Paola Longoria proved herself once again as the best women’s racquetball player in the world, as she won both singles and doubles Sunday at the 2018 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Boston Open. Longoria, the #1 LPRT player, defeated Samantha Salas in the singles final, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6, and then teamed up with Salas to take the doubles title by beating Alexandra Herrera and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-7, 15-2. Longoria’s wins maintain her undefeated season.
Longoria started well in the singles final, taking a 6-2 lead on Salas in game one. Salas took a timeout at that point, and then closed the gap, getting within one at 6-5, when Longoria chose to call a timeout.
That stoppage didn’t halt Salas’s run, however, as she tied it, 6-6, and then went ahead 8-6 on an ace drive serve to the right side. But Longoria stopped Salas there, and proceeded to score three points on consecutive rallies to lead 9-8, which led to Salas’s 2nd timeout.
When play resumed, Longoria got the last two points to close out game one, 11-8, ending it with a backhand winner. She carried the momentum into game two, and went up 6-0. Salas got the serve back at that point, and got her first point with a great backhand pinch shot.
But Longoria held Salas at 1 while adding a couple more points to lead 8-1, so Salas called a timeout. She took the serve back with a forehand winner when play resumed, and then scored three points to make it 8-4.
Salas dove on the next rally to keep the ball in play, but Longoria hit a forehand to win the rally. Longoria called a timeout, and after exchanging sideouts, scored two points to reach game point at 10-4. But she skipped a backhand shot on her first game point.
Back in the service box, Salas scored two points, including an ace drive serve to the left, that made the score 10-6. But Longoria stopped her there with a sideout, and a forehand shot won Longoria the game at 11-6, and put her up 2-0.
Being down 2-0 against anyone is not good, but when you’re down 2-0 against the #1 player, it’s even worse. Yet Salas’s two victories over Longoria in the last two years both came after she was down 2-0.
So it wasn’t a surprise when Salas came out undaunted in game three, and took leads at 3-0 and 6-3. Longoria called a timeout at that point. On the next rally, Salas took a shot on the left side of the court with her forehand, and skipped it, which gifted the serve back to Longoria.
Longoria took full advantage of the gift, as she scored seven points on the next seven rallies to get to match point at 10-6. Salas called a timeout at 6-6, but to no avail. Salas did Longoria another favour in giving her the 10th point by skipping a poor backhand shot.
Salas denied Longoria her first match point with a winning backhand shot. She fought off a 2nd match point helped by another diving get. But after that Salas drove serve to the left, but the ball came well out of the back corner, which allowed Longoria plenty of space to hit a winning backhand pinch shot.
Longoria ended the match on the next rally with a backhand cross court winner making the final score 11-6.
Longoria and Salas took a 6-0 lead in game one of the doubles final, but Herrera and Rodriguez came right back to tie it 6-6. It looked like it would be a really competitive final between the three time World Champions in Longoria and Salas and two players who were playing together for the first time, but had each beaten Longoria and Salas with their regular doubles partners.
However, after 6-6 in game one, Herrera and Rodriguez only scored three points the rest of the way. Thus, it was another dominating doubles performance by Longoria and Salas.
If you missed the action from Boston, check out the matches at the LPRT LiveStream channel. The LPRT will next be in action in Chicago at the 2018 LPRT Turkey Shoot Pro-Am, November 16-18.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria d. 3 Samantha Salas, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6
LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-7, 15-2
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Longoria & Salas will be foes & partners Sunday at 2018 LPRT Boston Open
Both Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas will have a chance to be double winners Sunday at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2018 LPRT Boston Open, as they will play each other in the singles final, and then team up to play the doubles final. In the singles semi-finals, Longoria beat Alexandra Herrera, 11-3, 11-1, 11-2, and Salas needed five games to get past Rhonda Rajsich, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3.
They’ll play Herrera and Maria Renee Rodriguez in the doubles final, as Herrera and Rodriguez defeated Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-7, 15-9, in the semi-finals. Longoria and Salas got an injury forfeit win over Frédérique Lambert and Carla Muñoz, as Muñoz rolled her ankle on Friday, and it had swollen up overnight making her unable to play Saturday.
All of the singles quarterfinal matches went four games. Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, dropped the first game to Natalia Mendez before winning the next three to take the match, 8-11, 11-0, 11-6, 11-2. Salas defeated Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 11-1, 2-11, 11-3. Herrera beat Nancy Enriquez, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-4, and finally, veteran Rajsich was an upset winner by defeating LPRT #2 Lambert in four close games, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9.
The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the Live Streaming link on the LPRT website to see the action from Boston. All times Eastern.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 8 Natalia Mendez, 8-11, 11-0, 11-6, 11-2
4 Alexandra Herrera d. 5 Nancy Enriquez, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-4
3 Samantha Salas d. 6 Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 11-1, 2-11, 11-3
7 Rhonda Rajsich d. 2 Frédérique Lambert, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 11-3, 11-1, 11-2
3 Samantha Salas d. 7 Rhonda Rajsich, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria v. 3 Samantha Salas - 11 AM
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz, injury forfeit
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-7, 15-9
LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
They’ll play Herrera and Maria Renee Rodriguez in the doubles final, as Herrera and Rodriguez defeated Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-7, 15-9, in the semi-finals. Longoria and Salas got an injury forfeit win over Frédérique Lambert and Carla Muñoz, as Muñoz rolled her ankle on Friday, and it had swollen up overnight making her unable to play Saturday.
All of the singles quarterfinal matches went four games. Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, dropped the first game to Natalia Mendez before winning the next three to take the match, 8-11, 11-0, 11-6, 11-2. Salas defeated Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 11-1, 2-11, 11-3. Herrera beat Nancy Enriquez, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-4, and finally, veteran Rajsich was an upset winner by defeating LPRT #2 Lambert in four close games, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9.
The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with the doubles final scheduled for noon. Check out the Live Streaming link on the LPRT website to see the action from Boston. All times Eastern.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 8 Natalia Mendez, 8-11, 11-0, 11-6, 11-2
4 Alexandra Herrera d. 5 Nancy Enriquez, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-4
3 Samantha Salas d. 6 Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 11-1, 2-11, 11-3
7 Rhonda Rajsich d. 2 Frédérique Lambert, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 11-3, 11-1, 11-2
3 Samantha Salas d. 7 Rhonda Rajsich, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria v. 3 Samantha Salas - 11 AM
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz, injury forfeit
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-7, 15-9
LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 26, 2018
Longoria, Lambert into the quarterfinals at 2018 LPRT Boston Open
Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), won her first match at the 2018 LPRT Boston Open, as she beat Yazmine Sabja, 11-4, 11-6, 11-1. She’ll face Natalia Mendez in the quarterfinals Saturday after Mendez got the better of Cristina Amaya on Friday in the Round of 16, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8.
LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert also won in the Round of 16 Friday, defeating Masiel Rivera, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9. Lambert plays USA veteran Rhonda Rajsich in the quarters after Rajsich took out Carla Muñoz in three games, 12-10, 11-5, 11-7, in the 16s.
In doubles, Sabja almost evened the score with Longoria, but the LPRT’s top player and her partner Samantha Salas defeated Sabja and Nancy Enriquez in a tie-breaker, 14-15, 15-12, 11-2. Longoria and Salas will play Lambert and Muñoz in the semi-finals Saturday, as Lambert and Muñoz also won a tie-breaker against Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, 13-15, 15-6, 11-6.
The 2nd seeds in doubles - Alexandra Herrera and Maria Renee Rodriguez - also needed a tie-breaker to advance to the semi-finals, as they survived a battle with Brenda Laime and Masiel Rivera, 3-15, 15-7, 11-8. The only doubles match that didn’t go breaker was actually an upset, as 6th seeds Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts beat 3rd seeds Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-4, 15-5.
The quarterfinals will be Saturday morning at 10 and 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 Live Streaming link on the LPRT website to see the action from Boston. All times Eastern.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Yazmine Sabja, 11-4, 11-6, 11-1
8 Natalia Mendez d. 9 Cristina Amaya, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8
5 Nancy Enriquez d. 12 Sheryl Lotts, 11-1, 11-2, 12-10
4 Alexandra Herrera d. 13 Adrianne Haynes, 11-2, 11-0, 11-3
3 Samantha Salas d. 14 Cassi Lee, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
6 Maria Jose Vargas d. 11 Adriana Riveros, 11-0, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8
7 Rhonda Rajsich d. 10 Carla Muñoz, 12-10, 11-5, 11-7
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 18 Masiel Rivera, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria v. 8 Natalia Mendez - 11 AM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 5 Nancy Enriquez - 11 AM
3 Samantha Salas v. 6 Maria Jose Vargas - 10 AM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 7 Rhonda Rajsich - 10 AM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 8 Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja, 14-15, 15-12, 11-2
5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz d. 4 Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 13-15, 15-6, 11-6
6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-4, 15-5
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 7 Brenda Laime & Masiel Rivera, 3-15, 15-7, 11-8
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz - 7 PM
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert also won in the Round of 16 Friday, defeating Masiel Rivera, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9. Lambert plays USA veteran Rhonda Rajsich in the quarters after Rajsich took out Carla Muñoz in three games, 12-10, 11-5, 11-7, in the 16s.
In doubles, Sabja almost evened the score with Longoria, but the LPRT’s top player and her partner Samantha Salas defeated Sabja and Nancy Enriquez in a tie-breaker, 14-15, 15-12, 11-2. Longoria and Salas will play Lambert and Muñoz in the semi-finals Saturday, as Lambert and Muñoz also won a tie-breaker against Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, 13-15, 15-6, 11-6.
The 2nd seeds in doubles - Alexandra Herrera and Maria Renee Rodriguez - also needed a tie-breaker to advance to the semi-finals, as they survived a battle with Brenda Laime and Masiel Rivera, 3-15, 15-7, 11-8. The only doubles match that didn’t go breaker was actually an upset, as 6th seeds Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts beat 3rd seeds Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-4, 15-5.
The quarterfinals will be Saturday morning at 10 and 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 Live Streaming link on the LPRT website to see the action from Boston. All times Eastern.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Yazmine Sabja, 11-4, 11-6, 11-1
8 Natalia Mendez d. 9 Cristina Amaya, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8
5 Nancy Enriquez d. 12 Sheryl Lotts, 11-1, 11-2, 12-10
4 Alexandra Herrera d. 13 Adrianne Haynes, 11-2, 11-0, 11-3
3 Samantha Salas d. 14 Cassi Lee, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
6 Maria Jose Vargas d. 11 Adriana Riveros, 11-0, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8
7 Rhonda Rajsich d. 10 Carla Muñoz, 12-10, 11-5, 11-7
2 Frédérique Lambert d. 18 Masiel Rivera, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria v. 8 Natalia Mendez - 11 AM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 5 Nancy Enriquez - 11 AM
3 Samantha Salas v. 6 Maria Jose Vargas - 10 AM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 7 Rhonda Rajsich - 10 AM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 8 Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja, 14-15, 15-12, 11-2
5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz d. 4 Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 13-15, 15-6, 11-6
6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-4, 15-5
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 7 Brenda Laime & Masiel Rivera, 3-15, 15-7, 11-8
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz - 7 PM
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Round of 32 at 2018 LPRT Boston Open
Masiel Rivera had the only upset win in the Round of 32 at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2018 Boston Open, as the 18th seed defeated 15th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-6, 9-11, 11-1, 11-3. Rivera will play LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert in the Round of 16 later today.
LPRT #1 Paola Longoria will face 16th seed Yazmine Sabja in the 16s, as Sabja beat Brenda Laime in the 16s, 11-3, 11-1, 12-10.
The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM Eastern 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 Live Streaming link on the LPRT website to see the action from Boston. All times Eastern.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Yazmine Sabja d. 17 Brenda Laime, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10
9 Cristina Amaya - BYE
8 Natalia Mendez - BYE
5 Nancy Enriquez - BYE
12 Sheryl Lotts d. 21 Maria Paz Riquelme, 11-1, 11-3, 11-0
13 Adrianne Haynes d. 20 Cheryl Gudinas, 11-6, 11-0, 11-1
4 Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3 Samantha Salas - BYE
14 Cassi Lee d. 19 Jennifer Dering, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9
11 Adriana Riveros d. 22 Laura Brandt, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
6 Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
7 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
10 Carla Muñoz - BYE
18 Masiel Rivera d. 15 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-6, 9-11, 11-1, 11-3
2 Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Yazmine Sabja - 6 PM
8 Natalia Mendez v. 9 Cristina Amaya - 6 PM
5 Nancy Enriquez v. 12 Sheryl Lotts - 3 PM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 13 Adrianne Haynes - 3 PM
3 Samantha Salas v. 14 Cassi Lee - 4 PM
6 Maria Jose Vargas v. 11 Adriana Riveros - 4 PM
7 Rhonda Rajsich v. 10 Carla Muñoz - 5 PM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 18 Masiel Rivera - 5 PM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8 Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja - 8 PM
4 Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz - 8 PM
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 7 PM
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 7 Brenda Laime & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT #1 Paola Longoria will face 16th seed Yazmine Sabja in the 16s, as Sabja beat Brenda Laime in the 16s, 11-3, 11-1, 12-10.
The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM Eastern 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 Live Streaming link on the LPRT website to see the action from Boston. All times Eastern.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Yazmine Sabja d. 17 Brenda Laime, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10
9 Cristina Amaya - BYE
8 Natalia Mendez - BYE
5 Nancy Enriquez - BYE
12 Sheryl Lotts d. 21 Maria Paz Riquelme, 11-1, 11-3, 11-0
13 Adrianne Haynes d. 20 Cheryl Gudinas, 11-6, 11-0, 11-1
4 Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3 Samantha Salas - BYE
14 Cassi Lee d. 19 Jennifer Dering, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9
11 Adriana Riveros d. 22 Laura Brandt, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
6 Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
7 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
10 Carla Muñoz - BYE
18 Masiel Rivera d. 15 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-6, 9-11, 11-1, 11-3
2 Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Yazmine Sabja - 6 PM
8 Natalia Mendez v. 9 Cristina Amaya - 6 PM
5 Nancy Enriquez v. 12 Sheryl Lotts - 3 PM
4 Alexandra Herrera v. 13 Adrianne Haynes - 3 PM
3 Samantha Salas v. 14 Cassi Lee - 4 PM
6 Maria Jose Vargas v. 11 Adriana Riveros - 4 PM
7 Rhonda Rajsich v. 10 Carla Muñoz - 5 PM
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 18 Masiel Rivera - 5 PM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8 Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja - 8 PM
4 Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz - 8 PM
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 7 PM
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 7 Brenda Laime & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, October 25, 2018
2018 LPRT Boston Open - Preview
Paola Longoria - the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) - will have a chance to add another title to her already impressive resume that most recently included her 9th US Open championship, when she plays in the 2018 LPRT Boston Open. LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert leads the rest of the field, which includes the top 8 LPRT players.
There will be some good matches early with 8th seed Natalia Mendez facing 9th seed Cristina Amaya and 7th seed Rhonda Rajsich against 10th seed Carla Muñoz in the Round of 16.
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 Live Streaming link on the LPRT website to see the action from Boston. All times Eastern.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Yazmine Sabja v. 17 Brenda Laime - 11 AM
9 Cristina Amaya - BYE
8 Natalia Mendez - BYE
5 Nancy Enriquez - BYE
12 Sheryl Lotts v. 21 Maria Paz Riquelme - 10 AM
13 Adrianne Haynes v. 20 Cheryl Gudinas - 10 AM
4 Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3 Samantha Salas - BYE
14 Cassi Lee v. 19 Jennifer Dering - 10 AM
11 Adriana Riveros v. 22 Laura Brandt - 11 AM
6 Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
7 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
10 Carla Muñoz - BYE
15 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 18 Masiel Rivera - 11 AM
2 Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8 Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja - 8 PM
4 Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz - 8 PM
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 7 PM
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 7 Brenda Laime & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
There will be some good matches early with 8th seed Natalia Mendez facing 9th seed Cristina Amaya and 7th seed Rhonda Rajsich against 10th seed Carla Muñoz in the Round of 16.
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 Live Streaming link on the LPRT website to see the action from Boston. All times Eastern.
