Doubles results from Day 2 at the 2021 IRF World Championships

There were no real surprises Tuesday in the doubles competitions at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The only match to go to a tie-breaker was in Men's Doubles Group A, where Costa Ricans Gabriel Garro and Felipe Segreda defeated Edwin Galicia and Christen Wer of Guatemala, 12-15, 15-12, 11-3, in what was another match to have a blowout breaker after two close games.

Also in Men's Doubles, Argentina’s Diego Garcia and Shai Manzuri - who we picked as our dark horse team - won their Group B by defeating Lee Gunhee and Kim Mingyu, 15-5, 15-6, on Tuesday. Thus, they will be the 2nd seed for the medal round that begins on Thursday.

In Women’s Doubles, Argentina’s Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez beat Canadians Frédérique Lambert and Alexis Iwaasa, 15-6, 15-3, and will have a chance to win the group when they play Americans Rajsich and Erika Manilla on Wednesday.

It seems that live streaming of matches won’t happen until the medal round. But check with the IRF website or their social media outlets (IRF on Facebook and @IRFRacquetball on Twitter) for updates.

20th IRF World Championships
November 29-December 6 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Men's Doubles

Group A

Monday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-6

Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala) - BYE

Tuesday

Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica) d. Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala), 12-15, 15-12, 11-3

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE

Wednesday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica)

Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-14, 15-11

Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea) - BYE

Tuesday

Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea), 15-5, 15-6

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) - BYE

Wednesday

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea)

Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) d. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 14-15, 15-5, 11-10

Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland) - BYE

Tuesday

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-0, 15-2

Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) - BYE

Wednesday

Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) v. Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland)

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)- BYE

Group D

Monday

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 9-15, 15-13, 11-9

Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile) - BYE

Tuesday

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-10, 15-7

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE

Wednesday

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE

Women's Doubles 

Group A

Monday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-10

Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Tuesday

Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile), 15-4, 15-0

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE

Wednesday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile)

Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-7, 15-0

Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Tuesday

Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-6, 15-3

Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE

Wednesday

Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA)

Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-1
Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) d. Katie Keany & Antonia Neary (Ireland), 15-12, 15-6

Tuesday

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. Katie Keany & Antonia Neary (Ireland), 15-5, 15-4
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 15-6, 15-9

Wednesday

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia)
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. Katie Keany & Antonia Neary (Ireland)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Acuña wins group on Day 2 of XX IRF World Championships

Andres Acuña of Costa Rica won Group B in Men’s Singles at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, as he defeated Shai Manzuri, 15-2, 15-9, Tuesday, successfully following his win over Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico on Monday. Winning Group B mans Acuña will be the 2nd seed the medal round that begins on Thursday.

Colombian Christina Amaya also has a chance to win her group, as she came back to defeat American Rhonda Rajsich, 13-15, 15-5, 11-5, in Group D of Women’s Singles. Amaya plays Argentina’s Natalia Mendez on Wednsday in the last group match for both of them.

Canadian Lee Connell had one of the most epic comebacks in a game that you could ever see. He was down 13-0 in game one against Guatemalan Juan Salvatierra, but came back to win it, 15-14, saving two game points along the way. Sadly for Connell, he couldn’t maintain that level of play throughout the match as Salvatierra came back to win it, 14-15, 15-11, 11-6.

In other news, Pedro Castro of Chile damaged his Achilles’ tendon on Monday, but the IRF ruled that Chile could substitute another player in Castro’s spot - both in singles and in doubles. That player is Rafael Gatica, who lost in singles on Tuesday to Set Cubillos, 15-6, 15-5.

No live streaming of matches yet, so it seems that won’t happen until the medal round, which will begin on Thursday. Check with the IRF website or their social media outlets (IRF on Facebook and @IRFRacquetball on Twitter) for updates.

20th IRF World Championships
November 29-December 6 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Men's Singles

Group A

Monday

Alejandro Landa (USA) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-7

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - BYE

Tuesday

Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-14, 3-15, 11-5

Alejandro Landa (USA) - BYE

Wednesday

Alejandro Landa (USA) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)

Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 15-5, 15-4

Tuesday

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-2, 15-9

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE

Wednesday

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Shai Manzuri (Argentina)

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), 11-15, 15-2, 11-2

Kim Mingyu (South Korea) - BYE

Tuesday

Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. Kim Mingyu (South Korea), 15-9, 15-14

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE

Wednesday

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. Kim Mingyu (South Korea)

Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - BYE

Group D

Monday

Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. Francis Guillemette (Canada), 15-4, 15-2
Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-1, 15-0

Tuesday

Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-1, 15-0
Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. Francis Guillemette (Canada), 9-15, 15-3, 11-4

Wednesday

Andree Parrilla (Mexico) v. Diego Garcia (Argentina)
Francis Guillemette (Canada) v. Eoin Tynan (Ireland)

Group E

Monday

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-8
Lee Gunhee (South Korea) d. Ken Cottrell (Ireland), 15-14, 15-13

Tuesday

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Ken Cottrell (Ireland), 15-5, 15-0
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Lee Gunhee (South Korea), 15-5, 15-3

Wednesday

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Lee Gunhee (South Korea)
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Ken Cottrell (Ireland)

Group F

Monday

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Lee Connell (Canada), 15-9, 15-7
Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-4, 15-9

Tuesday

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-0, 15-8
Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Lee Connell (Canada), 14-15, 15-11, 11-6

Wednesday

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala)
Lee Connell (Canada) v. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)

Group G

Monday

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 10-15, 15-13, 11-1
Javier Martinez (Guatemala) d. Pedro Castro (Chile), 12-15, 1-8, injury forfeit

Tuesday

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) d. Javier Martinez (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-9
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-6, 15-5

Wednesday

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) v. Rafael Gatica (Chile)
Set Cubillos (Colombia) v. Javier Martinez (Guatemala)

Women's Singles 

Group A

Monday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Miceala Meneses (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-6

Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE

Tuesday

Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Miceala Meneses (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-10

Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE

Wednesday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)

Miceala Meneses (Bolivia) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Kelani Lawrence USA), 11-15, 15-7, 11-5

Lee Sumin (South Korea)

Tuesday

Kelani Lawrence (USA) d. Lee Sumin (South Korea), 15-7, 15-4

Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

Wednesday

Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. Lee Sumin (South Korea)

Kelani Lawrence USA) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-4, 15-12
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Majella Haverty (Ireland), 15-9, 15-3

Tuesday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-8
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Majella Haverty (Ireland), 15-4, 15-2

Wednesday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Majella Haverty (Ireland)
Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador)

Group D

Monday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-10, 15-11
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland)

Tuesday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-2, 15-5
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 13-15, 15-5, 11-5

Wednesday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Aisling Hickey (Ireland)

Group E

Monday

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-6, 15-3
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-11

Tuesday

Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-7
Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-12, 15-3

Wednesday

Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Juliette Parent (Canada)
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic)

Group F

Monday

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-2, 15-3
Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) d. Ayako Hanashi (Japan), 15-13, 9-15, 11-2

Tuesday

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Ayako Hanashi (Japan), 15-2, 15-1
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 15-2, 15-12

Wednesday

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia)
Michèle Morissette (Canada) v. Ayako Hanashi (Japan)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Doubles results on Day 1 of 2021 IRF World Championships

There were some great doubles matches on Monday at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The Women's Doubles action was highlighted by the match of three time Women's Doubles World Champions Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas and the hometown team of  Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez with the Mexicans coming out on top of two closely fought games, 15-12, 15-10.

