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….
Thursday, October 5, 2017
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