2018 Boston Open
Boston, Massachusetts - October 26-28, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Yazmine Sabja v. 17 Brenda Laime - 11 AM
9 Cristina Amaya - BYE
8 Natalia Mendez - BYE
5 Nancy Enriquez - BYE
12 Sheryl Lotts v. 21 Maria Paz Riquelme - 10 AM
13 Adrianne Haynes v. 20 Cheryl Gudinas - 10 AM
4 Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3 Samantha Salas - BYE
14 Cassi Lee v. 19 Jennifer Dering - 10 AM
11 Adriana Riveros v. 22 Laura Brandt - 11 AM
6 Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
7 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
10 Carla Muñoz - BYE
15 Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 18 Masiel Rivera - 11 AM
2 Frédérique Lambert - BYE
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1 Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8 Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja - 8 PM
4 Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5 Frédérique Lambert & Carla Muñoz - 8 PM
3 Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 6 Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 7 PM
2 Alexandra Herrera & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 7 Brenda Laime & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, October 22, 2018
Weekend Round Up - Drury wins in Calgary
Danielle Drury won the Women’s Open division at the Canadian Open on Sunday, as she came out on top of a five player round robin by defeating Alexis Iwaasa in the final match, 15-3, 15-6. Iwaasa finished 2nd with veteran Linda Ellerington 3rd.
In the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) singles consolation division, Alejandro Cardona defeated Jaime Martell in the final. In the semi-finals, Cardona beat Mitch Brayley, 15-5, 15-1, and Martell eked out a win over Jake Bredenbeck, 15-14, 15-13.
Shout out! A shout out to the Provo Open in Provo, Utah, not because there were big name players in action. But rather because 17 women participated out 53 players. That’s 32.1%, which is a lot more than we see at most racquetball tournaments. We could tell you who won in Provo, but the point is the group participation, not any individual players.
We’d like to see more women participating in tournaments. Too many tournaments in both the USA and Canada have only a few women - if any - participating. A lack of women players can be seen from juniors through to adults, and has impacted their respective national teams.
However, women’s racquetball will the focus this weekend when the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) congregates in Boston for the LPRT Boston Open beginning October 26.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Women’s Singles
1) Danielle Drury - 4-0
2) Alexis Iwaasa - 3-1
3) Linda Ellerington - 2-2
4) Erin Geeraert - 1-3
5) Cassie Prentice - 0-4
Men’s Singles - WRT Consolation Final
Alejandro Cardona d. Jaime Martell
Men’s Singles - WRT Consolation Semi-finals
Alejandro Cardona d. Mitch Brayley, 15-5, 15-1
Jaime Martell d. Jake Bredenbeck, 15-14, 15-13
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) singles consolation division, Alejandro Cardona defeated Jaime Martell in the final. In the semi-finals, Cardona beat Mitch Brayley, 15-5, 15-1, and Martell eked out a win over Jake Bredenbeck, 15-14, 15-13.
Shout out! A shout out to the Provo Open in Provo, Utah, not because there were big name players in action. But rather because 17 women participated out 53 players. That’s 32.1%, which is a lot more than we see at most racquetball tournaments. We could tell you who won in Provo, but the point is the group participation, not any individual players.
We’d like to see more women participating in tournaments. Too many tournaments in both the USA and Canada have only a few women - if any - participating. A lack of women players can be seen from juniors through to adults, and has impacted their respective national teams.
However, women’s racquetball will the focus this weekend when the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) congregates in Boston for the LPRT Boston Open beginning October 26.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Women’s Singles
1) Danielle Drury - 4-0
2) Alexis Iwaasa - 3-1
3) Linda Ellerington - 2-2
4) Erin Geeraert - 1-3
5) Cassie Prentice - 0-4
Men’s Singles - WRT Consolation Final
Alejandro Cardona d. Jaime Martell
Men’s Singles - WRT Consolation Semi-finals
Alejandro Cardona d. Mitch Brayley, 15-5, 15-1
Jaime Martell d. Jake Bredenbeck, 15-14, 15-13
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Parrilla defeats Iwaasa to win 2018 WRT Canadian Open
Andree Parrilla defeated Coby Iwaasa, 15-11, 15-13, to win the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Canadian Open in Calgary, Alberta Sunday, denying the Canadian Iwaasa a chance to win in his home province. Parrilla had to overcome a hand injury he sustained in game one after diving for a ball to get the win.
Early in game one, it looked like Iwaasa would carry the day, as he jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and was ahead 7-3 when Parrilla took the injury timeout. Iwaasa maintained the lead as the game resumed, going out to a 10-5 lead.
Parrilla took a normal timeout at that point, and staged a comeback, as he scored 10 of the next 11 points to win 15-11. Iwaasa called a timeout when Parrilla when ahead 12-11, but to no avail. Parrilla got to game point with a backhand overhead killshot that some thought skipped, but it was called good. He ended it on the next rally with a drive down the left side that Iwaasa wasn’t ready for.
Game two started slowly, but all the points went Parrilla’s way, as he took a 4-0 lead. Iwaasa cut the lead in half, trailing 4-2, but Parrilla jumped ahead to lead 10-2 despite a Iwaasa timeout at 8-2.
Parrilla got to match point at 14-4, but Iwaasa fought off two match points and then started his comeback. Iwaasa is a power player, but in his comeback he used lob and half lob serves to Parrilla, serving both to the right and left sides. He scored six points on consecutive rallies to make the score 14-10, and causing Parrilla to call a timeout.
When play resumed, Parrilla hit perhaps his worst shot of the match, as he skipped a forehand shot. That made the score 14-11. Iwaasa scored twice more to get within one at 14-13, but a Parrilla backhand got him back in the service box.
On his 3rd match point, Parrilla hit a drive serve to Iwaasa’s backhand that was returned cross court for a winner. Iwaasa served a lob to the left side that Parrilla hit early with his backhand for a down the line winner.
Parrilla’s 4th match point began with a lob serve that kissed off the left side wall. Iwaasa hit a ceiling ball return, so Parrilla scrambled up to the front court, and hit a backhand shot off the shot hop. That wasn’t an easy play, but Parrilla did it successfully, as a surprised Iwaasa was still standing in the backcourt. It was the play of a man desperate to end a match after giving up nine straight points.
Parrilla’s win is his 5th on the WRT, and first since last October, when he won in Mexicali.
In the doubles final, it was to be Alejandro Cardona and Gerardo Franco versus Jake Bredenbeck and Samuel Murray, but Sam Bredenbeck played instead of Murray, and we’re not sure why that was. And if Murray was unable to play, did Cardona and Franco win by default? Regardless, Cardona and Franco won the match that was played, coming back after dropping the first game to win the tie-breaker, 5-15, 15-8, 11-9.
There was a even a bit of uncertainly at the end of the match, as after the first match point seemed to be won by Cardona and Franco, it was determined that the ball was broken, so they had to replay the rally. Cardona finished off the next rally with a solid forehand kill shot to end the match for good.
The 2018 WRT season will end with the Alamo City Open November 30 to December 2 in San Antonio. If you missed any of the action from Calgary check out the WRT Facebook page or the WRT YouTube channel.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Final - Sunday
4) Andree Parrilla d. 22) Coby Iwaasa, 15-11, 15-13
Doubles - Final - Sunday
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 5-15, 15-8, 11-9
Follow the bouncing ball….
Early in game one, it looked like Iwaasa would carry the day, as he jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and was ahead 7-3 when Parrilla took the injury timeout. Iwaasa maintained the lead as the game resumed, going out to a 10-5 lead.
Parrilla took a normal timeout at that point, and staged a comeback, as he scored 10 of the next 11 points to win 15-11. Iwaasa called a timeout when Parrilla when ahead 12-11, but to no avail. Parrilla got to game point with a backhand overhead killshot that some thought skipped, but it was called good. He ended it on the next rally with a drive down the left side that Iwaasa wasn’t ready for.
Game two started slowly, but all the points went Parrilla’s way, as he took a 4-0 lead. Iwaasa cut the lead in half, trailing 4-2, but Parrilla jumped ahead to lead 10-2 despite a Iwaasa timeout at 8-2.
Parrilla got to match point at 14-4, but Iwaasa fought off two match points and then started his comeback. Iwaasa is a power player, but in his comeback he used lob and half lob serves to Parrilla, serving both to the right and left sides. He scored six points on consecutive rallies to make the score 14-10, and causing Parrilla to call a timeout.
When play resumed, Parrilla hit perhaps his worst shot of the match, as he skipped a forehand shot. That made the score 14-11. Iwaasa scored twice more to get within one at 14-13, but a Parrilla backhand got him back in the service box.
On his 3rd match point, Parrilla hit a drive serve to Iwaasa’s backhand that was returned cross court for a winner. Iwaasa served a lob to the left side that Parrilla hit early with his backhand for a down the line winner.
Parrilla’s 4th match point began with a lob serve that kissed off the left side wall. Iwaasa hit a ceiling ball return, so Parrilla scrambled up to the front court, and hit a backhand shot off the shot hop. That wasn’t an easy play, but Parrilla did it successfully, as a surprised Iwaasa was still standing in the backcourt. It was the play of a man desperate to end a match after giving up nine straight points.
Parrilla’s win is his 5th on the WRT, and first since last October, when he won in Mexicali.
In the doubles final, it was to be Alejandro Cardona and Gerardo Franco versus Jake Bredenbeck and Samuel Murray, but Sam Bredenbeck played instead of Murray, and we’re not sure why that was. And if Murray was unable to play, did Cardona and Franco win by default? Regardless, Cardona and Franco won the match that was played, coming back after dropping the first game to win the tie-breaker, 5-15, 15-8, 11-9.
There was a even a bit of uncertainly at the end of the match, as after the first match point seemed to be won by Cardona and Franco, it was determined that the ball was broken, so they had to replay the rally. Cardona finished off the next rally with a solid forehand kill shot to end the match for good.
The 2018 WRT season will end with the Alamo City Open November 30 to December 2 in San Antonio. If you missed any of the action from Calgary check out the WRT Facebook page or the WRT YouTube channel.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Final - Sunday
4) Andree Parrilla d. 22) Coby Iwaasa, 15-11, 15-13
Doubles - Final - Sunday
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 5-15, 15-8, 11-9
Follow the bouncing ball….
Parrilla & Iwaasa faceoff in 2018 WRT Canadian Open final
Mexican Andree Parrilla and Canadian Coby Iwaasa will renew their rivalry Sunday in the final of the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Canadian Open in Calgary, Alberta, as they were both upset winners in the semi-finals. Parrilla knocked off WRT #1 David Horn, 11-15, 15-11, 11-3, in one semi, while Iwaasa got the better of 7th seed Gerardo Franco, 15-7, 15-11, in the other.
Parrilla and Iwaasa, both 22, were born barely a month apart in July and June, respectively, of 1996. They played each other three times back in 2013 and 2014: twice in the Men’s Open division of the US Open - Parrilla defeating Iwaasa in the final in 2013 and Iwaasa beating Parrilla in the semi-finals in 2014, as he went on to win the division - as well as in the semi-finals of Boy’s U16 at the 2013 World Junior Championships, when Parrilla won.
Iwaasa's US Open Men's Open title happened a week after he won his first WRT event in Lombard, Illinois. He beat Alejandro Cardona in the final and defeated Sebastian Franco, Polo Gutierrez and Horn to get to the final. Then in the fall of 2015, Iwaasa went on a two year mission to Japan as a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints. He returned to Canada barely a year ago, and to competitive racquetball last November.
During that period, Parrilla was busy. He won four WRT events, as well as an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, when he beat Horn in the final of the 2018 Shamrock Shootout.
Sunday, Parrilla will have a chance win his 5th WRT event, and first since Mexicali in October 2017 - though Parrilla's only played two WRT events since then. For his part, Iwaasa will have a chance to win his 2nd WRT event Sunday, and to do it in his home province. Iwaasa hails from Lethbridge, Alberta, a small city south of Calgary.
In doubles, 2nd seeds Alejandro Cardona and Gerardo Franco came back to win a tie-breaker against 3rd seeds Jaime Martell and Alan Natera, 5-15, 15-10, 11-7, and they’ll play 4th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Samuel Murray in the final, as Bredenbeck and Murray beat Mitch Brayley and Tim Landeryou, 15-6, 15-5.
You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page. The singles final is scheduled for noon with the doubles final at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Andree Parrilla d. 1) David Horn, 11-15, 15-11, 11-3
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Gerardo Franco, 15-7, 15-11
Singles - Final - Sunday
4) Andree Parrilla v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - Noon PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray d. 8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou, 15-6, 15-5
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera, 5-15, 15-10, 11-7
Doubles - Final - Sunday
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - 2 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Parrilla and Iwaasa, both 22, were born barely a month apart in July and June, respectively, of 1996. They played each other three times back in 2013 and 2014: twice in the Men’s Open division of the US Open - Parrilla defeating Iwaasa in the final in 2013 and Iwaasa beating Parrilla in the semi-finals in 2014, as he went on to win the division - as well as in the semi-finals of Boy’s U16 at the 2013 World Junior Championships, when Parrilla won.
Iwaasa's US Open Men's Open title happened a week after he won his first WRT event in Lombard, Illinois. He beat Alejandro Cardona in the final and defeated Sebastian Franco, Polo Gutierrez and Horn to get to the final. Then in the fall of 2015, Iwaasa went on a two year mission to Japan as a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints. He returned to Canada barely a year ago, and to competitive racquetball last November.
During that period, Parrilla was busy. He won four WRT events, as well as an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, when he beat Horn in the final of the 2018 Shamrock Shootout.
Sunday, Parrilla will have a chance win his 5th WRT event, and first since Mexicali in October 2017 - though Parrilla's only played two WRT events since then. For his part, Iwaasa will have a chance to win his 2nd WRT event Sunday, and to do it in his home province. Iwaasa hails from Lethbridge, Alberta, a small city south of Calgary.
In doubles, 2nd seeds Alejandro Cardona and Gerardo Franco came back to win a tie-breaker against 3rd seeds Jaime Martell and Alan Natera, 5-15, 15-10, 11-7, and they’ll play 4th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Samuel Murray in the final, as Bredenbeck and Murray beat Mitch Brayley and Tim Landeryou, 15-6, 15-5.
You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page. The singles final is scheduled for noon with the doubles final at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Andree Parrilla d. 1) David Horn, 11-15, 15-11, 11-3
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Gerardo Franco, 15-7, 15-11
Singles - Final - Sunday
4) Andree Parrilla v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - Noon PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray d. 8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou, 15-6, 15-5
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera, 5-15, 15-10, 11-7
Doubles - Final - Sunday
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - 2 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Iwaasa into semi-finals at 2018 WRT Canadian Open
Coby Iwaasa - playing close to his hometown of Lethbridge, Alberta - is into the semi-finals of the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Canadian Open in Calgary, Alberta, after defeating Jordy Alonso, 15-5, 15-9. He’ll play Gerardo Franco in the semis, as Franco pulled out a tie-breaker victory over Eduardo Portillo, 10-15, 15-10, 11-7.
On the top of the draw, it’ll be #1 versus #4 in the semi-finals, as David Horn, WRT #1, beat Luis Avila, 15-5, 15-12, and Andree Parrilla, WRT #4, defeated Canadian Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-11, ending the hopes for an all-Canadian final in Calgary.
The quarterfinals continue Saturday afternoon with the semi-finals at 2:45 and 3:30 PM. The final Sunday at noon. You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page.
The doubles draw has two play in matches Friday afternoon followed by the quarterfinals Friday night. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday afternoon with the doubles final Sunday at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) David Horn d. 9) Luis Avila, 15-5, 15-12
4) Andree Parrilla d. 21) Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-11
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 14) Jordy Alonso, 15-5, 15-9
7) Gerardo Franco d. 15) Eduardo Portillo, 10-15, 15-10, 11-7
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) David Horn v. 4) Andree Parrilla - 5:45 PM
7) Gerardo Franco v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - 3:30 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray v. 8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou - 4:15 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - 4:15 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
On the top of the draw, it’ll be #1 versus #4 in the semi-finals, as David Horn, WRT #1, beat Luis Avila, 15-5, 15-12, and Andree Parrilla, WRT #4, defeated Canadian Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-11, ending the hopes for an all-Canadian final in Calgary.
The quarterfinals continue Saturday afternoon with the semi-finals at 2:45 and 3:30 PM. The final Sunday at noon. You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page.
