Acuña, Carrasco & Keller win in Maryland

Andres Acuña defeated Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-11, to win Men’s Open at the Valentine Open in Laurel, Maryland on the weekend. It capped a good tournament for Acuña, who upset Andree Parrilla in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) draw to reach the quarterfinals. In the Men’s Open semi-finals, Acuña beat Maurice Miller, 15-0, 15-5, while Mercado took out Set Cubillos, 15-2, 15-2.

Mercado was a double runner up in Maryland, as he and Eduardo Garay lost in the Men’s Open Doubles final to Kadim Carrasco and Carlos Keller, 15-7, 15-12. In the semis, Carrasco and Keller defeated Maurice Miller and Troy Warigon, 15-12, 15-11, while Garay and Mercado beat Brent Walters and Ross Weinberg, 15-13, 15-11.

The 2019 US Open - racquetball’s original Grand Slam event, and the largest racquetball tournament in the world - is next week, October 2-6 in Minneapolis. But this weekend is the 3 WallBall World Championships in Las Vegas, where players will compete outdoors.

2019 Valentine Open, September 19-21, 2019
Laurel, Maryland

Men’s Open Final

2) Andres Acuña d. 5) Mario Mercado, 15-11, 15-9

Men’s Open Semi-finals

5) Mario Mercado d. 8) Set Cubillos, 15-2, 15-2
2) Andres Acuña d. 3) Maurice Miller, 15-0, 15-5

Men’s Open Quarterfinals

8) Set Cubillos d. 17) Josh Shea, 15-9, 15-10
5) Mario Mercado d. 4) Eduardo Garay, 15-13, 13-15, 11–9
3) Maurice Miller d. 6) Kyle Ulliman, 15-5, 15-13
2) Andres Acuña d. 7) Troy Warigon, 15-12, 8-15, 11-1

Men’s Open Doubles Final

2) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller d. 1) Eduardo Garay & Mario Mercado, 15-7, 15-12

Men’s Open Doubles Sem-finals

1) Eduardo Garay & Mario Mercado d. 4) Brent Walters & Ross Weinberg, 15-13, 15-11
2) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller d. 3) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon, 15-12, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….