In what we called the "Group of Difficulty," Americans Rajsich and Erika Manilla didn’t have much difficulty with Canadians Frédérique Lambert and Alexis Iwaasa, winning 15-7, 15-0.

In Men's Doubles, Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray came out on top of a very close match with Bolivians Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso, coming back to win in a breaker, 9-15, 15-13, 11-9.

Americans Alejandro Landa and Charlie Pratt were almost upset by the Ecuador team of Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) by managed to stave off match point and win, 14-15, 15-5, 11-10.

Finally from the We Believe We Had That Department, Argentina’s team of Shai Manzuri and Diego Garcia won their first match, defeating Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-14, 15-11.

It seems that live streaming of matches won’t happen until the medal round. But check with the IRF website or their social media outlets (IRF on Facebook and @IRFRacquetball on Twitter) for updates.

20th IRF World Championships
November 29-December 6 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Men's Doubles

Group A

Monday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-6

Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala) - BYE

Tuesday

Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica) v. Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala)

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-14, 15-11

Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea) - BYE

Tuesday

Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea)

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) v. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 14-15, 15-5, 11-10

Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland) - BYE

Tuesday

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland)

Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) - BYE

Group D

Monday

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 9-15, 15-13, 11-9

& Rafael Gatica (Chile) - BYE

Tuesday

& Rafael Gatica v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE

Women's Doubles 

Group A

Monday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-10

Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Tuesday

Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-7, 15-0

Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Tuesday

Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada)

Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-1
Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) d. Katie Keany & Antonia Neary (Ireland), 15-12, 15-6

Tuesday

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. Katie Keany & Antonia Neary (Ireland)
Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Day 1 Singles Results from 2021 IRF World Championships

Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico, the defending International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men’s Singles World Champion in Men’s Singles, lost his first match in the group stage on Monday to Costa Rican Andres Acuña, 15-5, 15-4, in Group B. The win gives Acuña a good chance to win the group, and claim the #2 seed for the medal round providing he defeats Shai Manzuri of Argentina on Tuesday.

We don't think a reigning World Champion has ever lost a group stage match at Worlds before.

Juan Francisco Cueva of Ecuador almost had another big upset, as he won game one versus American Jake Bredenbeck, 15-11. But Bredenbeck came back in game two winning it 15-2, and then took the tie-breaker 11-2 to prevent the big upset.

The rest of the matches went pretty much according to expectations, except those in Group G. Pedro Castro of Chile had to forfeit his match due to injury, despite winning game one, 15-12, and being up 8-1 in game two against Martinez. Also, Bolivian Luis Aguilar came back from a game down to defeat Set Cubillos of Colombia, 10-15, 15-13, 11-1.

In Women’s Singles, Angelica Barrios of Bolivia upset Mexican Samantha Salas, 15-4, 15-12, in Group C. In Group B, American Kelani Lawrence almost had an upset, as she won the first game versus Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina. But Vargas rallied to win 11-15, 15-7, 11-5.

In Group D, Argentine Natalia Mendez of Argentina defeated American veteran Rhonda Rajsich, 15-10, 15-11, while Colombian Cristina Amaya beat Ireland's Aisling Hickey in two straight games.

No live streaming of matches yet, so it seems that won’t happen until the medal round, which will begin on Thursday. Check with the IRF website or their social media outlets (IRF on Facebook and @IRFRacquetball on Twitter) for updates.

20th IRF World Championships
November 29-December 6 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Men's Singles

Group A

Monday

Alejandro Landa (USA) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-7

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - BYE

Tuesday

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)

Alejandro Landa (USA) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 15-5, 15-4

Tuesday

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. Shai Manzuri (Argentina)

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), 11-15, 15-2, 11-2

Kim Mingyu (South Korea) - BYE

Tuesday

Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) v. Kim Mingyu (South Korea)

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE

Group D

Monday

Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. Francis Guillemette (Canada), 15-4, 15-2
Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-1, 15-0

Tuesday

Andree Parrilla (Mexico) v. Eoin Tynan (Ireland)
Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. Francis Guillemette (Canada)

Group E

Monday

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-8
Lee Gunhee (South Korea) d. Ken Cottrell (Ireland), 15-14, 15-13

Tuesday

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Ken Cottrell (Ireland)
Lee Gunhee (South Korea) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)

Group F

Monday

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Lee Connell (Canada), 15-9, 15-7
Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-4, 15-9

Tuesday

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)
Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Lee Connell (Canada)

Group G

Monday

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 10-15, 15-13, 11-1
Javier Martinez (Guatemala) d. Pedro Castro (Chile), 12-15, 1-8, injury forfeit

Tuesday

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) d. Javier Martinez (Guatemala)
Set Cubillos (Colombia) v. Pedro Castro (Chile)

Women's Singles 

Group A

Monday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Miceala Meneses (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-6

Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE

Tuesday

Miceala Meneses (Bolivia) v. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)

Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Kelani Lawrence USA), 11-15, 15-7, 11-5

Lee Sumin (South Korea)

Tuesday

Kelani Lawrence USA) v. Lee Sumin (South Korea)

Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-4, 15-12
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Majella Haverty (Ireland), 15-9, 15-3

Tuesday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador)
Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Majella Haverty (Ireland)

Group D

Monday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-10, 15-11
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland)

Tuesday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Aisling Hickey (Ireland)
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. Rhonda Rajsich (USA)

Group E

Monday

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-6, 15-3
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-11

Tuesday

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Juliette Parent (Canada) v. Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic)

Group F

Monday

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-2, 15-3
Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) d. Ayako Hanashi (Japan), 15-13, 9-15, 11-2

Tuesday

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Ayako Hanashi (Japan)
Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. d. Michèle Morissette (Canada)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Draws for 2021 IRF World Championships

The draws for the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala have been released, and we have them for you below. As expected, the competition has three days of group play with the results being used to seed players for a medal round with all the players making the medal round.

To limit players "jockeying for position" by perhaps losing a match that would put them in a better position in the medal round, the group play starts with the closest seeds playing off. Seeding is done by country, not player, and is based on each country's two best performances from the last three World Championships.

Moreover after the group stage, the top two seeds will be on opposite sides of the draw. But whether the 3rd seed is on the top or bottom of the draw will be determined randomly with the 4th seed on the other side. So if 3rd seed is determined to be on the top of the draw, the 4th seed will be on the bottom (and vice versa). This will also be done for the 5th & 6th seeds, 7th & 8th seeds, and so on.