The doubles draw has two play in matches Friday afternoon followed by the quarterfinals Friday night. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday afternoon with the doubles final Sunday at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) David Horn d. 9) Luis Avila, 15-5, 15-12
4) Andree Parrilla d. 21) Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-11
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 14) Jordy Alonso, 15-5, 15-9
7) Gerardo Franco d. 15) Eduardo Portillo, 10-15, 15-10, 11-7
Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) David Horn v. 4) Andree Parrilla - 5:45 PM
7) Gerardo Franco v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - 3:30 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray v. 8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou - 4:15 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - 4:15 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Round of 16 at 2018 WRT Canadian Open
The Round of 16 matches have not gone according to the seeding at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Canadian Open in Calgary, Alberta, so the quarterfinals has only three of the top eight seeds in the quarterfinals on Saturday. David Horn, the WRT’s #1 player, is in the quarters after defeating Tanner Prentice, 15-7, 15-9. He’ll play 9th seed Luis Avila, who was a winner over 8th seed Justus Benson, 9-15, 15-6, 11-7.
Also on the top of the draw, Samuel Murray won a tie-breaker against 5th seed Alejandro Cardona, 15-12, 11-15, 11-9. He’ll play Andree Parrilla in the quarters, as Parrilla defeated Tim Landeryou, 15-3, 15-8.
On the bottom of the draw, young Mexican Eduardo Portillo upset 2nd seed Jake Bredenback, 15-9, 15-9. He’ll play another young Mexican Gerardo Franco, the 7th seed, in the quarters, as Franco defeated Alan Natera, 15-7, 10-15, 11-0.
The other quarterfinal will be Canadian Coby Iwaasa versus Jordy Alonso, and both were upset winners in the 16s. Alonso knocked off 3rd seed Jaime Martell, 15-8, 15-12, while Iwaasa beat 6th seed Christian Longoria, 15-9, 15-6.
The quarterfinals will be Saturday beginning at 9:30 AM with the semi-finals at 2:45 and 3:30 PM. The final Sunday at noon. You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page.
The doubles draw has two play in matches Friday afternoon followed by the quarterfinals Friday night. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday afternoon with the doubles final Sunday at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Tanner Prentice d. 17) Mitch Brayley, 15-14, 15-11
9) Luis Avila d. 24) Jeff Buller, 15-7, 15-4
8) Justus Benson - BYE
5) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
21) Samuel Murray d. 12) Taylor Knoth, 15-1, 15-13
13) Tim Landeryou d. 20) Ian Frattinger, 15-8, 6-15, 11-3
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) Jaime Martell - BYE
14) Jordy Alonso d. 19) Sergio Acuña, 15-2, 15-11
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 11) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-11
6) Christian Longoria - BYE
7) Gerardo Franco - BYE
10) Alan Natera d. 23) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-3, 15-8
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 18) Lee Connell, 15-7, 15-10
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) David Horn v. 16) Tanner Prentice, 15-7, 15-9
9) Luis Avila d. 8) Justus Benson, 9-15, 15-6, 11-7
21) Samuel Murray d. 5) Alejandro Cardona, 15-12, 11-15, 11-9
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Tim Landeryou, 15-3, 15-8
14) Jordy Alonso d. 3) Jaime Martell, 15-8, 15-12
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 6) Christian Longoria, 15-9, 15-6
7) Gerardo Franco d. 10) Alan Natera, 15-7, 10-15, 11-0
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-9
Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) David Horn v. 9) Luis Avila - 11:45 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 21) Samuel Murray - 11 AM
14) Jordy Alonso v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - 9:30 AM
7) Gerardo Franco v. 15) Eduardo Portillo - 10:15 AM
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Justus Benson & David Horn - BYE
8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou d. 9) Sergio Acuña & Lee Connell, 15-9, 15-10
5) Christian Longoria & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - BYE
6) Luis Avila & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
7) Coby Iwaasa & Taylor Knoth d. 10) Jeff Buller & Tanner Prentice, 15-2, 15-1
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou d. 1) Justus Benson & David Horn, 15-13, 15-4
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray d. 5) Christian Longoria & Eduardo Portillo, 15-6, 15-10
3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera d. 6) Luis Avila & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-9
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Taylor Knoth, 15-8, 15-12
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray v. 8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou - 4:15 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - 4:15 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Also on the top of the draw, Samuel Murray won a tie-breaker against 5th seed Alejandro Cardona, 15-12, 11-15, 11-9. He’ll play Andree Parrilla in the quarters, as Parrilla defeated Tim Landeryou, 15-3, 15-8.
On the bottom of the draw, young Mexican Eduardo Portillo upset 2nd seed Jake Bredenback, 15-9, 15-9. He’ll play another young Mexican Gerardo Franco, the 7th seed, in the quarters, as Franco defeated Alan Natera, 15-7, 10-15, 11-0.
The other quarterfinal will be Canadian Coby Iwaasa versus Jordy Alonso, and both were upset winners in the 16s. Alonso knocked off 3rd seed Jaime Martell, 15-8, 15-12, while Iwaasa beat 6th seed Christian Longoria, 15-9, 15-6.
The quarterfinals will be Saturday beginning at 9:30 AM with the semi-finals at 2:45 and 3:30 PM. The final Sunday at noon. You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page.
The doubles draw has two play in matches Friday afternoon followed by the quarterfinals Friday night. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday afternoon with the doubles final Sunday at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Tanner Prentice d. 17) Mitch Brayley, 15-14, 15-11
9) Luis Avila d. 24) Jeff Buller, 15-7, 15-4
8) Justus Benson - BYE
5) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
21) Samuel Murray d. 12) Taylor Knoth, 15-1, 15-13
13) Tim Landeryou d. 20) Ian Frattinger, 15-8, 6-15, 11-3
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) Jaime Martell - BYE
14) Jordy Alonso d. 19) Sergio Acuña, 15-2, 15-11
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 11) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-11
6) Christian Longoria - BYE
7) Gerardo Franco - BYE
10) Alan Natera d. 23) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-3, 15-8
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 18) Lee Connell, 15-7, 15-10
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) David Horn v. 16) Tanner Prentice, 15-7, 15-9
9) Luis Avila d. 8) Justus Benson, 9-15, 15-6, 11-7
21) Samuel Murray d. 5) Alejandro Cardona, 15-12, 11-15, 11-9
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Tim Landeryou, 15-3, 15-8
14) Jordy Alonso d. 3) Jaime Martell, 15-8, 15-12
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 6) Christian Longoria, 15-9, 15-6
7) Gerardo Franco d. 10) Alan Natera, 15-7, 10-15, 11-0
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-9
Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) David Horn v. 9) Luis Avila - 11:45 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 21) Samuel Murray - 11 AM
14) Jordy Alonso v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - 9:30 AM
7) Gerardo Franco v. 15) Eduardo Portillo - 10:15 AM
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Justus Benson & David Horn - BYE
8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou d. 9) Sergio Acuña & Lee Connell, 15-9, 15-10
5) Christian Longoria & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - BYE
6) Luis Avila & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
7) Coby Iwaasa & Taylor Knoth d. 10) Jeff Buller & Tanner Prentice, 15-2, 15-1
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou d. 1) Justus Benson & David Horn, 15-13, 15-4
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray d. 5) Christian Longoria & Eduardo Portillo, 15-6, 15-10
3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera d. 6) Luis Avila & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-9
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Taylor Knoth, 15-8, 15-12
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray v. 8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou - 4:15 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - 4:15 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 19, 2018
Round of 32 at 2018 WRT Canadian Open
The Round of 32 is done at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Canadian Open in Calgary, Alberta, and there have been no real surprises. The top Canadian players came through with wins. Samuel Murray beat Taylor Knoth, 15-1, 15-13; Coby Iwaasa defeated Sam Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-11; and Tim Landeryou needed a tie-breaker to get past Canadian junior Ian Frattinger, 15-8, 6-15, 11-3.
However, Canadian veteran Lee Connell fell to young Mexican Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 15-10. Portillo will play 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck in the Round of 16.
Also in the 16s, WRT #1 David Horn will play Tanner Prentice who got the better of Mitch Brayley, 15-14, 15-11, in all Canadian showdown.
The 16s will be Friday afternoon, and the quarters will be Saturday beginning at 9:30 AM with the semi-finals at 2:45 and 3:30 PM. The final Sunday at noon. You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page, and that will likely begin with the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The doubles draw has two play in matches Friday afternoon followed by the quarterfinals Friday night. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday afternoon with the doubles final Sunday at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Tanner Prentice d. 17) Mitch Brayley, 15-14, 15-11
9) Luis Avila d. 24) Jeff Buller, 15-7, 15-4
8) Justus Benson - BYE
5) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
21) Samuel Murray d. 12) Taylor Knoth, 15-1, 15-13
13) Tim Landeryou d. 20) Ian Frattinger, 15-8, 6-15, 11-3
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) Jaime Martell - BYE
14) Jordy Alonso d. 19) Sergio Acuña, 15-2, 15-11
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 11) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-11
6) Christian Longoria - BYE
7) Gerardo Franco - BYE
10) Alan Natera d. 23) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-3, 15-8
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 18) Lee Connell, 15-7, 15-10
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) David Horn v. 16) Tanner Prentice v. 17) Mitch Brayley - 7 PM
8) Justus Benson v. 9) Luis Avila - 7 PM
5) Alejandro Cardona v. 21) Samuel Murray - 5 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 13) Tim Landeryou - 5 PM
3) Jaime Martell v. 14) Jordy Alonso - 4 PM
6) Christian Longoria v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - 4 PM
7) Gerardo Franco v. 10) Alan Natera - 6 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 15) Eduardo Portillo - 6 PM
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Justus Benson & David Horn - BYE
8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou v. 9) Sergio Acuña & Lee Connell - 2 PM
5) Christian Longoria & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - BYE
6) Luis Avila & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
7) Coby Iwaasa & Taylor Knoth v. 10) Jeff Buller & Tanner Prentice - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
However, Canadian veteran Lee Connell fell to young Mexican Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 15-10. Portillo will play 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck in the Round of 16.
Also in the 16s, WRT #1 David Horn will play Tanner Prentice who got the better of Mitch Brayley, 15-14, 15-11, in all Canadian showdown.
The 16s will be Friday afternoon, and the quarters will be Saturday beginning at 9:30 AM with the semi-finals at 2:45 and 3:30 PM. The final Sunday at noon. You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page, and that will likely begin with the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The doubles draw has two play in matches Friday afternoon followed by the quarterfinals Friday night. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday afternoon with the doubles final Sunday at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Tanner Prentice d. 17) Mitch Brayley, 15-14, 15-11
9) Luis Avila d. 24) Jeff Buller, 15-7, 15-4
8) Justus Benson - BYE
5) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
21) Samuel Murray d. 12) Taylor Knoth, 15-1, 15-13
13) Tim Landeryou d. 20) Ian Frattinger, 15-8, 6-15, 11-3
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) Jaime Martell - BYE
14) Jordy Alonso d. 19) Sergio Acuña, 15-2, 15-11
22) Coby Iwaasa d. 11) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-11
6) Christian Longoria - BYE
7) Gerardo Franco - BYE
10) Alan Natera d. 23) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-3, 15-8
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 18) Lee Connell, 15-7, 15-10
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
Singles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) David Horn v. 16) Tanner Prentice v. 17) Mitch Brayley - 7 PM
8) Justus Benson v. 9) Luis Avila - 7 PM
5) Alejandro Cardona v. 21) Samuel Murray - 5 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 13) Tim Landeryou - 5 PM
3) Jaime Martell v. 14) Jordy Alonso - 4 PM
6) Christian Longoria v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - 4 PM
7) Gerardo Franco v. 10) Alan Natera - 6 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 15) Eduardo Portillo - 6 PM
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Justus Benson & David Horn - BYE
8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou v. 9) Sergio Acuña & Lee Connell - 2 PM
5) Christian Longoria & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - BYE
6) Luis Avila & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
7) Coby Iwaasa & Taylor Knoth v. 10) Jeff Buller & Tanner Prentice - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
2018 WRT Canadian Open - Preview
For the first time in several years pro racquetball will be played in Canada, as the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) comes to Calgary, Alberta for the 2018 WRT Canadian Open beginning Friday at the University of Calgary. Seven of the top nine WRT players will be in the Great White North, as well as three of the top four Canadian players.
WRT #1 David Horn is there, as is #2 Jake Bredenbeck with Jaime Martell as 3rd seed and Andree Parrilla 4th seed. The Canadian players don’t have great rankings, as they haven’t played many WRT events, so that kind of puts a spanner in the works regarding seeding, as Samuel Murray will play into 5th seed Alejandro Cardona in a possible Round of 16 match, and Tim Landeryou plays into Parrilla. Also, Coby Iwaasa plays into 6th seed Christian Longoria, and will potentially meet Martell in the quarterfinals.
As per usual at a WRT event, they are playing doubles also, and you would think that some of those three Canadians would be playing doubles together, especially as Murray teamed with Landeryou to capture bronze at the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, and Murray played with Iwaasa to win Men's Open Doubles at the 2018 Canadian Championships. But neither of those pairings - nor Iwaasa and Landeryou - is happening in Calgary.
Murray is playing with Jake Bredenback, and they might be the team to beat, although they are seeded 4th. Iwaasa plays with Taylor Knoth, a former Boy’s U18 World Junior Champion, and they could be the sleeper team in the draw, and Landeryou will partner with fellow Canuck Mitch Brayley. Horn and Justus Benson are the top seeds with Cardona and Gerardo Franco 2nd seeds.
You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page. The play begins Friday morning with the 32s. The 16s will be Friday afternoon, and the quarters will be Saturday beginning at 9:30 AM with the semi-finals at 2:45 and 3:30 PM. The final Sunday at noon.
The doubles draw has two play in matches Friday afternoon followed by the quarterfinals Friday night. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday afternoon with the doubles final Sunday at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Tanner Prentice v. 17) Mitch Brayley - Noon
9) Luis Avila v. 24) Jeff Buller - 1 PM
8) Justus Benson - BYE
5) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
12) Taylor Knoth v. 21) Samuel Murray - Noon
13) Tim Landeryou v. 20) Ian Frattinger - Noon
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) Jaime Martell - BYE
14) Jordy Alonso v. 19) Sergio Acuña - 11 AM
11) Sam Bredenbeck v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - 11 AM
6) Christian Longoria - BYE
7) Gerardo Franco - BYE
10) Alan Natera v. 23) Alexi David Cocco Hayes - 11 AM
15) Eduardo Portillo v. 18) Lee Connell - 11 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Justus Benson & David Horn - BYE
8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou v. 9) Sergio Acuña & Lee Connell - 2 PM
5) Christian Longoria & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - BYE
6) Luis Avila & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
7) Coby Iwaasa & Taylor Knoth v. 10) Jeff Buller & Tanner Prentice - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
WRT #1 David Horn is there, as is #2 Jake Bredenbeck with Jaime Martell as 3rd seed and Andree Parrilla 4th seed. The Canadian players don’t have great rankings, as they haven’t played many WRT events, so that kind of puts a spanner in the works regarding seeding, as Samuel Murray will play into 5th seed Alejandro Cardona in a possible Round of 16 match, and Tim Landeryou plays into Parrilla. Also, Coby Iwaasa plays into 6th seed Christian Longoria, and will potentially meet Martell in the quarterfinals.
As per usual at a WRT event, they are playing doubles also, and you would think that some of those three Canadians would be playing doubles together, especially as Murray teamed with Landeryou to capture bronze at the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, and Murray played with Iwaasa to win Men's Open Doubles at the 2018 Canadian Championships. But neither of those pairings - nor Iwaasa and Landeryou - is happening in Calgary.
Murray is playing with Jake Bredenback, and they might be the team to beat, although they are seeded 4th. Iwaasa plays with Taylor Knoth, a former Boy’s U18 World Junior Champion, and they could be the sleeper team in the draw, and Landeryou will partner with fellow Canuck Mitch Brayley. Horn and Justus Benson are the top seeds with Cardona and Gerardo Franco 2nd seeds.
You can watch the action from Calgary via the WRT website or its Facebook page. The play begins Friday morning with the 32s. The 16s will be Friday afternoon, and the quarters will be Saturday beginning at 9:30 AM with the semi-finals at 2:45 and 3:30 PM. The final Sunday at noon.
The doubles draw has two play in matches Friday afternoon followed by the quarterfinals Friday night. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday afternoon with the doubles final Sunday at 2 PM. All times are Mountain.
