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….
Sunday, October 7, 2018
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