amaya v. Michelle De La Rosa
7 Natalia Mendez v. Sara Jeys
10 Carla Muñoz v. 23 Laura Brandt
15 Erin Groves v. 18 Hollie Scott
2 Jessica Parrilla v. Erika Manilla
LPRT Doubles - Qualifying Round 1 - Wednesday
Janel Tisinger & Aimee Ruiz d. Erika Manilla & Melania Sauma, 15-5, 15-3
Jenny Daza & Angelica Barrios d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento, 15-4, 15-5
Daniela Molina & Masiel Rivera d. Cecilia Pratt & Maiko Sato, 15-4, 15-8
LPRT Doubles - Qualifying Round 2 - Wednesday
Q1: Janel Tisinger & Aimee Ruiz d. Carla Muñoz & Michelle De La Rosa, 15-11, 9-15, 11-10
Q4: Monserrat Perez & Erin Groves d. Natalia Mendez & Maria Vargas, 13-15, 15-9, 11-6
Q3: Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman d. Jenny Daza & Angelica Barrios, 15-8, 15-11
Q2: Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. Daniela Molina & Masiel Rivera, 15-12, 15-9
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert v. Monserrat Perez & Erin Groves - 8:50 PM
4) Cristina Amaya & 7 Adriana Riveros v. Janel Tisinger & Aimee Ruiz - 6:30 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia v. Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 8:50 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez v. Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman - 7:40 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
The singles win gets Tisinger a date with the LPRT #1 Paola Longoria in the Round of 32 on Thursday. But she and Ruiz played a second time in doubles. They managed to pull out a tie-breaker against Carla Muñoz and Michelle De La Rosa (née Key), winning 15-11, 9-15, 11-10.
Tisinger and Ruiz - the current World Champions - worked a big comeback in the breaker, as Muñoz and De La Rosa were down 9-1 and 10-8. But they fought off two match points by hitting one winning cross court each, and then got three points on consecutive serves, as De La Rosa skipped a forehand (unforced error) and the left-handed Ruiz then hit two winners, finishing the match off with a reverse pinch to the right corner.
The win gets Tisinger and Ruiz a quarterfinal match against top seeds Jessica Parrilla and Frédérique Lambert in Thursday evening.
The 2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open continues Thursday October 5 and finishes Sunday October 8 at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 4-8, 2017
LPRT Singles
Qualifying Round
Q1 Angelica Barrios d. Maria Paz Muñoz, 11-9, 11-0, 12-10
Q2 Sara Jeys d. Youngock Lee, 11-1, 6-11, 1-11, 11-5, 11-9
Q3 Michelle De La Rosa d. Cassandra Lee, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9
Q4 Maria Vargas v. Brenda Laime, 6-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-1
Q5 Masiel Rivera d. Linda Tyler, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Q6 Robin Whitmire d. Jennifer Dering, 11-3, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9
Q7 Erika Manilla d. Michèle Morissette, 11-1, 12-10, 11-7
Q8 Janel Tisinger d. Hannah Shnurman, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10
Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria v. Janel Tisinger
16 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 17 Cecilia Pratt
9 Adriana Riveros v. 24 Jordan Cooperrider
8 Susana Acosta v. Angelica Barrios
5 Rhonda Rajsich v. Maria Vargas
12 Adrianne Haynes v. 21 Eleni Guzman
13 Nancy Enriquez v. 20 Monserrat Perez
4 Alexandra Herrera v. Masiel Rivera
3 Frédérique Lambert v. Robin Whitmire
14 Gabriela Martinez v. 19 Sheryl Lotts
11 Monserrat Mejia v. 22 Jenny Daza
6 Cristina Amaya v. Michelle De La Rosa
7 Natalia Mendez v. Sara Jeys
10 Carla Muñoz v. 23 Laura Brandt
15 Erin Groves v. 18 Hollie Scott
2 Jessica Parrilla v. Erika Manilla
LPRT Doubles - Qualifying Round 1 - Wednesday
Janel Tisinger & Aimee Ruiz d. Erika Manilla & Melania Sauma, 15-5, 15-3
Jenny Daza & Angelica Barrios d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento, 15-4, 15-5
Daniela Molina & Masiel Rivera d. Cecilia Pratt & Maiko Sato, 15-4, 15-8
LPRT Doubles - Qualifying Round 2 - Wednesday
Q1: Janel Tisinger & Aimee Ruiz d. Carla Muñoz & Michelle De La Rosa, 15-11, 9-15, 11-10
Q4: Monserrat Perez & Erin Groves d. Natalia Mendez & Maria Vargas, 13-15, 15-9, 11-6
Q3: Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman d. Jenny Daza & Angelica Barrios, 15-8, 15-11
Q2: Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. Daniela Molina & Masiel Rivera, 15-12, 15-9
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert v. Monserrat Perez & Erin Groves - 8:50 PM
4) Cristina Amaya & 7 Adriana Riveros v. Janel Tisinger & Aimee Ruiz - 6:30 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera & Monserrat Mejia v. Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 8:50 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez v. Susana Acosta & Eleni Guzman - 7:40 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
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