2018 WRT Canadian Open, October 19-21
Calgary, Alberta
Singles - Round of 32 - Friday
1) David Horn - BYE
16) Tanner Prentice v. 17) Mitch Brayley - Noon
9) Luis Avila v. 24) Jeff Buller - 1 PM
8) Justus Benson - BYE
5) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
12) Taylor Knoth v. 21) Samuel Murray - Noon
13) Tim Landeryou v. 20) Ian Frattinger - Noon
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) Jaime Martell - BYE
14) Jordy Alonso v. 19) Sergio Acuña - 11 AM
11) Sam Bredenbeck v. 22) Coby Iwaasa - 11 AM
6) Christian Longoria - BYE
7) Gerardo Franco - BYE
10) Alan Natera v. 23) Alexi David Cocco Hayes - 11 AM
15) Eduardo Portillo v. 18) Lee Connell - 11 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Justus Benson & David Horn - BYE
8) Mitch Brayley & Tim Landeryou v. 9) Sergio Acuña & Lee Connell - 2 PM
5) Christian Longoria & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
4) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
3) Jaime Martell & Alan Natera - BYE
6) Luis Avila & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
7) Coby Iwaasa & Taylor Knoth v. 10) Jeff Buller & Tanner Prentice - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Waselenchuk wins #14 at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Kane Waselenchuk won his 14th US Open International Racquetball Tour (IRT) title and 11th straight Sunday at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championship in Minneapolis Sunday. Waselenchuk defeated Daniel De La Rosa in the final, 15-11, 15-6, to remain undefeated in US Open finals. He hasn't lost a US Open match since 2002.
The first game was close early, as they were tied 3-3. Waselenchuk moved ahead there, but De La Rosa kept it close to 7-6. Then Waselenchuk got five points to lead 11-6, so De La Rosa called a timeout.
That led to a sideout, and then three points to cut the lead to 11-9. But De La Rosa couldn't get closer than two points, as Waselenchuk led 12-10 and 13-11. Waselenchuk got the serve back at that point with a backhand pinch return of a De La Rosa drive serve to the right side.
Waselenchuk closed the game out at 15-11 with a forehand cross court winner followed by a skip from De La Rosa that seemed to be an unforced error.
Waselenchuk jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game two, and went up 8-2. There was a hint of a De La Rosa comeback when he got to 8-4, but when Waselenchuk got the serve back with a forehand pinch shot, he called a timeout. When Waselenchuk came back in the court, he drove serve - there had been a lot of lob serves by both players in the match - and got three straight service winners to make it 11-4.
That run was ended by a skip call on Waselenchuk's next drive serve. He appealed the call, but the video replay was inconclusive, so the call stood. Yet De La Rosa didn't score, as they traded two sideouts back and forth.
Another Waselenchuk drive serve winner made it 12-4. He hit a forehand to the right side to make it 13-4. Another exchange of sideouts was followed by a 5th service winner that put Waselenchuk on match point at 14-4.
De La Rosa fought off three match points before Waselenchuk ended it with a solid backhand down the line pass shot claim his 11th straight US Open and 14th overall.
If you missed the final, check it out via the IRT outlets, including the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Final - Sunday
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-11, 15-6
Follow the bouncing ball….
The first game was close early, as they were tied 3-3. Waselenchuk moved ahead there, but De La Rosa kept it close to 7-6. Then Waselenchuk got five points to lead 11-6, so De La Rosa called a timeout.
That led to a sideout, and then three points to cut the lead to 11-9. But De La Rosa couldn't get closer than two points, as Waselenchuk led 12-10 and 13-11. Waselenchuk got the serve back at that point with a backhand pinch return of a De La Rosa drive serve to the right side.
Waselenchuk closed the game out at 15-11 with a forehand cross court winner followed by a skip from De La Rosa that seemed to be an unforced error.
Waselenchuk jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game two, and went up 8-2. There was a hint of a De La Rosa comeback when he got to 8-4, but when Waselenchuk got the serve back with a forehand pinch shot, he called a timeout. When Waselenchuk came back in the court, he drove serve - there had been a lot of lob serves by both players in the match - and got three straight service winners to make it 11-4.
That run was ended by a skip call on Waselenchuk's next drive serve. He appealed the call, but the video replay was inconclusive, so the call stood. Yet De La Rosa didn't score, as they traded two sideouts back and forth.
Another Waselenchuk drive serve winner made it 12-4. He hit a forehand to the right side to make it 13-4. Another exchange of sideouts was followed by a 5th service winner that put Waselenchuk on match point at 14-4.
De La Rosa fought off three match points before Waselenchuk ended it with a solid backhand down the line pass shot claim his 11th straight US Open and 14th overall.
If you missed the final, check it out via the IRT outlets, including the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Final - Sunday
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-11, 15-6
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria wins 9th US Open at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Paola Longoria won her 9th US Open Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) title Sunday at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis by defeating Samantha Salas, 11-9, 11-2, 11-5. Longoria has been in the last 11 US Open women's pro finals and won 9 of them, including two against Salas. They also played in the 2016 final.
It looked like a different outcome would happen in game one, although Longoria did get off to a good start by going up 6-2 on Salas. But Salas kept fighting, and slowly caught up and then passed Longoria, getting a 9-6 lead on the defending champion. So Longoria called a timeout.
When play resumed, Longoria hit a backhand pinch return winner off Salas's drive Z serve to the left side. That led to two Longoria points, and then Salas called a timeout still leading 9-8.
But Salas's timeout was not as successful as Longoria's, as Longoria tied the game on the next rally with a forehand winner. A forehand pinch shot got Longoria to game point at 10-9, and she won it on the next rally by hitting a forehand from the back left corner down the left side.
Game two was all Longoria, as she went up 7-0, and won 11-2. They did go back and forth after that 7-0 lead, which produced Salas's two points, but after a Longoria timeout she came back in and won four consecutive rallies to win the game with the last two points coming off Salas backhand skip shots.
Being down 0-2 to the #1 player may seem like a bad place to be, and generally it is, but Salas's two wins over Longoria in the last 18 months on tour were both after being down 0-2. Strange but true.
However, in game three Longoria took a 5-1 lead. Although Salas got to within one at 6-5, she never led in the game. Salas made two unforced errors at 6-5 that could have made a difference, but you can't afford to make unforced errors against Longoria. Three Salas skips took Longoria from a 6-5 lead to 9-5.
Salas did stop Longoria there with a forehand winner, but Longoria got the serve back with a backhand winner. A long rally ensued including back and forth ceiling balls. It ended when Salas skipped a backhand shot, and she bent over after that seemingly acknowledging that was effectively the end, although the score was 10-5.
The end did come on the next rally when Longoria hit a backhand back from the middle back to the left side for a winner, making her US Open champion once again.
In winning her 9 titles, Longoria has defeated 5 opponents: Salas twice, Rhonda Rajsich four times, and Cheryl Gudinas, Maria Jose Vargas and Frédérique Lambert once each. Gudinas, who Longoria beat for her first US Open title, was the referee of today's final.
The LPRT final can be viewed again via the LPRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Samantha Salas, 11-9, 11-2, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
It looked like a different outcome would happen in game one, although Longoria did get off to a good start by going up 6-2 on Salas. But Salas kept fighting, and slowly caught up and then passed Longoria, getting a 9-6 lead on the defending champion. So Longoria called a timeout.
When play resumed, Longoria hit a backhand pinch return winner off Salas's drive Z serve to the left side. That led to two Longoria points, and then Salas called a timeout still leading 9-8.
But Salas's timeout was not as successful as Longoria's, as Longoria tied the game on the next rally with a forehand winner. A forehand pinch shot got Longoria to game point at 10-9, and she won it on the next rally by hitting a forehand from the back left corner down the left side.
Game two was all Longoria, as she went up 7-0, and won 11-2. They did go back and forth after that 7-0 lead, which produced Salas's two points, but after a Longoria timeout she came back in and won four consecutive rallies to win the game with the last two points coming off Salas backhand skip shots.
Being down 0-2 to the #1 player may seem like a bad place to be, and generally it is, but Salas's two wins over Longoria in the last 18 months on tour were both after being down 0-2. Strange but true.
However, in game three Longoria took a 5-1 lead. Although Salas got to within one at 6-5, she never led in the game. Salas made two unforced errors at 6-5 that could have made a difference, but you can't afford to make unforced errors against Longoria. Three Salas skips took Longoria from a 6-5 lead to 9-5.
Salas did stop Longoria there with a forehand winner, but Longoria got the serve back with a backhand winner. A long rally ensued including back and forth ceiling balls. It ended when Salas skipped a backhand shot, and she bent over after that seemingly acknowledging that was effectively the end, although the score was 10-5.
The end did come on the next rally when Longoria hit a backhand back from the middle back to the left side for a winner, making her US Open champion once again.
In winning her 9 titles, Longoria has defeated 5 opponents: Salas twice, Rhonda Rajsich four times, and Cheryl Gudinas, Maria Jose Vargas and Frédérique Lambert once each. Gudinas, who Longoria beat for her first US Open title, was the referee of today's final.
The LPRT final can be viewed again via the LPRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Samantha Salas, 11-9, 11-2, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Beltran & De La Rosa win IRT Doubles at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa unseeded the champs, as they defeated Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk, 15-11, 15-6, in the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles division at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis. It was the second meeting in as many years between these two teams, and last year Croft and Waselenchuk won it in a tie-breaker. But Beltran and De La Rosa were not to be denied this year.
They put the writing on the wall early, as Beltran and De La Rosa went up 8-1 in game one. But any team with Waselenchuk can never be counted out, and it looked like he and Croft were going to snatch game one from the Mexicans when they went from 12-3 down to 12-10 down without giving up serve. But a De La Rosa return got his side the serve back, and they scored one on a Beltran backhand back to the right side, and then a second when De La Rosa hit a forehand winner from the front court.
But when Waselenchuk hit a flat pinch shot to regain the serve, the other side had to be concerned. However, Croft and Waselenchuk only scored one point before giving the serve back at 14-11.
De La Rosa made good on his side's second game point opportunity, as he hit a forehand from center court over to the right side to end the game, 15-11.
Croft and Waselenchuk were undeterred, and took the early lead at 3-1 in game two. But Beltran and De La Rosa tied it at 3-3, and then the rally of the match occurred. It was crazy, and hard to completely describe, as there were multiple dives and great gets and it went on and on. It took a diving kill shot by Beltran, who pinched the ball into the front left corner, to end it.
That only gave them a one point lead at 4-3, but it seemed like a momentum switch, as Beltran and De La Rosa went out to a 9-3 lead. Croft and Waselenchuk cut the deficit to five at 10-5. But a De La Rosa forehand put an end to that, and the Mexicans scored four points to get to match point at 14-5.
Waselenchuk pinch rolled a lob left by De La Rosa to deny the first match point, and regain the serve. But he then skipped a ball on the next rally, which was an uncharacteristic unforced error. Croft then got a technical for hitting the ball out of the court after the rally, although it seemed to be unintentional. Yet that made the score 14-4.
A skip by each of Beltran and De La Rosa got Croft and Waselenchuk to 14-6, but that was as much as they could muster on this day, as Beltran and De La Rosa got the serve back. On the next rally Beltran hit a forehand into the right side wall, and it got to the front wall for a winner, which wasn't the greatest shot so it was an anticlimactic end to a great doubles match.
If you missed IRT doubles action - or you want to see it again, and believe us when we say YOU DO - check out the action across the IRT outlets: the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
IRT - Doubles - Final - Saturday
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk, 15-11, 15-6
Follow the bouncing ball….
They put the writing on the wall early, as Beltran and De La Rosa went up 8-1 in game one. But any team with Waselenchuk can never be counted out, and it looked like he and Croft were going to snatch game one from the Mexicans when they went from 12-3 down to 12-10 down without giving up serve. But a De La Rosa return got his side the serve back, and they scored one on a Beltran backhand back to the right side, and then a second when De La Rosa hit a forehand winner from the front court.
But when Waselenchuk hit a flat pinch shot to regain the serve, the other side had to be concerned. However, Croft and Waselenchuk only scored one point before giving the serve back at 14-11.
De La Rosa made good on his side's second game point opportunity, as he hit a forehand from center court over to the right side to end the game, 15-11.
Croft and Waselenchuk were undeterred, and took the early lead at 3-1 in game two. But Beltran and De La Rosa tied it at 3-3, and then the rally of the match occurred. It was crazy, and hard to completely describe, as there were multiple dives and great gets and it went on and on. It took a diving kill shot by Beltran, who pinched the ball into the front left corner, to end it.
That only gave them a one point lead at 4-3, but it seemed like a momentum switch, as Beltran and De La Rosa went out to a 9-3 lead. Croft and Waselenchuk cut the deficit to five at 10-5. But a De La Rosa forehand put an end to that, and the Mexicans scored four points to get to match point at 14-5.
Waselenchuk pinch rolled a lob left by De La Rosa to deny the first match point, and regain the serve. But he then skipped a ball on the next rally, which was an uncharacteristic unforced error. Croft then got a technical for hitting the ball out of the court after the rally, although it seemed to be unintentional. Yet that made the score 14-4.
A skip by each of Beltran and De La Rosa got Croft and Waselenchuk to 14-6, but that was as much as they could muster on this day, as Beltran and De La Rosa got the serve back. On the next rally Beltran hit a forehand into the right side wall, and it got to the front wall for a winner, which wasn't the greatest shot so it was an anticlimactic end to a great doubles match.
If you missed IRT doubles action - or you want to see it again, and believe us when we say YOU DO - check out the action across the IRT outlets: the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
IRT - Doubles - Final - Saturday
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk, 15-11, 15-6
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria & Salas win 3rd LPRT US Open Doubles title at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas won the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles final at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis Saturday by defeating Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia, 15-11, 15-14. It was their 3rd US Open doubles title, and the 5th for Longoria, who has won the title each year it has been contested.
Longoria and Salas started well, taking a 6-1 lead in game one. But the lefty-right team of Herrera and Mejia fought back, and tied it at 6-6. Longoria and Salas called a timeout, but when play resumed Herrera and Mejia got the first point to lead 7-6.
However, Longoria and Salas got a sideout to stop their opponents' run, and then put together another run of their own to go up 13-7. Herrera and Mejia did call a timeout at 11-7, but to no avail.
Longoria and Salas got to game point at 14-8, but Herrera and Mejia weren't done, yet they could only get within three points at 14-11 before Longoria and Salas won it, 15-11.
Game two was streaky. Herrera and Mejia went up first, 5-0. Then Longoria and Salas went ahead 6-5. A Herrera and Mejia timeout resulted in a sideout following one winner by each player, and then six straight points to make the score 11-6 for Herrera and Mejia.
Herrera hit a ball out at that point, and then Mejia skipped a shot to give the serve up. Longoria ended a long rally with a forehand cross court shot from left to right that made the score 11-8 with Herrera and Mejia leading.
Longoria and Salas got within two again at 12-10, but a penalty hinder call on Longoria followed by a Mejia pinch shot winner put Herrera and Mejia back in the service box. They got two points on errors by their opponents - Longoria skipped a forehand and may have contacted Salas in making the error, and Salas skipped forehand shot - that made the score 14-10. Game point.
But two game points went by as Longoria hit a winning serve return, and then a winning backhand pinch shot, as she saw that Mejia was going for a forehand pinch shot in the back court, so Longoria moved up to cover it. And she did so like a blanket.
Not finishing the game at that point felt like trouble, and trouble it was, as Longoria and Salas ran off five straight points, helped by two penalty hinder calls at least one of which seemed generous. They score reached 14-14 when Mejia skipped a forehand shot. Then on their first match point opportunity, Salas hit a forehand winner to once again become a US Open champion.
If you missed any of the LPRT action from Minneapolis, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 15-11, 15-14
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria and Salas started well, taking a 6-1 lead in game one. But the lefty-right team of Herrera and Mejia fought back, and tied it at 6-6. Longoria and Salas called a timeout, but when play resumed Herrera and Mejia got the first point to lead 7-6.
However, Longoria and Salas got a sideout to stop their opponents' run, and then put together another run of their own to go up 13-7. Herrera and Mejia did call a timeout at 11-7, but to no avail.
Longoria and Salas got to game point at 14-8, but Herrera and Mejia weren't done, yet they could only get within three points at 14-11 before Longoria and Salas won it, 15-11.
Game two was streaky. Herrera and Mejia went up first, 5-0. Then Longoria and Salas went ahead 6-5. A Herrera and Mejia timeout resulted in a sideout following one winner by each player, and then six straight points to make the score 11-6 for Herrera and Mejia.
Herrera hit a ball out at that point, and then Mejia skipped a shot to give the serve up. Longoria ended a long rally with a forehand cross court shot from left to right that made the score 11-8 with Herrera and Mejia leading.
Longoria and Salas got within two again at 12-10, but a penalty hinder call on Longoria followed by a Mejia pinch shot winner put Herrera and Mejia back in the service box. They got two points on errors by their opponents - Longoria skipped a forehand and may have contacted Salas in making the error, and Salas skipped forehand shot - that made the score 14-10. Game point.