Previously, there were two draw possibilities made up ahead of time with one being chosen at random after the group matches were done. But that could still lead to some "jockeying" so all seeding after 1 and 2 will now be put on top or bottom of the draw as described.

Also, as we have mentioned previously, the top 16 players in Women’s and Men’s Singles will qualify to compete at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. The spots go to the players, not their countries. So, if a top 16 player can’t go to the World Games, the spot would go to the 17th finisher, rather than have that player’s country send a substitute player. Thus, there will be matches to determine who finishes in each singles spot.

Normally, once a player loses in singles, the player is done playing. But for World Games seeding, players will continue to play until their exact placing is determined, so that can be used for seeding players.

Also, to aid in the global growth of the sport and the likelihood of its inclusion in the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, two spots are have been granted to the highest placed finishers from both Europe and Asia. So, the other 12 places are what are up for grabs from the rest of the world (i.e., the Americas).

Who’s on first?

Because of the closest seeds playing each other approach, there are some good matches right off the bat on Monday. That's highlighted by defending Men's Singles World Champion Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico taking on Andres Acuña of Costa Rica in Group B. It's a battle of #16 & #17 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), although it's Montoya who is 17th and Acuña 16th.

There are several interesting matches in Women's Singles on Monday. In Group B, Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina faces the USA's Kelani Lawrence, and in Group C Samantha Salas of Mexico squares off with Bolivia's Angelica Barrios.

Both matches in Group D of Women's Singles are notable. Natalia Mendez of Argentina plays American veteran and two time Women's Singles World Champion Rhonda Rajsich, while Colombian Cristina Amaya is up against Ireland's Aisling Hickey, who has shown some good play in recent Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) events.

Headlining Women's Doubles action Monday will be the match of three time Women's Doubles World Champions Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas of Mexico facing the hometown team of Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez. The winner of that match will likely claim top spot in the medal round, which would be quite an advantage.

Because no players get eliminated from the results of the group matches, there is no "Group of Death," as in soccer's World Cup. However, Group B of Women's Doubles might be a "Group of Difficulty," as it includes half of the defending Women's Doubles World Championship team in Valeria Centellas, who won it for Bolivia three years ago, but is now playing for Argentina, and Natalia Mendez, currently the #5 player on the LPRT. The other two teams in Group B are Americans Rajsich and Erika Manilla, who played great at last month's US Open, and Canadians Frédérique Lambert - former #2 player on the LPRT - and Alexis Iwaasa, and those two teams will face each other on Monday afternoon.

Men's doubles has become very competitive in the last few years, and there are several teams that could get on the podium in Guatemala. Two of those teams will face each other Monday, when Bolivians Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso take on Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray.

The other men's doubles teams that are real threats to get on top of the podium are Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico and Americans Alejandro Landa and Charlie Pratt. Also, the home nation's Edwin Galicia and Christen Wer (Guatemala) could cause a surprise or two if they get hot, and - as a dark horse - the team of veteran Shai Manzuri of Argentina playing with young up and comer Diego Garcia could do well also.

We haven't seen anyone setting up for live streaming of matches, so that might not happen until the medal round. But check with the IRF website or their social media outlets (IRF on Facebook and @IRFRacquetball on Twitter) for updates.

20th IRF World Championships
November 29-December 6 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Men's Singles

Group A

Monday

Alejandro Landa (USA) v. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - 11 AM

Kim Mingyu (South Korea) - BYE

Group D

Monday

Andree Parrilla (Mexico) v. Francis Guillemette (Canada) - 11 AM
Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. Eoin Tynan (Ireland) - 10 AM

Group E

Monday

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 10 AM
Lee Gunhee (South Korea) v.Ken Cottrell (Ireland) - 11 AM

Group F

Monday

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Lee Connell (Canada) - 10 AM
Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile) - 11 AM

Group G

Monday

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) v. Set Cubillos (Colombia) - 11 AM
Pedro Castro (Chile) v. Javier Martinez (Guatemala) - 10 AM

Women's Singles 

Group A

Monday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Miceala Meneses (Bolivia) - 1 PM

Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. Kelani Lawrence USA) - Noon

Lee Sumin (South Korea)

Group C

Monday

Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - Noon
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) v. Majella Haverty (Ireland) - Noon

Group D

Monday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 1 PM
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - 1 PM

Group E

Monday

Juliette Parent (Canada) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - 1 PM
Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic) - 1 PM

Group F

Monday

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Michèle Morissette (Canada) - Noon
Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. Ayako Hanashi (Japan) - Noon

Men's Doubles

Group A

Monday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica) - 3 PM

Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - 3 PM

Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) v. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 3 PM

Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland) - BYE

Group D

Monday

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 3 PM

Pedro Castro & Rafael Gatica (Chile) - BYE

Women's Doubles 

Group A

Monday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - 4 PM

Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Group B

Monday

Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) - 4 PM

Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Group C

Monday

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - 4 PM
Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. Katie Keany & Antonia Neary (Ireland) - 4 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

XX IRF World Championships - Preview

The 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships begin play on Monday in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Normally, Worlds happens every second year in even numbered years, but these are not normal times. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of Worlds last year to this year. Guatemala benefited from this, as they completed a new facility earlier this year, and that’s where Worlds will be hosted.

We expect the competition to begin with three days of group play with the results being used to seed players for a playoff draw. Players are put in groups such that if players from the same country win all their games in their respective group, they won’t play on the same side of the draw, which means they wouldn’t play each other until the final.

However a preliminary round loss could mean players from the same country end up on the same side of the draw. That may result in team-mates playing before the final, and worst case, before the semi-finals, so only one of them has a chance at the podium.

Who won last time

Three years ago, Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala surprised the field by defeating then three time champion Paola Longoria of Mexico to win Women’s Singles. This year Martinez will have a chance to defend her title on home soil. However, Longoria - the #1 player on Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) - has been in great form of late, and you know she wants to regain the World Championship.

Perhaps more surprisingly - though it’s probably a toss up - Valeria Centellas and Yazmine Sabja of Bolivia won Women’s Doubles, defeating Mexicans Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia in the final. They won’t repeat this year, as Centellas now plays for Argentina.

On the men’s side, Mexico won both singles and doubles. Rodrigo Montoya defeated American Charlie Pratt to win Men’s Singles, and Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De Rosa beat Americans Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik for gold in Men’s Doubles. Montoya may repeat, and he may do the double, as we believe he’ll also represent Mexico in Men’s Doubles with partner Javier Mar.

Who’ll be there this time

Montoya may have to defeat Pratt again to win in Men’s Doubles, as Pratt will be on Team USA in Guatemala. He’ll play doubles with Alejandro Landa after Rocky Carson chose not to go to Worlds because of COVID-19 concerns. Jake Bredenbeck will play Men’s Singles and rounds out USA’s Men’s Team. The USA Women’s Team will be Kelani Lawrence in Women’s Singles, Erika Manilla in Women’s Doubles and veteran Rhonda Rajsich playing both singles and partnering with Manilla in doubles.

