Gabriela Martinez, Daniel De La Rosa and the doubles team of Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas were the champions at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, on Sunday. Martinez won her first title on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) by defeating top seed Alexandra Herrera, 12-15, 15-9, 11-4, De La Rosa won for the 5th time on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) by defeating Conrrado Moscoso, 15-7, 15-13, in the final. Lastly, Montoya and Salas got the better of Herrera and Sebastian Fernandez, 15-12, 15-6.
Martinez is the 29th woman to win a women’s pro racquetball event, and the 2nd consecutive first time winner, as Montserrat Mejia won her 1st title at the last LPRT event in June. It’s the first time that there have been 1st time winners in back to back women’s pro tournaments since 1991, when in October, Jackie Paraiso won her first tournament, and then in November, Malia Bailey won for the first time (note, previously we thought this hadn't happened since 1979).
With 5 career IRT wins, De La Rosa joins Tim Doyle in 18th most on the career wins list. At 28, he’s sneaky young, so De La Rosa should have many years ahead of him.
The Mixed Doubles final was between the 7th seeds - Montoya and Salas - and 8th seeds - Fernandez and Herrera, and that was an indication of how deep the talent is on both the LPRT and IRT. There were several good matches in the mixed draw, and we’re not sure that would have been possible in years past. We don’t think that would have been the case a decade ago, or maybe even five years ago.
It’s an indication of the great strides that pro racquetball has made in recent years. Much of that progress has come from development south of the Mexico-USA border.
That development was on show in Colorado on the weekend, and if you missed it, you can check out the action via the (LPRT YouTube channel and the IRT YouTube channel.
World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Highlands Ranch, Colorado
LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday
10) Gabriela Martinez d. 1) Alexandra Herrera, 12-15, 15-9, 11-4
IRT Singles - Final - Sunday
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 7) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-7, 15-13
Mixed Doubles - Final - Sunday
7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas d. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera, 15-12, 15-6
Follow the bouncing ball….
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