2018 UnitedHealthcare US Open - IRT Preview

Sixty nine men are competing to win the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division of the 2018 UnitedHeathcare US Open Racquetball Championships, but one of those 69 is the favourite, although Kane Waselenchuk - the 10 time defending champion and 13 time winner overall - isn't the top seed or even the 2nd the seed. Rocky Carson is the IRT's #1 player, and Alejandro Landa is #2, because Waselenchuk, who won five tournaments last season, was hurt for most of the second half of the season. Thus, his ranking has slipped because of inactivity due to injury.

Waselenchuk is undoubtedly annoyed about not being #1, and likely feels that the US Open is his tournament. And who would argue? This is the first year Waselenchuk isn't the #1 seed since 2003, when he won the title for the first time. Waselenchuk is difficult to play against at the best of times. If he feels he has something to prove, he's even worse to play against. Look for Waselenchuk to try and make a statement throughout this week.

Will he be able to do it? We're on record as saying that it's foolish to bet against Waselenchuk, when he's in the draw, but this is the deepest field he'll face. Moreover, it's not just deep in numbers, but also in quality, as there are several young players in the field that could make a run through the draw.

But to Waselenchuk's advantage, he won't have to face all of them. However, Waselenchuk isn't getting any younger. He'll be 37 next month, and Father Time is undefeated, so eventually that's going to catch up with Waselenchuk. But probably not this year. Maybe next year. Maybe.

You can watch some of the 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 Singles Qualifying Round One - Wednesday

David Austin v. Daniel Maldonado - 11:45 AM
Edwin Galicia v. Francisco Gomez Reyes - 11:45 AM
Dylan Reid v. James Slamko - 11:45 AM

Sergio Acuña v. A. J. Fernandez - 11:45 AM
Eric Garcia v. Bradly Rogers - 11:45 AM

Andrés Gómez v. Christian Longoria - 8:15 AM
Christian Wer v. Derek Izzi - 8:15 AM
John Wolfe v. Rodrigo Rodriguez - 8:15 AM

Troy Warigon v. Oscar Nieto Valadez - 8:15 AM
Nick Montalbano v. Ricardo Diaz - 8:15 AM

Diego Garcia v. Erick Fernandez - 8:15 AM
Kadim Carrasco v. Gabriel Garcia - 9:25 AM

Set Cubillos v. Jay Munoz - 9:25 AM
Marcel Czempisz v, Sebastian Fernandez - 9:25 AM

Victor Camacho v. Hiroshi Shimizu - 9:25 AM
Juan Jose Salvatierra v. Tyler Thielen - 9:25 AM

Erik Mendoza v. Bob Jackson - 10:35 AM
Kyle Ulliman v. Wayne Antone IV - 10:35 AM

Maurice Miller v. Mando Bermudez - 10:35 AM
Austin Cunningham v. Alexander Pirie - 10:35 AM

Michael Phillips v. Alejandro Herrera - 10:35 AM

Round Two - Wednesday

Q1 - Thomas Carter v. David Austin or Daniel Maldonado - 4:25 PM
Q16 - Edwin Galicia or Francisco Gomez Reyes v.
Dylan Reid or James Slamko - 4:25 PM

Q9 - Scott McClellan v. Sergio Acuña or A. J. Fernandez - 4:25 PM
Q8 - Rodrigo Montoya v. Eric Garcia or Bradly Rogers - 4:25 PM

Q5 - Gerardo Franco v. Andrés Gómez or Christian Longoria - 12:55 PM
Q12 - Christian Wer or Derek Izzi v. John Wolfe or Rodrigo Rodriguez - 12:55 PM

Q13 - Troy Warigon or Oscar Nieto Valadez v. Nick Montalbano or Ricardo Diaz - 12:55 PM
Q4 - Nicholas Riffel v. Diego Garcia or Erick Fernandez - 12:55 PM

Q3 - Javier Mar v. Kadim Carrasco or Gabriel Garcia - 2:05 PM
Q14 - Set Cubillos or Jay Munoz v. Marcel Czempisz or Sebastian Fernandez - 2:05 PM

Q11 - Mauro Rojas v. Victor Camacho or Hiroshi Shimizu - 2:05 PM
Q6 - Andres Acuña v. Juan Jose Salvatierra or Tyler Thielen - 2:05 PM

Q7 - Justus Benson v. Erik Mendoza or Bob Jackson - 3:15 PM
Q10 - Conrrado Moscoso v. Kyle Ulliman or Wayne Antone IV - 3:15 PM

Q15 - Maurice Miller or Mando Bermudez v. Austin Cunningham or Alexander Pirie - 3:15 PM
Q2 - Robert Collins v. Michael Phillips or Alejandro Herrera - 3:15 PM

Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson v. Q16 - 1:30 PM
16) Felipe Camacho v. Q1 - 1:30 PM

9) Jansen Allen v. Q8 - 1:30 PM
8) Mario Mercado v. Q9 - 1:30 PM

5) Alvaro Beltran v. Q12 - 10 AM
12) Jose Diaz v. Q5 - 10 AM

13) Charles Pratt v. Q4 - 10 AM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. Q13 - 10 AM

3) Kane Waselenchuk v. Q14 - 11:10 AM
14) Adam Manilla v. Q3 - 11:10 AM

11) David Horn v. Q6 - 11:10 AM
6) Sebastian Franco v. Q11 - 11:10 AM

7) Samuel Murray v. Q10 - 12:20 PM
10) Andree Parrilla v. Q7 - 12:20 PM

15) Jake Bredenbeck v. Q2 - 12:20 PM
2) Alejandro Landa v. Q15 - 12:20 PM

IRT - Doubles - Qualifying - Wednesday

Round One

Keith Minor & Jeff Stark v. Sebastian Fernandez & Diego Garcia - 4:25 PM
Michael Phillips & Tyler Thielen v. Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley - 12:55 PM
Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera v. Gabriel Garcia & Alexander Pirie - 12:55 PM

Round Two - Wednesday

Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. Keith Minor & Jeff Stark or Sebastian Fernandez & Diego Garcia - 9:05 PM
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho v. Charles Pratt & Dylan Reid - 7:55 PM

Gerardo Franco & Andree Parrilla v. Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon - 9:05 PM
Justus Benson & Eric Garcia v. David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 9:05 PM

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. Michael Phillips & Tyler Thielen or Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley - 7:55 PM
Jansen Allen & Nick Montalbano v. Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman - 9:05 PM

Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel v. Tim Herman & Michael Myers - 7:55 PM
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera or Gabriel Garcia & Alexander Pirie - 9:05 PM

Round Three - Thursday

Q1 - Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz or Keith Minor & Jeff Stark or Sebastian Fernandez & Diego Garcia v. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho or Charles Pratt & Dylan Reid - 8 AM

Q4 - Gerardo Franco & Andree Parrilla or Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon v. Justus Benson & Eric Garcia or David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 9 AM

Q3 - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso or Michael Phillips & Tyler Thielen or Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley v. Jansen Allen & Nick Montalbano or Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman - 8 AM

Q2 - Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel or Tim Herman & Michael Myers v. Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya or Mike Harmon & Alejandro Herrera or Gabriel Garcia & Alexander Pirie - 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….