We think that Longoria and Samantha Salas double qualified for Mexico, so they could be their players in both Women’s Singles and Doubles. If so, they’ll have a chance for a 4th Women’s Doubles title together, and Longoria a 4th Women’s Singles title.

Montoya and Mar should be Mexico’s Men’s Doubles team with Montoya also playing Men’s Singles. Andree Parrilla will be the other Mexico Men’s Singles player. Thus, Daniel De La Rosa, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), who’s been in great form lately, will not be in Guatemala.

Team Canada will be a full team of 8 players. IRT #3 Samuel Murray will play Men’s Doubles with Coby Iwaasa, while Lee Connell and Francis Guillemette will play Men’s Singles. Connell and Guillemette have been on the team before, but not for awhile and not at Worlds. They both played at the Pan American Championships: Connell in 2009 and Guillemette back in 2001. Almost 30 different players have represented Canada since Guillemette last did so.

The Canadian women going to Guatemala are former LPRT #2 Frédérique Lambert and Alexis Iwaasa (Coby’s cousin), who will be the Women’s Doubles team with Michèle Morissette and Juilette Parent playing Women’s Singles.

As for the other teams, the IRF hasn’t made any official release of team rosters, but We’re uncertain of who else will be at Worlds. We’re pretty certain that Argentina’s women’s team will be Maria Jose Vargas - current LPRT #2 - and Natalia Mendez in Women’s Singles with Mendez and Centellas playing Women’s Doubles.

We also expect that the Guatemala Women’s Team will be Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez playing both Women’s Singles and Doubles.

Racquetball Ireland tweeted that their Worlds Team will be Aisling Hickey and Majella Haverty in Women’s Singles and Katie Kenny and Antonia Neary in Women’s Doubles. Eoin Tynan and Ken Cottrell will play both Men’s Singles and Doubles for Ireland.

World Games Qualifying & Live Streaming

The top 16 players in Women’s and Men’s Singles will qualify to compete at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. The spots go to the players, not their countries. So, if a top 16 player can’t go to the World Games, the spot would go to the 17th finisher, rather than have that player’s country send a substitute player.

Thus, Rocky Carson won’t play in the World Games next year, because he is not competing at the World Championships. Similarly, Charlie Pratt won’t be at World Games either, because he’s only playing Men’s Doubles, and the World Games racquetball competition is singles only - no doubles.

We understand there will be live streaming of matches from San José, but we’re not sure when that will begin, as the IRF hasn’t made any announcements about it on their Facebook page or Twitter. Check the IRF website or their social media outlets (IRF on Facebook and @IRFRacquetball on Twitter) for updates.

Finally, here’s a rundown of what happened three years ago at the last IRF World Championships.

19th IRF World Championships
August 10-18, 2018
San José, Costa Rica

Men's Singles

GOLD - Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
SILVER - Charlie Pratt (USA)
BRONZE - David Horn (USA) & Sebastian Franco (Colombia)

Women's Singles

GOLD - Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
SILVER - Paola Longoria (Mexico)
BRONZE - Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) & Natalia Mendez (Argentina)

Men's Doubles

GOLD - Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)
SILVER - Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik (USA)
BRONZE - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) & Tim Landeryou & Samuel Murray (Canada)

Women's Doubles

GOLD - Valeria Centellas & Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia)
SILVER - Monserrat Mejia & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)
BRONZE - Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) & Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)

Medal Table

1. Mexico - 2 gold, 2 silver, 0 bronze = 4 medals
2. USA - 0, 2, 1 = 3
3. Bolivia - 1, 0, 1 = 2
3. Guatemala - 1, 0, 1 = 2
5. Argentina - 0, 0, 2 = 2
5. Colombia - 0, 0, 2 = 2
7. Canada - 0, 0, 1 = 1

Men's Team Standings

1. Mexico
2. USA
3. Colombia
4. Bolivia

Women's Team Standings

1. Mexico
2. Guatemala
3. Bolivia
4. Argentina

Overall Team Standings

1. Mexico
2. USA
3. Bolivia
4. Guatemala

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round Up: Wins for Lawrence, Rodriguez & Acuña, and sad news

Kelani Lawrence won Women’s Open on the weekend at the 29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot in Lombard, Illinois, where she defeated Carla Muñoz in the final, 15-12, 13-15, 11-6, in what could be a potential match up at the upcoming International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala, as Lawrence is on Team USA and we expect Muñoz will be there representing Chile.

In the semi-finals, Lawrence beat Kristin Coulter, 15-0, 15-0, and Muñoz defeated Veronica Sotomayor, 8-15, 15-5, 11-8.

Also in Illinois, Rodrigo Rodriguez, the 2nd seed, upset 1st seed Maurice Miller, 15-9, 15-12, to win Men’s Open. In the semis, Rodriguez needed a tie-breaker to get past veteran Keith Minor, 14-15, 15-5, 11-8, while Miller defeated Eric Mathews in two straight games, 15-14, 15-0.

Down in Florida at the 2021 IRT Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail in Sarasota, Florida, Andres Acuña beat Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-7, to win Men’s Open. Acuña defeated Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-5, 15-4, in one semi-final, while Bredenbeck took out Felipe Camacho, 15-7, 15-11, in the other.

Deaths in the family

Racquetball, as a small sport, can seem like a family, and we were saddened to learn of the recent deaths of two of our family. Lori Jane Powell was a long time member of Team Canada, a top ten player on the women’s pro tour, two time Pan American Champion (once in singles and once in doubles), and a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2000 IRF World Championships.

Following her retirement due to injury, Powell worked with Racquetball Canada as its Technical Director. She was a friend, and always great to be around. We’re not sure the last time we saw LJ, and we are saddened, and not a little stunned, that there won’t be a next time. She was just 50 years old.

If racquetball is a family, then Charlie Garfinkel was one of our grandfathers. He was an outstanding character and great player during the 1960s and 1970s, which was an era of big characters. Garfinkel or “The Gar” hailed from Buffalo, New York, and he also contributed to racquetball off the court by authoring two of the early books on the sport and ethusiastically promoting it.

Garfinkel, who was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 1989, died earlier this month at age 82.

29th Annual Glass Court Turkey Shoot
November 19-21, 2021 - Lombard, Illinois

Women’s Open Singles - Final

5) Kelani Lawrence d. 3) Carla Muñoz, 15-12, 13-15, 11-6

Semi-finals

5) Kelani Lawrence d. 8) Kristin Coulter, 15-0, 15-0
3) Carla Muñoz d. 7) Veronica Sotomayor, 8-15, 15-5, 11-8

Men’s Open Singles - Final

2) Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 1) Maurice Miller, 15-9, 15-12

Semi-finals

1) Maurice Miller d. 5) Eric Mathews, 15-14, 15-0
2) Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 3) Keith Minor, 14-15, 15-5, 11-8

2021 Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail
November 18-21, 2021 - Sarasota, Florida

Men’s Open Singles - Final

1) Andres Acuña d. 3) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-7

Semi-finals

1) Andres Acuña d. 4) Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-5, 15-4
3) Sam Bredenbeck d. 2) Felipe Camacho, 15-7, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Moscoso beats Portillo to win 2021 IRT Sarasota Open

Conrrado Moscoso won his 2nd International Racquetball Tour (IRT) title Sunday at the 2021 IRT Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail in Sarasota, Florida, where he defeated Eduardo Portillo, 15-9, 10-15, 11-9. Moscoso won his 1st title on home soil in Bolivia in 2019, so this is his first victory in the USA. As the 7th seed, he was also an upset winner over the 5th seeded Portillo.