But two game points went by as Longoria hit a winning serve return, and then a winning backhand pinch shot, as she saw that Mejia was going for a forehand pinch shot in the back court, so Longoria moved up to cover it. And she did so like a blanket.
Not finishing the game at that point felt like trouble, and trouble it was, as Longoria and Salas ran off five straight points, helped by two penalty hinder calls at least one of which seemed generous. They score reached 14-14 when Mejia skipped a forehand shot. Then on their first match point opportunity, Salas hit a forehand winner to once again become a US Open champion.
If you missed any of the LPRT action from Minneapolis, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 15-11, 15-14
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk has chance to win 11th straight at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Kane Waselenchuk will have a chance to defend his International Racquetball Tour (IRT) UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championship title in Minneapolis Sunday, as he defeated Andree Parrilla in the semi-finals, 15-3, 15-12. He'll play Daniel De La Rosa in the final, who was an upset winner over IRT #1 Rocky Carson, 8-15, 15-5, 11-5, in the other semi.
Waselenchuk won the first game against Parrilla handily, as he was up 14-0. But Parrilla didn't get shut out, and the momentum of scoring a few points seemed to carry over to game two, as he went up 3-1 on the 10 time defending champion. However, Waselenchuk came back and tied the score at 4-4.
From there Waselenchuk scored the next five points to lead 9-4. He maintained the lead for the rest of the game, and extended it to eight points at 13-5. But credit to Parrilla, who didn't roll over, and kept fighting, including denying Waselenchuk six match points, as he drew within two at 14-12.
It was seventh time lucky for Waselenchuk, as he ended the match on his 7th match point, when a long rally finished as Parrilla dove unsuccessfully to the back wall to try to keep the ball in play.
In the other semi-final, Carson looked completely in control in game one, as he went up 9-1. De La Rosa did make it close at 11-8, but that made the final score of 15-8 seem flattering. It was a complete reversal in game two, as De La Rosa found his shooting shoes, and went up 8-1, and cruised to 15-5 win.
Cue the tie-breaker. It started slowly. After 26 rallies, only 5 points had been scored. But De La Rosa had 4 of them. More back and forth rallies led to a 6-2 De La Rosa lead. The points came quickly after that.
Carson cut the lead to two at 6-4, but De La Rosa extended it to 8-4 with two forehand winners. Carson got a side out with a forehand pinch shot, and scored a point with another forehand winner, but De La Rosa ended his run with one of the many backhand winners he hit in the breaker.
Indeed, he hit three backhand winners on consecutive rallies to end the game and match, 11-5, with the last point a backhand pinch roll out winner.
Sunday's final will be only the 2nd US Open final without one of the top two seeds in the IRT final, and the first since Waselenchuk defeated Derek Robinson in 2003 for his first US Open title. He was the 3rd seed and Robinson 8th. This year Waselenchuk is again the 3rd seed and De La Rosa is 4th.
Look for IRT final live from Minneapolis via their various outlets, including the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 1) Rocky Carson, 8-15, 15-5, 11-5
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. 10) Andree Parrilla, 15-3, 15-12
Final - Sunday
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk won the first game against Parrilla handily, as he was up 14-0. But Parrilla didn't get shut out, and the momentum of scoring a few points seemed to carry over to game two, as he went up 3-1 on the 10 time defending champion. However, Waselenchuk came back and tied the score at 4-4.
From there Waselenchuk scored the next five points to lead 9-4. He maintained the lead for the rest of the game, and extended it to eight points at 13-5. But credit to Parrilla, who didn't roll over, and kept fighting, including denying Waselenchuk six match points, as he drew within two at 14-12.
It was seventh time lucky for Waselenchuk, as he ended the match on his 7th match point, when a long rally finished as Parrilla dove unsuccessfully to the back wall to try to keep the ball in play.
In the other semi-final, Carson looked completely in control in game one, as he went up 9-1. De La Rosa did make it close at 11-8, but that made the final score of 15-8 seem flattering. It was a complete reversal in game two, as De La Rosa found his shooting shoes, and went up 8-1, and cruised to 15-5 win.
Cue the tie-breaker. It started slowly. After 26 rallies, only 5 points had been scored. But De La Rosa had 4 of them. More back and forth rallies led to a 6-2 De La Rosa lead. The points came quickly after that.
Carson cut the lead to two at 6-4, but De La Rosa extended it to 8-4 with two forehand winners. Carson got a side out with a forehand pinch shot, and scored a point with another forehand winner, but De La Rosa ended his run with one of the many backhand winners he hit in the breaker.
Indeed, he hit three backhand winners on consecutive rallies to end the game and match, 11-5, with the last point a backhand pinch roll out winner.
Sunday's final will be only the 2nd US Open final without one of the top two seeds in the IRT final, and the first since Waselenchuk defeated Derek Robinson in 2003 for his first US Open title. He was the 3rd seed and Robinson 8th. This year Waselenchuk is again the 3rd seed and De La Rosa is 4th.
Look for IRT final live from Minneapolis via their various outlets, including the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 1) Rocky Carson, 8-15, 15-5, 11-5
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. 10) Andree Parrilla, 15-3, 15-12
Final - Sunday
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria & Salas in LPRT final at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Paola Longoria, the 7 time defending Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) US Open champion, will have a chance to make it 8, as she defeated Gabriela Martinez, 11-5, 11-0, 11-3, in the LPRT semi-finals Saturday at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis.
Martinez came into the semi, as the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Women's Singles by beating Longoria in the final. But the US Open is a different venue, and one that Longoria has dominated for most of the past decade.
She did so again Saturday.
They were close early in game one, tying at each score between 2 and 5, but at 5-5 Longoria went on a run of six unanswered points to win 11-5. Martinez wouldn't score again until Longoria was up 3-0 in game three: a string of 20 consecutive points.
Martinez did tie it at 3-3 in game three, but she only served once more, as Longoria put in a performance fitting for a 7 time defending champion.
In the other semi-final, Samantha Salas continued her dominance of Frédérique Lambert Saturday, as she won their match in straight games, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3. Salas advances to her 2nd US Open final with the win, and is now 13-4 versus Lambert over their LPRT careers.
Games one and two were close between Salas and Lambert until late, when Salas got the last few points each time. They were tied 7-7 in game one, until Salas broke the tie with an ace drive serve, making it 8-7. Salas scored three unanswered points to close it out.
Salas served well, and it was a big difference in the match. She had three aces and a service winner in game one, two of those in game two, and forced Lambert into return errors in game three as well.
In game two, Salas broke an 8-8 tie with a backhand winner after Lambert hit a weak backhand serve return to make it 9-8. A Salas a cross court winner put her on game point at 10-8, and then she forced Lambert into another backhand skip serve return to end it, 11-8.
Lambert got the first two points of game three, but then Salas ran eight points to lead 8-2, and the writing was on the wall. Salas served a drive jam to the left side that handcuffed Lambert for her 9th and 10th points, and forced Lambert into another backhand error to close out the game, 11-3, and the match in three straight games.
The LPRT will stream the final live from Minneapolis via the LPRT Live link on their website Sunday at 10 AM CDT.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 12) Gabriela Martinez, 11-5, 11-0, 11-3
3) Samantha Salas d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Samantha Salas - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Martinez came into the semi, as the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Women's Singles by beating Longoria in the final. But the US Open is a different venue, and one that Longoria has dominated for most of the past decade.
She did so again Saturday.
They were close early in game one, tying at each score between 2 and 5, but at 5-5 Longoria went on a run of six unanswered points to win 11-5. Martinez wouldn't score again until Longoria was up 3-0 in game three: a string of 20 consecutive points.
Martinez did tie it at 3-3 in game three, but she only served once more, as Longoria put in a performance fitting for a 7 time defending champion.
In the other semi-final, Samantha Salas continued her dominance of Frédérique Lambert Saturday, as she won their match in straight games, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3. Salas advances to her 2nd US Open final with the win, and is now 13-4 versus Lambert over their LPRT careers.
Games one and two were close between Salas and Lambert until late, when Salas got the last few points each time. They were tied 7-7 in game one, until Salas broke the tie with an ace drive serve, making it 8-7. Salas scored three unanswered points to close it out.
Salas served well, and it was a big difference in the match. She had three aces and a service winner in game one, two of those in game two, and forced Lambert into return errors in game three as well.
In game two, Salas broke an 8-8 tie with a backhand winner after Lambert hit a weak backhand serve return to make it 9-8. A Salas a cross court winner put her on game point at 10-8, and then she forced Lambert into another backhand skip serve return to end it, 11-8.
Lambert got the first two points of game three, but then Salas ran eight points to lead 8-2, and the writing was on the wall. Salas served a drive jam to the left side that handcuffed Lambert for her 9th and 10th points, and forced Lambert into another backhand error to close out the game, 11-3, and the match in three straight games.
The LPRT will stream the final live from Minneapolis via the LPRT Live link on their website Sunday at 10 AM CDT.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 12) Gabriela Martinez, 11-5, 11-0, 11-3
3) Samantha Salas d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Samantha Salas - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, October 5, 2018
Croft & Waselenchuk to defend IRT Doubles title at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk will defend their US Open International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles title against Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa Saturday at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis. It will be a rematch of last year's final. Croft and Waselenchuk reached the final by defeated Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, 15-13, 15-6, while Beltran and De La Rosa needed a tie-breaker to get past Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 8-15, 11-8.
Bredenbeck and Diaz led for much of game one against Croft and Waselencuk, including near the end at 13-11. But a Bredenbeck forehand skip gave his opponents the serve back, and Croft and Waselenchuk scored four straight points, including two forehand pinch shots by Croft, the second of which won the game, 15-13.
In game two, they were close early, but Croft and Waselenchuk went from 2-2 to 6-2, and didn't look back from there. Croft finished that game too, as he hit a forehand cross court shot off a Diaz cross court serve return.
In game one of Beltran and De La Rosa versus Mar and Montoya, they were close all the way, but Beltran and De La Rosa got the biggest lead of the game at 14-10. However, Mar and Montoya got the serve back, called a time out, and then proceeded to score four points on consecutive rallies, fuelled by three winners by Montoya.
However, a De La Rosa forehand reverse pinch ended that run with the score 14-14. Beltran skipped a shot to put his side half down. But on the rally was long, and came to an end when Mar was forced into skipping a shot in the front court.
Game two started the same as game one, as the teams were close. But at 6-6, Mar and Montoya pulled ahead to lead 9-6. Beltran and De La Rosa got the serve back at that point, and called a timeout. When play resumed, they score two points to cut the lead to one at 9-8.
But from there, Mar and Montoya won eight straight rallies - except for a hinder call: two that got them the serve back, and then six points. The end coming when Beltran skipped a forehand.
Cue the tie-breaker. Mar and Montoya got the early lead at 2-0, and then again at 4-2. But the game stalled there as seven rallies when by before another point was scored. That came off a Mar skip, which began a streak of seven straight points for Beltran and De La Rosa, who then led 9-4.
A hideout exchange, and then Mar and Montoya scored three points, including a drive serve ace by Mar to the left side that cracked out. But they could only muster one more point that made it 9-8.
Beltran and De La Rosa got the serve back at that point, and their match point came after Mar skipped a shot that dove into the front court to try to get. The final rally saw an exchange of ceiling balls between Beltran and Mar that ended as Mar hit one that was a reverse - front wall and then ceiling - so the ball set up for Beltran to hit a forehand winner, and that's exactly what he did, smashing it down the right wall.
Thus, Beltran and De La Rosa are in the US Open IRT Doubles final for the second time in as many years.
The IRT doubles final will be live from Minneapolis across their outlets: the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel. The doubles final is scheduled for 5 PM CDT Saturday.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
IRT - Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk d. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz, 15-13, 15-6
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 8-15, 11-8
IRT - Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. 2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - 5 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Bredenbeck and Diaz led for much of game one against Croft and Waselencuk, including near the end at 13-11. But a Bredenbeck forehand skip gave his opponents the serve back, and Croft and Waselenchuk scored four straight points, including two forehand pinch shots by Croft, the second of which won the game, 15-13.
In game two, they were close early, but Croft and Waselenchuk went from 2-2 to 6-2, and didn't look back from there. Croft finished that game too, as he hit a forehand cross court shot off a Diaz cross court serve return.
In game one of Beltran and De La Rosa versus Mar and Montoya, they were close all the way, but Beltran and De La Rosa got the biggest lead of the game at 14-10. However, Mar and Montoya got the serve back, called a time out, and then proceeded to score four points on consecutive rallies, fuelled by three winners by Montoya.
However, a De La Rosa forehand reverse pinch ended that run with the score 14-14. Beltran skipped a shot to put his side half down. But on the rally was long, and came to an end when Mar was forced into skipping a shot in the front court.
Game two started the same as game one, as the teams were close. But at 6-6, Mar and Montoya pulled ahead to lead 9-6. Beltran and De La Rosa got the serve back at that point, and called a timeout. When play resumed, they score two points to cut the lead to one at 9-8.
But from there, Mar and Montoya won eight straight rallies - except for a hinder call: two that got them the serve back, and then six points. The end coming when Beltran skipped a forehand.
Cue the tie-breaker. Mar and Montoya got the early lead at 2-0, and then again at 4-2. But the game stalled there as seven rallies when by before another point was scored. That came off a Mar skip, which began a streak of seven straight points for Beltran and De La Rosa, who then led 9-4.
A hideout exchange, and then Mar and Montoya scored three points, including a drive serve ace by Mar to the left side that cracked out. But they could only muster one more point that made it 9-8.
Beltran and De La Rosa got the serve back at that point, and their match point came after Mar skipped a shot that dove into the front court to try to get. The final rally saw an exchange of ceiling balls between Beltran and Mar that ended as Mar hit one that was a reverse - front wall and then ceiling - so the ball set up for Beltran to hit a forehand winner, and that's exactly what he did, smashing it down the right wall.
Thus, Beltran and De La Rosa are in the US Open IRT Doubles final for the second time in as many years.
The IRT doubles final will be live from Minneapolis across their outlets: the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel. The doubles final is scheduled for 5 PM CDT Saturday.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
IRT - Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk d. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz, 15-13, 15-6
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 8-15, 11-8
IRT - Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. 2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - 5 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Play like it's 2015! - LPRT Doubles at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
It'll be 2015 all over again in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles final at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, as Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas will play Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia Sunday in what will be a repeat of the 2015 final. That year Longoria and Salas won their first of two US Open doubles titles. Longoria is undefeated in four US Open LPRT doubles finals, but she's played two of them with other partners, when Salas was injured.
In the semi-finals, Longoria and Salas defeated Nancy Enriquez and Yazmine Sabja, 15-7, 15-9, while Herrera and Mejia beat Angelica Barrios and Jenny Daza, 15-10, 15-2.
In the Longoria and Salas versus Enriquez and Sabja match, the teams were close early in both games. In game one, Longoria and Salas only led by one at 8-7. However, Longoria and Salas ran the table from there to win 15-7. Down the stretch, Longoria hit two drive serve crack aces on the left side, and then second won the game for her side.
A similar scenario played out in game two, as Longoria and Salas again led at 8-7, and then scored seven of the next nine points to win 15-9. Game two was marred by some confusion with one of the line judges when players were making appeals. At 9-7 Longoria and Salas leading, they appealed that a hinder call should have been an avoidable, and the call seemed to overturned by the line judges, but then when the situation was completely explained to one of the line judges, the judge made another call, which supported the referee's original call.
At that point, Longoria and Salas freaked out, and their reaction was disproportionate for the situation. The referee only cautioned them, and did not assess a technical, although a technical could have been applied.
The LPRT will stream the final live from Minneapolis via the LPRT Live link on their website. The doubles final will be on Saturday at 4 PM CDT.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja, 15-7, 15-9
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza, 15-10, 15-2
LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 4 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the semi-finals, Longoria and Salas defeated Nancy Enriquez and Yazmine Sabja, 15-7, 15-9, while Herrera and Mejia beat Angelica Barrios and Jenny Daza, 15-10, 15-2.
In the Longoria and Salas versus Enriquez and Sabja match, the teams were close early in both games. In game one, Longoria and Salas only led by one at 8-7. However, Longoria and Salas ran the table from there to win 15-7. Down the stretch, Longoria hit two drive serve crack aces on the left side, and then second won the game for her side.
