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….