Game one was a see-saw battle. Moscoso scored the first four points. Portillo got the next four. Moscoso then got five points to lead 9-4, only to see Portillo come back to 9-8. From there, Moscoso was able to close it out, and only give up one more point to Portillo, winning 15-9.

Early in game two, it was all Portillo, as he went up 8-0. Moscoso called a timeout, and did manage to get a point after that. But he gave up another two to Portillo to trail 10-1.

But after that Moscoso went on a run and tied the game at 10-10. There were a few sideouts at that point, two of which were skipped shots by Moscoso. Those were two of many skips by both players in the match.

Moscoso had tied it, but Portillo finished it. After breaking the tie, he only lost one rally, scoring four points to win game two, 15-10, and level the match at a game a piece.

In the tie-breaker, Moscoso won the first two points, and then Portillo got the next five to lead 5-2. He held the lead up to 7-7. They also tied at 8-8. Then Moscoso got two points to reach match point at 10-8.

An avoidable call against Portillo got Moscoso his 10th point, but an avoidable against him stopped his first match point. A Portillo backhand got him within one at 10-9, and he fought off another match point. But on his third match point opportunity, Moscoso was able to finish it out with a forehand pinch shot.

Moscoso has been in five finals in just 13 IRT tournaments, winning two of those finals. He was more final finishes than semi-final finishes (3 to 2). Portillo is still seeking his first IRT tournament victory.

The IRT will be off until the new year, when they will play the 2022 Suivant Consulting Grand Slam, January 6-9. But if you missed any of the Sarasota Open, check out the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

2021 IRT Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail
November 18-21, 2021 - Sarasota, Florida

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 5) Eduardo Portillo, 15-9, 10-15, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria defeats Herrera to win 2021 LPRT Turkey Shoot

Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) played one of her closest matches in some time on Sunday against LPRT #3 Alexandra Herrera, but she managed to prevail in three games, 13-15, 15-3, 11-9, to win the 29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot in Lombard, Illinois. It’s the first time Longoria has had to play a tie-breaker since December 2019, when she also lost the first game, but came back to defeat Maria Jose Vargas at the Christmas Classic.

It was a long match, and early on it didn’t look like Longoria was going to need three games to win, as she took a 5-1 lead in game one. But Herrera dug in. When the score was 7-2, she called a timeout, and came back in and scored five straight points to tie the game, 7-7.

Herrera took the lead at 9-8, and scored the next five points to lead 14-8. Those points didn’t come quickly, though. as it took 19 rallies to get 5 points. Overall, Herrera outscored Longoria 12 to 1 in going from 7-2 down to 14-8 up.

But Longoria wasn’t giving in so easily, and when Herrera missed a forehand pinch shot - her favourite shot - Longoria was happy to take advantage of the opportunity. She scored five points on as many rallies to get within one of Herrera at 14-13.

However, Herrera hit a reverse pinch shot to get the serve back. She followed that up with a backhand winner on her second game point, and just like that Longoria lost her first game since June, when Monserrat Mejia defeated her at the TeamRoot.com Super Max Slam in Kansas.

Herrera also scored the first two points of game two, but after that it was all Longoria, as Herrera’s energy seemed to sag, and Longoria won 15-3. She also got the first three points of the tie-breaker. From there it was slow going. Twenty seven rallies later and they were tied 5-5, as Herrera got a second wind.

They tied again at 7-7, Longoria broke that tie with her 7th forehand pinch winner. It was as if Longoria had bought property in the front right corner. Herrera did get within one at 10-9, as she fought off Longoria’s first match point with a forehand winner and then hit another for her 9th point. But a Longoria backhand pinch shot stopped her there.

It was a great match with a lot of long rallies and some super shots. So, it was disappointing that the match ended on an avoidable hinder call against Herrera. She had hit a forehand shot down the right side, but Longoria was behind her, and moved to hit a response but held up, which is something she does a lot. The referee called an avoidable. Herrera appealed the call, but the line judges upheld it. It was perhaps harsh on Herrera, and certainly a sad way to end a very competitive match, but it wasn’t wrong.

Longoria and Herrera have now met 16 times on tour with Longoria winning all 16. Herrera lost her seventh LPRT final appearance, and is still looking for her first win.

The LPRT will next be in action next month at the Christmas Classic in Maryland, December 17-19. If you missed any of the Turkey Shoot action, check out the LPRT YouTube channel, which has a higher playback quality than on the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot
November 19-21, 2021 - Lombard, Illinois

LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 13-15, 15-3, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & Herrera to face off in singles at 2021 LPRT Turkey Shoot

Alexandra Herrera, the #3 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), defeated the #2 player for the first time ever (on their 9th meeting) Saturday in the semi-finals of the 29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot in Lombard, Illinois, where Herrera came back from a game down to defeat Maria Jose Vargas, 10-15, 15-8, 11-6. She’ll play LPRT #1 Paola Longoria in the final, as Longoria beat 5th seed Angelica Barrios, 15-4, 15-12, in the other semi-final.

In game three of Herrera and Vargas’s semi-final match, Herrera led almost the whole way, including at 3-0 and 5-3 before Vargas tied it at 6-6. Vargas got the next point to lead 6-5. But that lead was short lived, and Vargas wouldn’t score again, as Herrera pushed on to win it 11-6.

Doubles

In the doubles final, #1 seeds Longoria and Samantha Salas were given a stiff test by 3rd seeds Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez in the final, but they did win in two games, 15-10, 15-10. Longoria and Salas played well, and Salas especially was strong at the end of both games. However, they held up on several occaisions - looking for an avoidable or penalty hinder call - and most of those hold ups were entirely unnecessary. Some should have been given as a point for the other side rather than calling a hinder.

The singles final will be at noon on Sunday. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot
November 19-21, 2021 - Lombard, Illinois

LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Angelica Barrios, 15-4, 15-12
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 10-15, 15-8, 11-6

LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Alexandra Herrera - Noon

LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 3) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Portillo & Moscoso meet in the final of the 2021 IRT Sarasota Open

Eduardo Portillo and Conrrado Moscoso will face off in the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2021 IRT Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail in Sarasota, Florida on Sunday. On Saturday, they both caused upsets in the semi-finals. Portillo, the 5th seed, took out the IRT’s #1 player, Daniel De La Rosa, 13-15, 15-4, 11-10, while Moscoso, the 7th seed, got the better of 3rd seed Samuel Murray, also in three games, 15-6, 2-15, 11-8.