A similar scenario played out in game two, as Longoria and Salas again led at 8-7, and then scored seven of the next nine points to win 15-9. Game two was marred by some confusion with one of the line judges when players were making appeals. At 9-7 Longoria and Salas leading, they appealed that a hinder call should have been an avoidable, and the call seemed to overturned by the line judges, but then when the situation was completely explained to one of the line judges, the judge made another call, which supported the referee's original call.
At that point, Longoria and Salas freaked out, and their reaction was disproportionate for the situation. The referee only cautioned them, and did not assess a technical, although a technical could have been applied.
The LPRT will stream the final live from Minneapolis via the LPRT Live link on their website. The doubles final will be on Saturday at 4 PM CDT.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja, 15-7, 15-9
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza, 15-10, 15-2
LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 4 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Top 3 +1 in LPRT Semi-finals at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
The top three seeds plus one are through to the semi-finals in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) singles draw at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, but that plus one is Gabriela Martinez the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Women's Singles. Martinez defeated 4th seed Alexandra Herrera, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, in the quarterfinals to set up a showdown with 7 time defending US Open champion, Paola Longoria, who was a straight game winner over Natalia Mendez, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4.
Martinez got the better of Longoria in the Women's Singles final at the IRF World Championships in August, so Longoria will have added incentive on Saturday.
On the other side of the draw, 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert will play 3rd seed Samantha Salas in a rematch of a US Open semi-final two years ago, which Salas won to reach her 1st and only US Open final. Lambert was a finalist last year, and will be looking to get back there with a victory over Salas.
In the quarterfinals, Lambert had the more difficult match, as she needed five games to defeat 23rd seed Yazmine Sabja, 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-1. The win is a measure of revenge for Lambert, who lost to Sabja at the IRF World Championships in August. Lambert seemed to be cruising after winning the first two games, and was up 6-1 in game three, when she seemed to run out of steam.
That lack of energy led to her dropping game three and four before coming back with a vengeance in game five, as she stormed out to a 7-0 lead, when Sabja called a timeout. That didn't stop Lambert from going up 9-0, although another timeout led to Sabja's first point.
But that was her only point, as Lambert was able to finish the match off on her second match point, closing out the game 11-1.
In her quarterfinal match, Salas went four games with Rhonda Rajsich, winning 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4.
Salas and Lambert have met 16 times on tour, and Salas holds the advantage, winning 12 of those 16 matches. Lambert has only played Longoria (27 times) more often than Salas, and Salas has only played Longoria (46) and Rajsich (18) more often than Lambert, so they are very familiar with each other.
The LPRT is streaming matches live from Minneapolis. Check out the LPRT Live link on their website. The LPRT semi-finals will be 10 AM and 1 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at 10 AM CDT.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Natalia Mendez, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9
3) Samantha Salas d. 6) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 23) Yazmine Sabja, 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-1
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 12) Gabriela Martinez - 1 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 3) Samantha Salas - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Martinez got the better of Longoria in the Women's Singles final at the IRF World Championships in August, so Longoria will have added incentive on Saturday.
On the other side of the draw, 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert will play 3rd seed Samantha Salas in a rematch of a US Open semi-final two years ago, which Salas won to reach her 1st and only US Open final. Lambert was a finalist last year, and will be looking to get back there with a victory over Salas.
In the quarterfinals, Lambert had the more difficult match, as she needed five games to defeat 23rd seed Yazmine Sabja, 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-1. The win is a measure of revenge for Lambert, who lost to Sabja at the IRF World Championships in August. Lambert seemed to be cruising after winning the first two games, and was up 6-1 in game three, when she seemed to run out of steam.
That lack of energy led to her dropping game three and four before coming back with a vengeance in game five, as she stormed out to a 7-0 lead, when Sabja called a timeout. That didn't stop Lambert from going up 9-0, although another timeout led to Sabja's first point.
But that was her only point, as Lambert was able to finish the match off on her second match point, closing out the game 11-1.
In her quarterfinal match, Salas went four games with Rhonda Rajsich, winning 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4.
Salas and Lambert have met 16 times on tour, and Salas holds the advantage, winning 12 of those 16 matches. Lambert has only played Longoria (27 times) more often than Salas, and Salas has only played Longoria (46) and Rajsich (18) more often than Lambert, so they are very familiar with each other.
The LPRT is streaming matches live from Minneapolis. Check out the LPRT Live link on their website. The LPRT semi-finals will be 10 AM and 1 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at 10 AM CDT.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Natalia Mendez, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9
3) Samantha Salas d. 6) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 23) Yazmine Sabja, 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-1
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 12) Gabriela Martinez - 1 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 3) Samantha Salas - 10 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
IRT semi-finals at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
The International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) #1 player, Rocky Carson, earned his way into the semi-finals at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis on Saturday with a win over Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-2, in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon. Carson will play IRT #4 Daniel De La Rosa, who defeated Jose Diaz, 15-10, 15-9, in the quarters.
De La Rosa took control of game one, when he ran the score from 2-2 to 8-2. He extended that lead to 10-3 and 11-4, but Diaz came back to get within three at 11-8. De La Rosa got the serve back then, and called a time out.
Coming out of the time out, De La Rosa scored three points, making the score 14-8. Diaz continued to battle, though, before De La Rosa ended game one, 15-10. Diaz carried the momentum from the end of game one into game two, as he went up 4-0.
De La Rosa tied the score at 4-4, and then they were back and forth to 8-8. Diaz led 8-7, and made a couple of bad shot choices from good opportunities that gave De La Rosa sideouts. After the second one, De La Rosa scored four points to go from 7-8 down to 11-8 up. That run included a great lay out dive where De La Rosa hit a forehand reverse pinch that made it 10-8.
Diaz called a timeout at 11-8, and was able to make it 11-9 after that. But that would be as much as Diaz would get as De La Rosa scored four points on the next six rallies to win it, 15-9. Diaz fought off one match point, but on the second De La Rosa served to the right side. Diaz's return was in the middle of the court, so De La Rosa was able to hit a soft cross court pass that Diaz dove to get, but wasn't able to reach.
Defending champion Kane Waselenchuk only needed two games to beat Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 15-2. Perhaps the shot of that match, which had several highlight reel shots, was Waselenchuk hitting the ball into the back wall, and having it crack out of the front right corner. Waselenchuk may plan many of his spectacular shots, but we don't think he planned that one. Both players were chuckling about it afterwards.
Waselenchuk will play Andree Parrilla in the semi-finals, as 10th seed Parrilla got the better of 2nd seed Alejandro Landa, 6-15, 15-10, 11-5. Two years ago at the US Open, Waselenchuk beat Parrilla, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0. A lot has happened since then, including Parrilla winning his first IRT Tier 1 event, which happened earlier this year in Lombard, Illinois. Thus, we think that Parrilla will get some points on Saturday, although maybe not 15 in a game.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rocky Carson d. 8) Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-2
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 12) Jose Diaz, 15-10, 15-9
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. 6) Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 15-2
10) Andree Parrilla d. 2) Alejandro Landa, 6-15, 15-10, 11-5
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rocky Carson v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa - 2 PM
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. 10) Andree Parrilla - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
De La Rosa took control of game one, when he ran the score from 2-2 to 8-2. He extended that lead to 10-3 and 11-4, but Diaz came back to get within three at 11-8. De La Rosa got the serve back then, and called a time out.
Coming out of the time out, De La Rosa scored three points, making the score 14-8. Diaz continued to battle, though, before De La Rosa ended game one, 15-10. Diaz carried the momentum from the end of game one into game two, as he went up 4-0.
De La Rosa tied the score at 4-4, and then they were back and forth to 8-8. Diaz led 8-7, and made a couple of bad shot choices from good opportunities that gave De La Rosa sideouts. After the second one, De La Rosa scored four points to go from 7-8 down to 11-8 up. That run included a great lay out dive where De La Rosa hit a forehand reverse pinch that made it 10-8.
Diaz called a timeout at 11-8, and was able to make it 11-9 after that. But that would be as much as Diaz would get as De La Rosa scored four points on the next six rallies to win it, 15-9. Diaz fought off one match point, but on the second De La Rosa served to the right side. Diaz's return was in the middle of the court, so De La Rosa was able to hit a soft cross court pass that Diaz dove to get, but wasn't able to reach.
Defending champion Kane Waselenchuk only needed two games to beat Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 15-2. Perhaps the shot of that match, which had several highlight reel shots, was Waselenchuk hitting the ball into the back wall, and having it crack out of the front right corner. Waselenchuk may plan many of his spectacular shots, but we don't think he planned that one. Both players were chuckling about it afterwards.
Waselenchuk will play Andree Parrilla in the semi-finals, as 10th seed Parrilla got the better of 2nd seed Alejandro Landa, 6-15, 15-10, 11-5. Two years ago at the US Open, Waselenchuk beat Parrilla, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0. A lot has happened since then, including Parrilla winning his first IRT Tier 1 event, which happened earlier this year in Lombard, Illinois. Thus, we think that Parrilla will get some points on Saturday, although maybe not 15 in a game.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rocky Carson d. 8) Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-2
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 12) Jose Diaz, 15-10, 15-9
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. 6) Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 15-2
10) Andree Parrilla d. 2) Alejandro Landa, 6-15, 15-10, 11-5
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Rocky Carson v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa - 2 PM
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. 10) Andree Parrilla - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, October 4, 2018
LPRT Doubles Quarterfinals at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Two out of four quarterfinal doubles matches in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis were upset victories. But the top seeds - and two time champions - Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas won their match, defeating Susana Acosta and Kelani Lawrence, 15-9, 15-6, to advance to the semi-finals.
In the semis, Longoria and Salas will face a new team of Nancy Enriquez and Yazmine Sabja, who upset the 4th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, 15-11, 12-15, 11-7.
On the other side of the draw, Angelica Barrios and Jenny Daza were straight game winners over 3rd seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-12. They'll play of 2nd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia, who defeated Daniela Molina and Masiel Rivera in two straight games, 15-1, 15-6.
The LPRT has its own streaming from Minneapolis. Check out the LPRT Live link on their website to watch the action. The doubles final will be on Saturday at 4 PM CDT.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. Susana Acosta & Kelani Lawrence, 15-9, 15-6
Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja d. 4) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-11, 12-15, 11-7
Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza d. 3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-12
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. Daniela Molina & Masiel Rivera, 15-1, 15-6
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja - 6:20 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza - 4:10 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the semis, Longoria and Salas will face a new team of Nancy Enriquez and Yazmine Sabja, who upset the 4th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, 15-11, 12-15, 11-7.
On the other side of the draw, Angelica Barrios and Jenny Daza were straight game winners over 3rd seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-12. They'll play of 2nd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia, who defeated Daniela Molina and Masiel Rivera in two straight games, 15-1, 15-6.
The LPRT has its own streaming from Minneapolis. Check out the LPRT Live link on their website to watch the action. The doubles final will be on Saturday at 4 PM CDT.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. Susana Acosta & Kelani Lawrence, 15-9, 15-6
Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja d. 4) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-11, 12-15, 11-7
Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza d. 3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-12
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. Daniela Molina & Masiel Rivera, 15-1, 15-6
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja - 6:20 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza - 4:10 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
More tie-breakers in IRT Doubles at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
The tie-breakers continue in International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis! Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya upset 3rd seeds Alejandro Landa and Samuel Murray in a breaker, coming back from 0-1 down to win 13-15, 15-6, 11-5. They'll play 2nd seeds Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa, who defeated Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso for the second time in three months, as they also faced off in the semi-finals of the IRF World Championships in August. Thursday Beltran and De La Rosa won 15-11, 12-15, 11-7.
The defending champions, Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk, didn't need three games to advance to the semis, as they defeated David Horn and Mauro Rojas, 15-13, 15-3. Croft and Waselenchuk will play Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz in the semis in what will be a rematch of the 2015 US Open IRT Doubles final that Croft and Waselencuk won.
Bredenbeck and Diaz made their way to the semis by upsetting 4th seeds Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, which also required a tie-breaker. They actually scored fewer points than Franco and Mercado, but won two games to their one, so Bredenbeck and Diaz advanced, 15-14, 11-15, 11-10.
The win wasn't without some controversy, however. After having Bredenbeck and Diaz took a large leads in the breaker at 6-1 and 10-5, Franco and Mercado worked their way into it, including fighting off four match points before they caught up at 10-10.
Then with Mercado serving, Bredenbeck hit a forehand that appeared to skip, and that's what the referee called. Match over. But they were using line judges for the match, and Bredenbeck was convinced his shot was good, so he appealed, and to the surprise of The Racquetball Blog staff, the line judges disagreed with the referee, so Bredenbeck's shot was judged good, and Franco and Mercado were side out at 10-10.
On the next rally, Mercado hit a shot that looked good, but Bredenbeck and Diaz thought it was a skip, so there was another appeal. This time the line judges agreed with the referee's call that the Mercado's shot was good. Half down. But Franco skipped a shot on the ensuing rally, and everyone agreed to that, so the match was over.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel. The doubles final will be at 5 PM CDT on Saturday.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
IRT - Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk d. David Horn & Mauro Rojas, 15-13, 15-3
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-14, 11-15, 11-10
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 3) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray, 13-15, 15-6, 11-7
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-11, 12-15, 11-7
IRT - Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - 7:20 PM
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - 5:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
The defending champions, Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk, didn't need three games to advance to the semis, as they defeated David Horn and Mauro Rojas, 15-13, 15-3. Croft and Waselenchuk will play Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz in the semis in what will be a rematch of the 2015 US Open IRT Doubles final that Croft and Waselencuk won.
Bredenbeck and Diaz made their way to the semis by upsetting 4th seeds Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, which also required a tie-breaker. They actually scored fewer points than Franco and Mercado, but won two games to their one, so Bredenbeck and Diaz advanced, 15-14, 11-15, 11-10.
The win wasn't without some controversy, however. After having Bredenbeck and Diaz took a large leads in the breaker at 6-1 and 10-5, Franco and Mercado worked their way into it, including fighting off four match points before they caught up at 10-10.
Then with Mercado serving, Bredenbeck hit a forehand that appeared to skip, and that's what the referee called. Match over. But they were using line judges for the match, and Bredenbeck was convinced his shot was good, so he appealed, and to the surprise of The Racquetball Blog staff, the line judges disagreed with the referee, so Bredenbeck's shot was judged good, and Franco and Mercado were side out at 10-10.
On the next rally, Mercado hit a shot that looked good, but Bredenbeck and Diaz thought it was a skip, so there was another appeal. This time the line judges agreed with the referee's call that the Mercado's shot was good. Half down. But Franco skipped a shot on the ensuing rally, and everyone agreed to that, so the match was over.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel. The doubles final will be at 5 PM CDT on Saturday.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
IRT - Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk d. David Horn & Mauro Rojas, 15-13, 15-3
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-14, 11-15, 11-10
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 3) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray, 13-15, 15-6, 11-7
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-11, 12-15, 11-7
IRT - Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - 7:20 PM
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - 5:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Diaz, Parrilla & top 3 seeds into quarters at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Jose Diaz, the 12th seed in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, upset the 5th seed Alvaro Beltran, 12-15, 15-8, 11-7, in the Round of 16 Thursday. The win puts Diaz into the US Open quarterfinals for the first time in his career, where he'll face 4th seed Daniel De La Rosa, who was a straight game winner over Charlie Pratt, 15-12, 15-11.
Also in the 16s, 10th seed Andree Parrilla upset 7th seed Samuel Murray, 15-8, 15-8. He'll face 2nd seed Alejandro Landa in the quarterfinals, as Landa beat 15th seed Jake Bredenbeck in the 16s.
Third seed Kane Waselenchuk, the defending champion, also won, as expected, but what wasn't expected was how difficult the match against Javier Mar would be. Waselenchuk did win in two games, 15-12, 15-10, but was full credit for all his points, as he played an excellent match.
In game one, they were tied at 8-8 and at 9-9 in game two. But each time Waselechuk eased ahead from there, and maintained those leads to win it in two straight.
He'll play 6th seed Sebastian Franco in the quarters, after Franco beat Andres Acuña, 15-0, 15-6.
