IRT R16 at the 2021 World Singles & Doubles Open Racquetball Championships

Carlos Keller and Mario Mercado busted one of the brackets in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) draw in Round of 16 matches at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, by knocking off two of the top seeds in the tournament.

The 19th seed Carlos Keller was a convincing winner over 3rd seed Samuel Murray, 15-6, 15-4, and will face Mercado in the quarterfinals, as Mercado, the 11th seed, ousted 6th seed Alvaro Beltran from the tournament, 15-12, 15-6.

Murray was trying to win two tournaments in a row, but his loss means that the most recent player with consecutive IRT wins not named Kane Waselenchuk is Rocky Carson, who won back to back in April-May of 2016.

On Friday, Carson, who is the 2nd seed this weekend, defeated 15th seed Eduardo Garay, 15-11, 15-10, and will play 7th seed Conrrado Moscoso in the quarterfinals Saturday, as Moscoso beat 10th seed Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 15-14, in the 16s.

Tie-breakers were needed in both Round of 16 matches In the top bracket of the draw, as top seed Alejandro Landa had to come back from a game down to get by 17th seed Andres Acuña, 9-15, 15-7, 11-8, and 8th seed Eduardo Portillo’s victory over 9th seed Jake Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1, had a similar storyline.

Finally, in an all Mexico bracket, 4th seed Daniel De La Rosa defeated 11th seed Javier Mar, 15-9, 15-10, while 5th seed Andree Parrilla beat 7th seed Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-3.

With Landa versus Portillo in one quarterfinal on the top of the draw and De La Rosa versus Parrilla in the other quarterfinal a Mexican finalist is guaranteed, as all four of those players hail from Mexico.

The IRT quarterfinals will be Saturday morning at 10:15 and 11:15 AM. The semi-finals will be 2:15 and 3:15 PM Saturday and the final at 12:15 PM Sunday. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alejandro Landa d. 17) Andres Acuña, 9-15, 15-7, 11-8
8) Eduardo Portillo d. 9) Jake Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1

5) Andree Parrilla d. 7) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-3
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 11) Javier Mar, 15-9, 15-10

19) Carlos Keller d. 3) Samuel Murray, 15-6, 15-4
11) Mario Mercado d. 6) Alvaro Beltran, 15-12, 15-6

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 10) Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 15-14
2) Rocky Carson d. 15) Eduardo Garay, 15-11, 15-10

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Alejandro Landa v. 8) Eduardo Portillo - 11:15 AM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 4) Andree Parrilla - 11:15 AM

11) Mario Mercado v. 19) Carlos Keller - 10:15 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. 7) Conrrado Moscoso - 10:15 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….