Portillo has already won once over Moscoso this weekend, as he and Rocky Carson won the IRT Doubles divison, beating Moscoso and Roland Keller in the final, 15-12, 15-3, on Saturday night.

In his semi-final versus De La Rosa, Portillo was up in breaker at 4-0 and 6-2. But De La Rosa tied him at 6-6 and 7-7. Then De La Rosa pushed on to lead 10-7. Portillo stopped him with a backhand winner. He tied it at 10-10 after De La Rosa skipped a shot in the front court. Portillo finished the match on the next rally with a wide angle backhand pass shot.

Moscoso was also behind in the 3rd game of his match with Murray, and Murray won the first seven (7!) points of the game to lead 7-0. Moscoso got a few points, and then Murray made it 8-3. That was the last point he'd score, as Moscoso scored the next eight points to win the breaker 11-8. It was a classic streaky match. Moscoso got nine straight points to end game one, going from 6-6 to 15-6. Then Murray won 22 of the next 24 points to take game two, 15-2, and go up 7-0 in game three before momentum switched back to Moscoso to win 11 of the final 12 points in the match.

Murray did hold off three match points, but not Moscoso's fourth, when he hit a forehand winner.

In the singles quarterfinals, De La Rosa almost went out at the quarterfinal stage, as he eked out a victory over 8th seed Jake Bredenebck, 15-11, 6-15, 11-10. For their parts, Portillo upset 4th seed Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-6, and Moscoso beat 15th seed Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-7, while Murray defeated 6th seed Carson, 15-13, 15-8.

Doubles

Carson and Portillo hadn’t played together before this weekend, yet they won the tournament. A key to their success came in the semi-finals against 7th seeds Adam Manilla and Mario Mercado, Carson and Portillo dropped game one, but then in game two switched sides with the veteran Carson moving to the left side and Portillo playing on the right. That led to them coming back to win the match, 7-15, 15-13, 11-10.

Credit Manilla and Mercado as they came back from 10-4 down in the tie-breaker to tie it at 10-10. But Carson hit a winner to get his side back in the service box, and then Portillo served a drive serve that cracked off the left wall for an ace to win it.

Keller and Moscoso also came back from a game down to defeat Sebastian Fernandez and Andree Parrilla, 6-15, 15-14, 11-6.

The singles final will be at 11 AM Sunday Eastern time. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

2021 IRT Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail
November 18-21, 2021 - Sarasota, Florida

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 8) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-11, 6-15, 11-10
5) Eduardo Portillo d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-6

3) Samuel Murray d. 6) Rocky Carson, 15-13, 15-8
7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 15) Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-7

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Eduardo Portillo d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa, 13-15, 15-4, 11-10
7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 3) Samuel Murray, 15-6, 2-15, 11-8

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

5) Eduardo Portillo v. 7) Conrrado Moscoso - 11 AM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Andree Parrilla, 6-15, 15-14, 11-6
6) Rocky Carson & Eduardo Portillo d. 7) Adam Manilla & Mario Mercado, 7-15, 15-13, 11-10

IRT Doubles - Final - Saturday

6) Rocky Carson & Eduardo Portillo d. 5) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-12, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Barrios upsets Mendez to reach semi-finals at 2021 LPRT Turkey Shoot

Angelica Barrios, the 5th seed, caused the only upset in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) quarterfinals at the 29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot in Lombard, Illinois, as she defeated the 4th seed Natalia Mendez, 15-6, 15-13. Barrios will play LPRT #1 Paola Longoria in the semi-finals Saturday afternoon, as Longoria beat 8th seed Rhonda Rajsich, 15-8, 15-11.

The other two quarterfinals were crushing defeats, as LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas beat 10th seed Brenda Laime, 15-2, 15-3, and LPRT #3 Alexandra Herrera defeated 11th seed Carla Muñoz, 15-1, 15-3. Vargas and Herrera will play off for a spot in Sunday’s final against the Longoria-Barrios winner.

Doubles

Top seeds Longoria and Samantha Salas advanced to the final with a win over 5th seeds Ana Laura Flores and Kelani Lawrence, 15-6, 13-15, 11-2. They’ll take on 3rd seeds Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez in the final, as Centellas and Mendez defeated 7th seeds Veronica Sotomayor and Vargas, 15-9, 15-11.

Lawrence was again using a drive jam serve, as she did in the quarterfinals, and it helped her and Flores win game two. But in game three, she hit Flores a few times, while Flores was still in the service box. Those were fault serves, and effectively negated that serve, as Lawrence wasn’t using it on 2nd serve. Failing to execute that serve was one of the reasons the tie-breaker with Longoria and Salas wasn’t close.

The singles semi-finals will Saturday afternoon at 5:30 and 6:30 and the final on Sunday at noon. The doubles final is Saturday night at 7:30 PM. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot
November 19-21, 2021 - Lombard, Illinois

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-8, 15-11
5) Angelica Barrios d. 4) Natalia Mendez, 15-6, 15-13

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 11) Carla Muñoz, 15-1, 15-3
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 10) Brenda Laime, 15-2, 15-3

LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Angelica Barrios - 6:30 PM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 3) Alexandra Herrera - 5:30 PM

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 5) Ana Laura Flores & Kelani Lawrence, 15-6, 13-15, 11-2
3) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez d. 7) Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-9, 15-11

LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez - 7:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top 4 seeds bow out in doubles at the 2021 IRT Sarasota Open

For possibly the first time in racquetball history, the top four seeds all lost in the quarterfinals. That happened in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles division at the 2021 Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail on Friday night. Eighth seeds Sebastian Fernandez and Andree Parrilla caused the biggest upset, as they defeated top seeds and US Open champions Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa, 15-14, 15-8. Fernandez, the youngest of the players in the match, made many winning shots and served well to Beltran, as they were both playing on the right side.

Fernandez and Parrilla are a new team, as Parrilla previously played with Eduadro Portillo. But Portillo and new partner Rocky Carson - the 6th seeds - also successfully reached the semi-finals by beating 3rd seeds Sebastian Franco and Eduardo Garay, 15-7, 15-3.

The other two quarterfinal matches were both forfeits due to injury, as both Alejandro Landa and Carlos Keller are hurt. Landa was part of the 2nd seeded team with Samuel Murray, and they forfeited to 7th seeds Adam Manilla and Mario Mercado. Keller and Kadim Carrasco, the 4th seeds, forfeited to 5th seeds Roland Keller (Carlos’s older brother) and Conrrado Moscoso. Thus, Manilla and Mercado will face off with Keller and Moscoso in the semis.