Also, 8th seed Mario Mercado defeated Rodrigo Montoya, 6-15, 15-13, 11-5, to book his place in the quarters. Mercado awaits the winner of IRT #1 Rocky Carson and 16th seed Felipe Camacho, who are still to play.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson v. 16) Felipe Camacho - 6:10 PM
8) Mario Mercado d. Rodrigo Montoya, 6-15, 15-13, 11-5
12) Jose Diaz d. 5) Alvaro Beltran, 12-15, 15-8, 11-7
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 13) Charles Pratt, 15-12, 15-11
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. Javier Mar, 15-12, 15-10
6) Sebastian Franco d. Andres Acuña, 15-0, 15-6
10) Andree Parrilla d. 7) Samuel Murray, 15-8, 15-8
2) Alejandro Landa d. 15) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-1
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rocky Carson or 16) Felipe Camacho v. 8) Mario Mercado - 2 PM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 12) Jose Diaz - 10 AM
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. 6) Sebastian Franco - 11 AM
2) Alejandro Landa v. 10) Andree Parrilla - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Also in the 16s, 10th seed Andree Parrilla upset 7th seed Samuel Murray, 15-8, 15-8. He'll face 2nd seed Alejandro Landa in the quarterfinals, as Landa beat 15th seed Jake Bredenbeck in the 16s.
Third seed Kane Waselenchuk, the defending champion, also won, as expected, but what wasn't expected was how difficult the match against Javier Mar would be. Waselenchuk did win in two games, 15-12, 15-10, but was full credit for all his points, as he played an excellent match.
In game one, they were tied at 8-8 and at 9-9 in game two. But each time Waselechuk eased ahead from there, and maintained those leads to win it in two straight.
He'll play 6th seed Sebastian Franco in the quarters, after Franco beat Andres Acuña, 15-0, 15-6.
Also, 8th seed Mario Mercado defeated Rodrigo Montoya, 6-15, 15-13, 11-5, to book his place in the quarters. Mercado awaits the winner of IRT #1 Rocky Carson and 16th seed Felipe Camacho, who are still to play.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson v. 16) Felipe Camacho - 6:10 PM
8) Mario Mercado d. Rodrigo Montoya, 6-15, 15-13, 11-5
12) Jose Diaz d. 5) Alvaro Beltran, 12-15, 15-8, 11-7
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 13) Charles Pratt, 15-12, 15-11
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. Javier Mar, 15-12, 15-10
6) Sebastian Franco d. Andres Acuña, 15-0, 15-6
10) Andree Parrilla d. 7) Samuel Murray, 15-8, 15-8
2) Alejandro Landa d. 15) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-1
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Rocky Carson or 16) Felipe Camacho v. 8) Mario Mercado - 2 PM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 12) Jose Diaz - 10 AM
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. 6) Sebastian Franco - 11 AM
2) Alejandro Landa v. 10) Andree Parrilla - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT Round of 16 at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Gabriela Martinez is seeded 12th in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) singles draw, but she is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Women's Singles, so when she defeated 5th seed Nancy Enriquez, 11-6, 11-2, 2-11, 11-5, in the Round of 16 at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, it might look like a bigger upset than it actually was. The win puts Martinez into the quarterfinals, where she'll play 4th seed Alexandra Herrera, who defeated Brenda Laime, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, in the 16s.
Seven time defending champion, Paola Longoria needed four games to defeat fellow Mexican Montserrat Mejia, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7. Next up for Longoria is 8th seed Natalia Mendez, who needed four games to defeat Cristina Amaya, 11-1, 2-11, 11-8, 11-9.
Second seed Frédérique Lambert got by Ana Laura Flores with relative ease, winning 11-2, 11-1, 11-9, but her next match won't be so simple. Twenty third seed Yazmine Sabja plays Lambert next, as Sabja defeated her fellow Bolivian Jenny Daza, 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5. Lambert and Sabja played at the IRF World Championships in August, and Sabja beat Lambert in two straight games. Lambert will not want that to happen again.
The LPRT will have its own streaming from Minneapolis for the first time. Check out the LPRT Live link on their website. Looking ahead the LPRT semi-finals will be 10 AM and 1 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at 10 AM.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Montserrat Mejia, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7
8) Natalia Mendez d. 9) Cristina Amaya, 11-1, 2-11, 11-8, 11-9
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Nancy Enriquez, 11-6, 11-2, 2-11, 11-5
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 20) Brenda Laime, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5
3) Samantha Salas d. 19) Montserrat Perez, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
6) Rhonda Rajsich d. 11) Adriana Riveros, 11-8, 12-10, 11-6
23) Yazmine Sabja d. Jenny Daza, 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 18) Ana Laura Flores, 11-2, 11-1, 11-9
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Natalia Mendez - 2:00 PM
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 12) Gabriela Martinez - 10:00 AM
3) Samantha Salas v. 6) Rhonda Rajsich - 11:00 AM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 23) Yazmine Sabja - 1:00 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Seven time defending champion, Paola Longoria needed four games to defeat fellow Mexican Montserrat Mejia, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7. Next up for Longoria is 8th seed Natalia Mendez, who needed four games to defeat Cristina Amaya, 11-1, 2-11, 11-8, 11-9.
Second seed Frédérique Lambert got by Ana Laura Flores with relative ease, winning 11-2, 11-1, 11-9, but her next match won't be so simple. Twenty third seed Yazmine Sabja plays Lambert next, as Sabja defeated her fellow Bolivian Jenny Daza, 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5. Lambert and Sabja played at the IRF World Championships in August, and Sabja beat Lambert in two straight games. Lambert will not want that to happen again.
The LPRT will have its own streaming from Minneapolis for the first time. Check out the LPRT Live link on their website. Looking ahead the LPRT semi-finals will be 10 AM and 1 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at 10 AM.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Montserrat Mejia, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7
8) Natalia Mendez d. 9) Cristina Amaya, 11-1, 2-11, 11-8, 11-9
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Nancy Enriquez, 11-6, 11-2, 2-11, 11-5
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 20) Brenda Laime, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5
3) Samantha Salas d. 19) Montserrat Perez, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
6) Rhonda Rajsich d. 11) Adriana Riveros, 11-8, 12-10, 11-6
23) Yazmine Sabja d. Jenny Daza, 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 18) Ana Laura Flores, 11-2, 11-1, 11-9
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Natalia Mendez - 2:00 PM
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 12) Gabriela Martinez - 10:00 AM
3) Samantha Salas v. 6) Rhonda Rajsich - 11:00 AM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 23) Yazmine Sabja - 1:00 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
IRT Round of 32 at the 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
In the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Round of 32 singles matches at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, there were three upsets, and one of them isn't too surprising. Rodrigo Montoya won the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men's Singles World Championship in August, and today he beat 9th seed Jansen Allen, 15-9, 15-6, in the 32s. It was a tough match for a top 10 seed.
Andres Acuña, a Costa Rican with experience playing internationally for his country, beat 11th seed David Horn, 13-15, 15-6, 11-6, in the only other upset of the Round of 32. In the Round of 16, Acuña will play Sebastian Franco, who also needed three games to get past his opponent in the 32s, beating Mauro Rojas, 15-3, 14-15, 11-8.
Defending champion Kane Waselenchuk began his title defence with a straight game win over Mexican teenager Sebastian Fernandez, 15-4, 15-4. He'll play Javier Mar in the 16s, as Mar beat 14th seed Adam Manilla, 15-5, 15-14, in the 3rd upset of the 32s.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson d. Dylan Reid, 15-6, 15-10
16) Felipe Camacho d. Thomas Carter, 15-12, 13-15, 11-8
Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Jansen Allen, 15-9, 15-6
8) Mario Mercado d. Scott McClellan, 15-8, 15-6
5) Alvaro Beltran d. Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-13, 15-10
12) Jose Diaz d. Gerardo Franco, 15-14, 15-5
13) Charles Pratt d. Diego Garcia, 15-12, 15-5
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. Ricardo Diaz, 15-4, 15-4
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. Sebastian Fernandez, 15-4, 15-4
Javier Mar d. 14) Adam Manilla, 15-4, 15-14
Andres Acuña d. 11) David Horn, 13-15, 15-6, 11-6
6) Sebastian Franco d. Mauro Rojas, 15-3, 14-15, 11-8
7) Samuel Murray d. Conrrado Moscoso, 15-9, 1-15, 11-4
10) Andree Parrilla d. Justus Benson, 15-7, 15-3
15) Jake Bredenbeck d. Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-2
2) Alejandro Landa d. Maurice Miller, 12-15, 15-7, 11-6
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson v. 16) Felipe Camacho - 6:10 PM
8) Mario Mercado v. Rodrigo Montoya - 6:10 PM
5) Alvaro Beltran v. 12) Jose Diaz - 2:40 PM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 13) Charles Pratt - 2:40 PM
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. Javier Mar - 3:50 PM
6) Sebastian Franco v. Andres Acuña - 3:50 PM
7) Samuel Murray v. 10) Andree Parrilla - 5 PM
2) Alejandro Landa v. 15) Jake Bredenbeck - 5 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Andres Acuña, a Costa Rican with experience playing internationally for his country, beat 11th seed David Horn, 13-15, 15-6, 11-6, in the only other upset of the Round of 32. In the Round of 16, Acuña will play Sebastian Franco, who also needed three games to get past his opponent in the 32s, beating Mauro Rojas, 15-3, 14-15, 11-8.
Defending champion Kane Waselenchuk began his title defence with a straight game win over Mexican teenager Sebastian Fernandez, 15-4, 15-4. He'll play Javier Mar in the 16s, as Mar beat 14th seed Adam Manilla, 15-5, 15-14, in the 3rd upset of the 32s.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson d. Dylan Reid, 15-6, 15-10
16) Felipe Camacho d. Thomas Carter, 15-12, 13-15, 11-8
Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Jansen Allen, 15-9, 15-6
8) Mario Mercado d. Scott McClellan, 15-8, 15-6
5) Alvaro Beltran d. Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-13, 15-10
12) Jose Diaz d. Gerardo Franco, 15-14, 15-5
13) Charles Pratt d. Diego Garcia, 15-12, 15-5
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. Ricardo Diaz, 15-4, 15-4
3) Kane Waselenchuk d. Sebastian Fernandez, 15-4, 15-4
Javier Mar d. 14) Adam Manilla, 15-4, 15-14
Andres Acuña d. 11) David Horn, 13-15, 15-6, 11-6
6) Sebastian Franco d. Mauro Rojas, 15-3, 14-15, 11-8
7) Samuel Murray d. Conrrado Moscoso, 15-9, 1-15, 11-4
10) Andree Parrilla d. Justus Benson, 15-7, 15-3
15) Jake Bredenbeck d. Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-2
2) Alejandro Landa d. Maurice Miller, 12-15, 15-7, 11-6
Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson v. 16) Felipe Camacho - 6:10 PM
8) Mario Mercado v. Rodrigo Montoya - 6:10 PM
5) Alvaro Beltran v. 12) Jose Diaz - 2:40 PM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 13) Charles Pratt - 2:40 PM
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. Javier Mar - 3:50 PM
6) Sebastian Franco v. Andres Acuña - 3:50 PM
7) Samuel Murray v. 10) Andree Parrilla - 5 PM
2) Alejandro Landa v. 15) Jake Bredenbeck - 5 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT Round of 32 at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) singles Round of 32 has begun at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, and there have been some upsets. The bracket with the 7 & 10 seeds is blown up, as both seeds lost in the 32s. Jenny Daza took out the 7th seed Maria Jose Vargas, 11-5, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7, and 23rd seed Yazmine Sabja pulled out a five game win over 10th seed Carla Muñoz, 11-4, 7-11, 10-12, 11-1, 11-5. Thus, they will play each other for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Top seed and seven time defending champion, Paola Longoria beat Erika Manilla in three games, 11-0, 11-0, 13-11. Longoria will play 17th seed Montserrat Mejia in the Round of 16, as Meija won the 16/17 match against 16th seed Cassi Lee, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2.
Second seed Frédérique Lambert needed four games to fend off young American Hollie Scott, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, so she'll play Ana Laura Flores, another young player but from Mexico, in the 16s, as Flores upset 15th seed and left handed veteran Susana Acosta, 12-10, 14-12, 6-11, 11-1.
In other action, 20th seed Brenda Laime defeated 13th seed Sheryl Lotts, 11-7, 11-5, 1-11, 11-6, and 19th seed Montserrat Perez came back from two games down to beat 14th seed Adrienne Haynes, 2-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2.
Laime will next play 4th seed Alexandra Herrera who outlasted 29th seed - but a former LPRT top 10 player - Michelle De La Rosa, 16-14, 8-11, 14-12, 3-11, 12-10. Herrera and De La Rosa were close throughout their tie-breaker, including being tied at 8-8. De La Rosa got to 10 first at 10-8, but only served for the match once. Herrera denied that chance with a forehand pinch serve return of a De La Rosa 1/2 lob serve.
Perez will play 3rd seed Samantha Salas, who was a straight game winner over Kelani Lawrence, 11-3, 11-5, 11-1.
The LPRT will have its own streaming from Minneapolis for the first time. Check out the LPRT Live link on their website.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria d. Erika Manilla, 11-0, 11-0, 13-11
17) Montserrat Mejia d. 16) Cassi Lee, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
9) Cristina Amaya d. 24) Cecilia Pratt, 11-6, 11-1, 11-3
8) Natalia Mendez d. Anna Rivera, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5
5) Nancy Enriquez d. Angelica Barrios, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 21) Erin Groves, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
20) Brenda Laime d. 13) Sheryl Lotts, 11-7, 11-5, 1-11, 11-6
4) Alexandra Herrera d. Michelle De La Rosa, 16-14, 8-11, 14-12, 3-11, 12-10
3) Samantha Salas d. Kelani Lawrence, 11-3, 11-5, 11-1
19) Montserrat Perez d. 14) Adrienne Haynes, 2-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2
11) Adriana Riveros v. 22) Masiel Rivera, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 11-3
6) Rhonda Rajsich d. Denisse Maldonado, 11-4, 11-3, 6-11, 11-0
Jenny Daza d. 7) Maria Jose Vargas, 11-5, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7
23) Yazmine Sabja d. 10) Carla Muñoz, 11-4, 7-11, 10-12, 11-1, 11-5
18) Ana Laura Flores d. 15) Susana Acosta, 12-10, 14-12, 6-11, 11-1
2) Frédérique Lambert d. Hollie Scott, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria v. 17) Montserrat Mejia - 5:00 PM
8) Natalia Mendez v. 9) Cristina Amaya - 5:00 PM
5) Nancy Enriquez v. 12) Gabriela Martinez - 1:30 PM
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 20) Brenda Laime - 1:30 PM
3) Samantha Salas v. 19) Montserrat Perez - 2:40 PM
6) Rhonda Rajsich v. 11) Adriana Riveros - 2:40 PM
23) Yazmine Sabja v. Jenny Daza - 3:50 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 18) Ana Laura Flores - 3:50 PM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Susana Acosta & Kelani Lawrence - 8:30 PM
4) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja - 7:20 PM
3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza - 7:20 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. Daniela Molina & Masiel Rivera - 8:30 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Top seed and seven time defending champion, Paola Longoria beat Erika Manilla in three games, 11-0, 11-0, 13-11. Longoria will play 17th seed Montserrat Mejia in the Round of 16, as Meija won the 16/17 match against 16th seed Cassi Lee, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2.
Second seed Frédérique Lambert needed four games to fend off young American Hollie Scott, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, so she'll play Ana Laura Flores, another young player but from Mexico, in the 16s, as Flores upset 15th seed and left handed veteran Susana Acosta, 12-10, 14-12, 6-11, 11-1.
In other action, 20th seed Brenda Laime defeated 13th seed Sheryl Lotts, 11-7, 11-5, 1-11, 11-6, and 19th seed Montserrat Perez came back from two games down to beat 14th seed Adrienne Haynes, 2-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2.
Laime will next play 4th seed Alexandra Herrera who outlasted 29th seed - but a former LPRT top 10 player - Michelle De La Rosa, 16-14, 8-11, 14-12, 3-11, 12-10. Herrera and De La Rosa were close throughout their tie-breaker, including being tied at 8-8. De La Rosa got to 10 first at 10-8, but only served for the match once. Herrera denied that chance with a forehand pinch serve return of a De La Rosa 1/2 lob serve.
Perez will play 3rd seed Samantha Salas, who was a straight game winner over Kelani Lawrence, 11-3, 11-5, 11-1.
