Beltran & De La Rosa into semis at 2019 UnitedHealthcare US Open

Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa, the defending champions in International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles at the UnitedHealthcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota, played like they won the title last year, as they snuffed out the throwback team of Rocky Carson and Cliff Swain, 15-5, 15-7, in the quarterfinals. They'll play Kadim Carrasco and Carlos Keller in the semi-finals Friday, as Carrasco and Keller upset 3rd seeds Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, 15-10, 14-15, 11-8.

After dropping the first game of their match, veterans Carson and Swain actually led at the start of game two, 3-0 and 6-4. But the defending champs Beltran and De La Rosa stepped it up, and outscored the veterans 11-1 from there on out. They got the last four points on consecutive rallies, including one that was a drive serve ace by De La Rosa to Swain.

Second seeds Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk, who were runners up last year, also won their match in two straight games, as they beat Javier Estrada and Ernesto Ochoa, 15-7, 15-9. They'll play either Alejandro Landa and Samuel Murray or Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso in the semis Friday.

In the other quarters, the Keller brothers had a split. Carlos Keller and Kadim Carrasco defeated 4th seeds Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, 15-10, 14-15, 11-8, but Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso lost to 3rd seeds Alejandro Landa and Samuel Murray, 15-11, 15-8.

Check out the action from Minneapolis via the IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page.

2019 UnitedHealthcare US Open Racquetball Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 2-6, 2019

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. Rocky Carson & Cliff Swain, 15-5, 15-7
Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller d. 4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-10, 14-15, 11-8

3) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray d. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-11, 15-8
2) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk d. Javier Estrada & Ernesto Ochoa, 15-7, 15-9

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller - 7:20 PM
2) Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. 3) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray - 5:20 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….