The IRT doubles semi-finals will be Saturday at 1 and 2 PM, and the final at 8 PM Saturday. All times are Eastern. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 11-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

8) Sebastian Fernandez & Andree Parrilla d. 1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa, 15-14, 15-8
5) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. 4) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller, injury forfeit

6) Rocky Carson & Eduardo Portillo d. 3) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay, 15-7, 15-3
7) Adam Manilla & Mario Mercado d. 2) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray, injury forfeit

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

5) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Andree Parrilla - 8 PM
6) Rocky Carson & Eduardo Portillo v. 7) Adam Manilla & Mario Mercado - 7 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Muñoz & Laime cause upsets in Round of 16 at 2021 LPRT Turkey Shoot

Carla Muñoz and Brenda Laime were the upset winners Friday in the Round of 16 in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) draw at the 29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot in Lombard, Illinois. Muñoz, the 11th seed, defeated 6th seed Samantha Salas in two straight games, 15-9, 15-11. Tenth seeded Laime came back from a game down and then held on by narrowest of margins to get past 7th seed Jessica Parrilla, 8-15, 15-9, 11-10. In Saturday’s quarterfinals, Muñoz will face 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, who was a winner over 14th seed Ana Laura Flores, 15-2, 15-8, and Laime will play 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas, a winner over 15th seed Adrienne Haynes, 15-1, 15-0, in the 16s.

Thus, Laime will have a chance to take out the 2nd seed in her second match of the tournament for the third straight chance (she didn’t have a chance last weekend at the Arizona Open, as she didn’t face the 2nd seed in her second match). She beat the 2nd seed in Colorado in August and at the US Open last month. However, those were Monserrat Mejia and Herrera, respectively, not Vargas. Still, Laime has a chance to keep this curious streak alive.

Elsewhere in the draw, Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, continues to look like someone who wants to regain their International Racquetball Federation (IRF)) World Championship title, as she defeated Veronica Sotomayor in two straight games, 15-5, 15-5. Next up for Longoria will be her long time foe, Rhonda Rajsich, as Rajsich defeated Valeria Centellas, 15-11, 15-14, in the 16s. Longoria was challenged by Rajsich last weekend, when she won their first game 15-14, before Rajsich picked up an injury in game two, which wasn’t as close.

Finally, 4th seed Natalia Mendez needed a tie-breaker to defeat 13th seed Erika Manilla, 15-7, 12-15, 11-6. In the quarters, she’ll face 5th seed Angelica Barrios, who beat 12th seed Kelani Lawrence, 15-6, 15-11.

Doubles

There were two upsets in the doubles quarterfinals Friday night. Veronica Sotomayor and Maria Jose Vargas were seeded 7th, as Sotomayor - a former top 10 player - hasn’t played on the tour much in the last few years, so their seeding doesn’t really represent their real quality, especially considering Vargas is the #2 LPRT player in singles. They came back from a game down to defeat 2nd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Carla Muñoz, 8-15, 15-9, 11-6. Also, playing into that match is the fact that Herrera and Muñoz aren’t regular partners.

Sotomayor and Vargas will play 3rd seeds Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez in the semi-finals, as they defeated 6th seeds Brenda Laime and Erika Manilla, 15-11, 15-5.

The other upset was also accomplished in three games, as 5th seeds Ana Laura Flores and Kelani Lawrence defeated 4th seeds Jessica Parrilla and Montserrat Perez, 11-15, 15-7, 11-1, in a battle of two lefty-righty teams. In the breaker, Lawrence - a right-hander - was serving backhand drive jam type serves from the left side of the service box to the right wall, and Parrilla was having trouble handling it or letting it go over to Perez on the left side. In the semis, Flores and Lawrence will play top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas, who had a bye in the quarters.

The singles quarterfinals will be Saturday morning at 10 and 11 AM with the semi-finals Saturday afternoon at 5:30 and 6:30 and the final on Sunday at noon. The doubles semi-finals will be 1 and 2 PM with the final Saturday night at 7:30 PM. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot
November 19-21, 2021 - Lombard, Illinois

LPRT Singles - First Round - Friday

17) Veronica Sotomayor d. 16) Montserrat Perez, 15-13, 15-3

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Veronica Sotomayor, 15-5, 15-5
8) Rhonda Rajsich d. 9) Valeria Centellas, 15-11, 15-14

5) Angelica Barrios d. 12) Kelani Lawrence, 15-6, 15-11
4) Natalia Mendez d. 13) Erika Manilla, 15-7, 12-15, 11-6

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 14) Ana Laura Flores, 15-2, 15-8
11) Carla Muñoz d. 6) Samantha Salas, 15-9, 15-11

10) Brenda Laime d. 7) Jessica Parrilla, 8-15, 15-9, 11-10
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 15) Adrienne Haynes, 15-1, 15-0

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Rhonda Rajsich - 11 AM
4) Natalia Mendez v. 5) Angelica Barrios - 11 AM

3) Alexandra Herrera v. 11) Carla Muñoz - 10 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Brenda Laime - 10 AM

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
4) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez v. 5) Ana Laura Flores & Kelani Lawrence - 7 PM

3) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 6) Brenda Laime & Erika Manilla - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz v. 7) Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Jose Vargas - 8 PM

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
5) Ana Laura Flores & Kelani Lawrence d. 4) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez, 11-15, 15-7, 11-1

3) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez d. 6) Brenda Laime & Erika Manilla, 15-11, 15-5
7) Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Jose Vargas v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz, 8-15, 15-9, 11-6

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 5) Ana Laura Flores & Kelani Lawrence - 2 PM
3) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 7) Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Jose Vargas - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Acuña knocks off Landa in 16s at 2021 IRT Sarasota Open

Andres Acuña pulled off a big upset in the Round of 16 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2021 Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail in Sarasota, Florida, as he defeated IRT #2 Alejandro Landa, 15-14, 15-7. Next up for Acuña is 7th seed Conrrado Moscoso, who defeated 10th seed Mario Mercado, 15-14, 15-13. Mercado won last weekend at the Arizona Open, so there won’t be a repeat winner this week.

In other action, IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa won his Round of 16 match in two straight games, defeating 16th seed Sebastian Fernandez, 15-6, 15-7. He’ll face 8th seed Jake Bredenbeck in the quarterfinals Saturday, as Bredenbeck beat 9th seed Alvaro Beltran, 15-6, 15-3.

Third seed Samuel Murray was almost pushed to a tie-breaker by 14th seed Eduardo Garay, as he trailed the whole way in game two. But Murray came back to tie Garay at 14, and then win it, 15-14, and the match in two games, 15-3, 15-14.

Murray will play 6th seed Rocky Carson in the quarters, as Carson beat 11th seed Carlos Keller, 15-1, 15-4, a surprisingly wide margin. In the other quarterfinal, it will be former doubles partners Parrilla and Portillo facing off, as 4th seed Parrilla defeated 13th seed Adam Manilla, 15-11, 15-3, and 5th seed Portillo beat 12th seed Sebastian Franco, 15-11, 15-0.