The LPRT will have its own streaming from Minneapolis for the first time. Check out the LPRT Live link on their website.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria d. Erika Manilla, 11-0, 11-0, 13-11
17) Montserrat Mejia d. 16) Cassi Lee, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
9) Cristina Amaya d. 24) Cecilia Pratt, 11-6, 11-1, 11-3
8) Natalia Mendez d. Anna Rivera, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5
5) Nancy Enriquez d. Angelica Barrios, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4
12) Gabriela Martinez d. 21) Erin Groves, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
20) Brenda Laime d. 13) Sheryl Lotts, 11-7, 11-5, 1-11, 11-6
4) Alexandra Herrera d. Michelle De La Rosa, 16-14, 8-11, 14-12, 3-11, 12-10
3) Samantha Salas d. Kelani Lawrence, 11-3, 11-5, 11-1
19) Montserrat Perez d. 14) Adrienne Haynes, 2-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2
11) Adriana Riveros v. 22) Masiel Rivera, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 11-3
6) Rhonda Rajsich d. Denisse Maldonado, 11-4, 11-3, 6-11, 11-0
Jenny Daza d. 7) Maria Jose Vargas, 11-5, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7
23) Yazmine Sabja d. 10) Carla Muñoz, 11-4, 7-11, 10-12, 11-1, 11-5
18) Ana Laura Flores d. 15) Susana Acosta, 12-10, 14-12, 6-11, 11-1
2) Frédérique Lambert d. Hollie Scott, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7
LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria v. 17) Montserrat Mejia - 5:00 PM
8) Natalia Mendez v. 9) Cristina Amaya - 5:00 PM
5) Nancy Enriquez v. 12) Gabriela Martinez - 1:30 PM
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 20) Brenda Laime - 1:30 PM
3) Samantha Salas v. 19) Montserrat Perez - 2:40 PM
6) Rhonda Rajsich v. 11) Adriana Riveros - 2:40 PM
23) Yazmine Sabja v. Jenny Daza - 3:50 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 18) Ana Laura Flores - 3:50 PM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Susana Acosta & Kelani Lawrence - 8:30 PM
4) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. Nancy Enriquez & Yazmine Sabja - 7:20 PM
3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza - 7:20 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. Daniela Molina & Masiel Rivera - 8:30 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
All will play three! - 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open IRT Doubles
All four of the last four International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles qualifying matches at the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis went tie-breaker: a testament to the competitiveness this year. The closest match saw Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz defeat Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho, 15-13, 11-15, 11-8. That after both teams won close tie-breakers last night.
David Horn and Mauro Rojas also won a close tie-breaker, as they saw off Maurice Miller and Troy Warigon, 15-8, 2-15, 11-9. But shout out to Miller and Warigon, who won the last match of last night, upsetting Gerardo Franco and Andree Parrilla.
In the other matches, Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso beat Thomas Carter and Kyle Ulliman, 11-15, 15-6, 11-0, and Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya defeated Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel, 15-5, 14-15, 11-4.
That sets up the quarterfinals for Thursday evening. Top seeds and defending champions Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk will take on Horn and Rojas. Second seeds Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa go up against Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso, in what will be a rematch of the World Championship semi-finals in August that Beltran and De La Rosa won.
Also tonight, Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado will play Bredenbeck and Diaz with Alejandro Landa and Samuel Murray playing Mar and Montoya.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
IRT - Doubles - Qualifying - Round Three - Thursday
Q1 - Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho, 15-13, 11-15, 11-8
Q4 - David Horn & Mauro Rojas d. Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon, 15-8, 2-15, 11-9
Q3 - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman, 11-15, 15-6, 11-0
Q2 - Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel, 15-5, 14-15, 11-4
IRT - Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 8:30 PM
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - 8:30 PM
3) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray v. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - 7:20 PM
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso - 7:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
David Horn and Mauro Rojas also won a close tie-breaker, as they saw off Maurice Miller and Troy Warigon, 15-8, 2-15, 11-9. But shout out to Miller and Warigon, who won the last match of last night, upsetting Gerardo Franco and Andree Parrilla.
In the other matches, Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso beat Thomas Carter and Kyle Ulliman, 11-15, 15-6, 11-0, and Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya defeated Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel, 15-5, 14-15, 11-4.
That sets up the quarterfinals for Thursday evening. Top seeds and defending champions Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk will take on Horn and Rojas. Second seeds Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa go up against Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso, in what will be a rematch of the World Championship semi-finals in August that Beltran and De La Rosa won.
Also tonight, Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado will play Bredenbeck and Diaz with Alejandro Landa and Samuel Murray playing Mar and Montoya.
Look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
IRT - Doubles - Qualifying - Round Three - Thursday
Q1 - Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho, 15-13, 11-15, 11-8
Q4 - David Horn & Mauro Rojas d. Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon, 15-8, 2-15, 11-9
Q3 - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman, 11-15, 15-6, 11-0
Q2 - Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel, 15-5, 14-15, 11-4
IRT - Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 8:30 PM
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - 8:30 PM
3) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray v. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - 7:20 PM
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso - 7:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
IRT Round of 64 at 2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
The first matches are done in the second round of qualifying in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division of the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, and already there are upsets. Diego Garcia defeated Nicholas Riffel, the 20th ranked IRT player, 15-9, 15-13. Garcia is still a junior player, who was a semi-finalist in Boy's U16 at last year's World Junior Championships. Garcia will play Charlie Pratt in the Round of 32, and Pratt may be familiar with Garcia's game from his role as head coach of the Team USA at last year's World Juniors.
Also an upset, Rodrigo Rodriguez beat Christian Wer, 15-11, 15-11. Rodriguez, who hails from Mexico, will play the best Mexican player ever in the 32s, as he'll face Alvaro Beltran.
What are the odds of going breaker after losing the first game at 0? And the odds of winning a match when you failed to score in the first game? You'd have to think they would be pretty long, but regardless of what they are, Thomas Carter defied them Wednesday as he came back from being blanked in game one to defeat Daniel Maldonado, 0-15, 15-12, 11-7, and move on to the Round of 32, where he'll play Felipe Camacho.
Earlier today we said there would be a classic match up of a wily veteran and a good young player with Japanese veteran Hiroshi Shimizu playing current U18 Boy's World Junior Champion Mauro Rojas, and youthful exuberance came out on top, but needed a tie-breaker to do so, winning 11-15, 15-4, 11-7.
Never say never, or the last point is the hardest Dept.
Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, former US Open Doubles finalists, squeaked out a win over teenagers Sebastian Fernandez and Diego Garcia, 15-11, 12-15, 11-10. It was all the more remarkable, because Fernandez and Garcia were up 10-0 in the tie-breaker. They served for the match seven times, but weren't able to get that last point, as Bredenbeck and Diaz came all the way back to take by one.
Their reward is an 8 AM match with Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho, who also needed a tie-breaker to get past Charles Pratt and Dylan Reid, 7-15, 15-11, 11-9. The sportsmanship award of the day could go to Pratt, who overturned a referee's call of a skip shot on a Camacho forehand, when he and Reid were leading 8-6 in game three. Camacho's shot did look good, and the referee was on Camacho's side, yet he still called it down before Pratt changed it.
Pratt and Reid won the next rally to lead 9-6. But Acuña and Camacho got a side out at that point, and served it out with five straight points. Pratt and Reid called a timeout at 9-9, but to no avail. Acuña scored the last three points with pinch shots to the front left corner, the last being a forehand reverse shot.
The IRT has been having some issues setting up their live streaming, as they had travel difficulties in getting to Minneapolis. They should have them all sorted out by the time we get to Thursday, so look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Round Two - Wednesday
Q1 - Thomas Carter d. Daniel Maldonado, 0-15, 15-12, 11-7
Q16 - Dylan Reid d. Edwin Galicia, 15-9, 8-15, 11-8
Q9 - Scott McClellan d. Sergio Acuña, 5-15, 15-12, 11-9
Q8 - Rodrigo Montoya d. Eric Garcia, 15-6, 15-7
Q5 - Gerardo Franco d. Christian Longoria, 15-8, 4-15, 11-0
Q12 - Rodrigo Rodriguez d. Christian Wer, 15-11, 15-11
Q13 - Ricardo Diaz d. Troy Warigon, 15-9, 15-9
Q4 - Diego Garcia d. Nicholas Riffel, 15-9, 15-13
Q3 - Javier Mar d. Kadim Carrasco, 15-1, 15-7
Q14 - Sebastian Fernandez d. Jay Munoz, 15-7, 15-6
Q11 - Mauro Rojas d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-15, 15-4, 11-7
Q6 - Andres Acuña d. Juan Jose Salvatierra, 15-0, 15-9
Q7 - Justus Benson d. Erik Mendoza, 15-12, 15-11
Q10 - Conrrado Moscoso d. Kyle Ulliman, 15-4, 15-10
Q15 - Maurice Miller d. Alexander Pirie, 15-8, 15-4
Q2 - Robert Collins d. Alejandro Herrera, 15-12, 15-14
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson v. Dylan Reid - 1:30 PM
16) Felipe Camacho v. Thomas Carter - 1:30 PM
9) Jansen Allen v. Rodrigo Montoya - 1:30 PM
8) Mario Mercado v. Scott McClellan - 1:30 PM
5) Alvaro Beltran v. Rodrigo Rodriguez - 10 AM
12) Jose Diaz v. Gerardo Franco - 10 AM
13) Charles Pratt v. Diego Garcia - 10 AM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. Ricardo Diaz - 10 AM
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. Sebastian Fernandez - 11:10 AM
14) Adam Manilla v. Javier Mar - 11:10 AM
11) David Horn v. Andres Acuña - 11:10 AM
6) Sebastian Franco v. Mauro Rojas - 11:10 AM
7) Samuel Murray v. Conrrado Moscoso - 12:20 PM
10) Andree Parrilla v. Justus Benson - 12:20 PM
15) Jake Bredenbeck v. Robert Collins - 12:20 PM
2) Alejandro Landa v. Maurice Miller - 12:20 PM
IRT - Doubles - Qualifying - Wednesday
Round One
Sebastian Fernandez & Diego Garcia d. Keith Minor & Jeff Stark, 15-9, 15-9
Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley d. Michael Phillips & Tyler Thielen, 15-13, 15-1
Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera d. Gabriel Garcia & Alexander Pirie, 15-8, 9-15, 11-6
Round Two - Wednesday
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. Sebastian Fernandez & Diego Garcia, 15-11, 12-15, 11-10
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho d. Charles Pratt & Dylan Reid, 7-15, 15-11, 11-9
Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon d. Gerardo Franco & Andree Parrilla, 15-14, 5-15, 11-6
David Horn & Mauro Rojas d. Justus Benson & Eric Garcia, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley, 15-7, 15-8
Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman d. Jansen Allen & Nick Montalbano, 15-11, 7-15, 11-6
Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel d. Tim Herman & Michael Myers, 15-5, 15-0
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera, 15-6, 15-14
Round Three - Thursday
Q1 - Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho - 8 AM
Q4 - Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon v. David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 9 AM
Q3 - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman - 8 AM
Q2 - Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel v. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - 9 AM
IRT - Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. Q4 - 8:30 PM
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. Q1 - 8:30 PM
3) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray v. Q2 - 7:20 PM
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. Q3 - 7:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Also an upset, Rodrigo Rodriguez beat Christian Wer, 15-11, 15-11. Rodriguez, who hails from Mexico, will play the best Mexican player ever in the 32s, as he'll face Alvaro Beltran.
What are the odds of going breaker after losing the first game at 0? And the odds of winning a match when you failed to score in the first game? You'd have to think they would be pretty long, but regardless of what they are, Thomas Carter defied them Wednesday as he came back from being blanked in game one to defeat Daniel Maldonado, 0-15, 15-12, 11-7, and move on to the Round of 32, where he'll play Felipe Camacho.
Earlier today we said there would be a classic match up of a wily veteran and a good young player with Japanese veteran Hiroshi Shimizu playing current U18 Boy's World Junior Champion Mauro Rojas, and youthful exuberance came out on top, but needed a tie-breaker to do so, winning 11-15, 15-4, 11-7.
Never say never, or the last point is the hardest Dept.
Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, former US Open Doubles finalists, squeaked out a win over teenagers Sebastian Fernandez and Diego Garcia, 15-11, 12-15, 11-10. It was all the more remarkable, because Fernandez and Garcia were up 10-0 in the tie-breaker. They served for the match seven times, but weren't able to get that last point, as Bredenbeck and Diaz came all the way back to take by one.
Their reward is an 8 AM match with Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho, who also needed a tie-breaker to get past Charles Pratt and Dylan Reid, 7-15, 15-11, 11-9. The sportsmanship award of the day could go to Pratt, who overturned a referee's call of a skip shot on a Camacho forehand, when he and Reid were leading 8-6 in game three. Camacho's shot did look good, and the referee was on Camacho's side, yet he still called it down before Pratt changed it.
Pratt and Reid won the next rally to lead 9-6. But Acuña and Camacho got a side out at that point, and served it out with five straight points. Pratt and Reid called a timeout at 9-9, but to no avail. Acuña scored the last three points with pinch shots to the front left corner, the last being a forehand reverse shot.
The IRT has been having some issues setting up their live streaming, as they had travel difficulties in getting to Minneapolis. They should have them all sorted out by the time we get to Thursday, so look for IRT action live from Minneapolis via their various outlets. Check out the IRT Network, IRT Facebook page and IRT YouTube channel.
2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 3-7, 2018
Round Two - Wednesday
Q1 - Thomas Carter d. Daniel Maldonado, 0-15, 15-12, 11-7
Q16 - Dylan Reid d. Edwin Galicia, 15-9, 8-15, 11-8
Q9 - Scott McClellan d. Sergio Acuña, 5-15, 15-12, 11-9
Q8 - Rodrigo Montoya d. Eric Garcia, 15-6, 15-7
Q5 - Gerardo Franco d. Christian Longoria, 15-8, 4-15, 11-0
Q12 - Rodrigo Rodriguez d. Christian Wer, 15-11, 15-11
Q13 - Ricardo Diaz d. Troy Warigon, 15-9, 15-9
Q4 - Diego Garcia d. Nicholas Riffel, 15-9, 15-13
Q3 - Javier Mar d. Kadim Carrasco, 15-1, 15-7
Q14 - Sebastian Fernandez d. Jay Munoz, 15-7, 15-6
Q11 - Mauro Rojas d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-15, 15-4, 11-7
Q6 - Andres Acuña d. Juan Jose Salvatierra, 15-0, 15-9
Q7 - Justus Benson d. Erik Mendoza, 15-12, 15-11
Q10 - Conrrado Moscoso d. Kyle Ulliman, 15-4, 15-10
Q15 - Maurice Miller d. Alexander Pirie, 15-8, 15-4
Q2 - Robert Collins d. Alejandro Herrera, 15-12, 15-14
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Rocky Carson v. Dylan Reid - 1:30 PM
16) Felipe Camacho v. Thomas Carter - 1:30 PM
9) Jansen Allen v. Rodrigo Montoya - 1:30 PM
8) Mario Mercado v. Scott McClellan - 1:30 PM
5) Alvaro Beltran v. Rodrigo Rodriguez - 10 AM
12) Jose Diaz v. Gerardo Franco - 10 AM
13) Charles Pratt v. Diego Garcia - 10 AM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. Ricardo Diaz - 10 AM
3) Kane Waselenchuk v. Sebastian Fernandez - 11:10 AM
14) Adam Manilla v. Javier Mar - 11:10 AM
11) David Horn v. Andres Acuña - 11:10 AM
6) Sebastian Franco v. Mauro Rojas - 11:10 AM
7) Samuel Murray v. Conrrado Moscoso - 12:20 PM
10) Andree Parrilla v. Justus Benson - 12:20 PM
15) Jake Bredenbeck v. Robert Collins - 12:20 PM
2) Alejandro Landa v. Maurice Miller - 12:20 PM
IRT - Doubles - Qualifying - Wednesday
Round One
Sebastian Fernandez & Diego Garcia d. Keith Minor & Jeff Stark, 15-9, 15-9
Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley d. Michael Phillips & Tyler Thielen, 15-13, 15-1
Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera d. Gabriel Garcia & Alexander Pirie, 15-8, 9-15, 11-6
Round Two - Wednesday
Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. Sebastian Fernandez & Diego Garcia, 15-11, 12-15, 11-10
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho d. Charles Pratt & Dylan Reid, 7-15, 15-11, 11-9
Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon d. Gerardo Franco & Andree Parrilla, 15-14, 5-15, 11-6
David Horn & Mauro Rojas d. Justus Benson & Eric Garcia, 10-15, 15-7, 11-6
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley, 15-7, 15-8
Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman d. Jansen Allen & Nick Montalbano, 15-11, 7-15, 11-6
Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel d. Tim Herman & Michael Myers, 15-5, 15-0
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera, 15-6, 15-14
Round Three - Thursday
Q1 - Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho - 8 AM
Q4 - Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon v. David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 9 AM
Q3 - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman - 8 AM
Q2 - Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel v. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - 9 AM
IRT - Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. Q4 - 8:30 PM
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. Q1 - 8:30 PM
3) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray v. Q2 - 7:20 PM
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. Q3 - 7:20 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
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