The quarterfinals will be Saturday at 10 and 11 AM with the semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM, and the final at 11 AM Sunday. All times are Eastern. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

2021 IRT Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail
November 18-21, 2021 - Sarasota, Florida

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 16) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-6, 15-7
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 9) Alvaro Beltran, 15-6, 15-3

5) Eduardo Portillo d. 12) Sebastian Franco, 15-11, 15-0
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Adam Manilla, 15-11, 15-3

3) Samuel Murray d. 14) Eduardo Garay, 15-3, 15-14
6) Rocky Carson d. 11) Carlos Keller, 15-1, 15-4

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 10) Mario Mercado, 15-14, 15-13
15) Andres Acuña d. 2) Alejandro Landa, 15-14, 15-7

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Jake Bredenbeck - 11 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 5) Eduardo Portillo 11 AM

3) Samuel Murray v. 6) Rocky Carson - 10 AM
7) Conrrado Moscoso v. 15) Andres Acuña - 10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Higher seeds win in 16s of doubles at 2021 IRT Sarasota Open

No upsets in the Round of 16 of doubles at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2021 Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail, but the Guatemalan team of Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer, the 11th seeds, almost pulled one off against 6th seeds Rocky Carson and Eduardo Portillo, only to lose 15-12, 3-15, 11-7.

Galicia and Wer were up 7-4 in the breaker. However, the veteran Carson and young gun Portillo came back to lead 10-7. Credit the Guatemalans for stopping their opponents there. But they were unable to score, as Carson and Portillo each hit a winner to get the serve back.

On the next rally, another Portillo winner ended it, sending him and Carson into the quarterfinals, where they’ll play 3rd seeds Sebastian Franco and Eduardo Garay, who beat 14th seeds Jim Minkel and Michael Smith, 15-8, 15-2.

The IRT doubles quarterfinals will be Friday evening at 7 and 8 PM with the semi-finals Saturday at be 1 and 2 PM, and the final at 8 PM Saturday. All times are Eastern. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 11-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Andree Parrilla d. 9) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-14, 15-5

5) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. 12) Javier Martinez & Juan Salvatierra, 15-11, 15-8
4) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller d. 13) Pedro Castro & Rafael Gatica, 15-14, 15-6

3) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay d. 14) Jim Minkel & Michael Smith, 15-8, 15-2
6) Rocky Carson & Eduardo Portillo d. 11) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer, 15-12, 3-15, 11-7

7) Adam Manilla & Mario Mercado d. 10) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho, 15-13, 15-12
2) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray d. 15) Juan Pablo Rodriguez & Erick Trujillo, forfeit

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Andree Parrilla - 8 PM
4) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller v. 5) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso - 8 PM

3) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay v. 6) Rocky Carson & Eduardo Portillo - 7 PM
2) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray v. 7) Adam Manilla & Mario Mercado - 7 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

No upsets in Round of 32 at 2021 IRT Sarasota Open

No upsets in the Round of 32 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2021 Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail in Sarasota, Florida, but there were some tie-breakers. Perhaps the biggest surprise was 11th seed and US Open finalist Carlos Keller dropping the first game to Javier Martinez, and being within two points of dropping the match, before he won it in three, 14-15, 15-13, 11-2. Keller will play veteran Rocky Carson in the Round of 16 Friday afternoon.

Also, 14th seed Eduardo Garay had to hold on to defeat Kadim Carrasco, 15-8, 12-15, 11-8, and 16th seed Sebastian Fernandez was forced to come back from a game down against Sam Bredenbeck before winning, 10-15, 15-7, 11-3. Garay faces 3rd seed Samuel Murray and Fernandez takes on IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa in the 16s.

In two matches that were close, but over in two games, 9th seed Alvaro Beltran defeated Juan Salvatierra, 15-13, 15-14, and last weekend’s winner Mario Mercado beat Noslen Jimenez, 15-13, 15-13. Next up, Beltran will play 8th seed Jake Bredenbeck, while Mercado takes on 7th seed Conrrado Moscoso.

The Round of 16 will be at 4 and 5 PM Friday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Saturday at 10 and 11 AM with the semi-finals at be 5 and 6 PM, and the final at 11 AM Sunday. All times are Eastern. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

2021 IRT Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail
November 18-21, 2021 - Sarasota, Florida

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
16) Sebastian Fernandez d. Sam Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-3

9) Alvaro Beltran v. Juan Salvatierra, 15-13, 15-14
8) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

5) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
12) Sebastian Franco v. Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-8, 15-12

13) Adam Manilla v. Esteban Reque, 15-7, 15-7
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Samuel Murray - BYE
14) Eduardo Garay d. Kadim Carrasco, 15-8, 12-15, 11-8

11) Carlos Keller d. Javier Martinez, 14-15, 15-13, 11-2
6) Rocky Carson - BYE

7) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
10) Mario Mercado d. Noslen Jimenez, 15-13, 15-13

15) Andres Acuña d. Felipe Camacho, 15-3, 15-8
2) Alejandro Landa - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 16) Sebastian Fernandez - 4 PM
8) Jake Bredenbeck v. 9) Alvaro Beltran - 4 PM

5) Eduardo Portillo v. 12) Sebastian Franco - 4 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 13) Adam Manilla - 4 PM

3) Samuel Murray v. 14) Eduardo Garay - 5 PM
6) Rocky Carson v. 11) Carlos Keller - 5 PM

7) Conrrado Moscoso v. 10) Mario Mercado - 5 PM
2) Alejandro Landa v. 15) Andres Acuña - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2021 IRT Sarasota Open Qualifying round results

Two rounds of qualifying are complete at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2021 Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail in Sarasota, Florida. In the first round of qualifying, Alex Zamudio defeated Bolivian international Roland Keller, 15-13, 15-13, and will play another Bolivian in the next round, when he faces Kadim Carrasco. Also, Noslen Jimenez, who’s played for Cuba in the past, beat Guatemalan Edwin Galicia, 15-14, 15-7, and will play another Guatemalan in the next round in Christian Wer, who was a winner over Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-2, 15-11, in Round 1.

Finally, Pedro Castro, who has played for Canada but we believe plans to play for Chile moving forward, lost to Josh Shea, 15-4, 15-8, in the first round of qualifying. Shea will play the qualifying round top seed, Sam Bredenbeck, in the next round for a spot in Friday’s Round of 32.

In Round 2 of qualifying, Bredenbeck defeated Shea, but it was a very close match, finishing 13-15, 15-13, 11-9. There were some surprises in Round 2. Esteban Reque, seeded 20th in qualifying, beat 4th seed Scott McClellan, 15-14, 15-13. Also, Jimenez, the 26th seed, won for a second time, coming back to defeat 10th seed Wer, 7-15, 15-5, 11-7. The win puts Jimenez against last week’s winner, Mario Mercado, in the Round of 32.

The Round of 32 begins Friday at 9 and 10 AM with the Round of 16 at 4 and 5 PM Friday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Saturday at 10 and 11 AM with the semi-finals at be 5 and 6 PM, and the final at 11 AM Sunday. All times are Eastern. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 11-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
Josh Shea d. Pedro Castro, 15-4, 15-8

Juan Salvatierra v. Abraham Cardenas, 15-3, 15-9
Julian Cruz d. Jim Douglas, 15-5, 15-11

Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE
Dylan Pruitt d. Rafael Gatica, 15-5, 15-3

Esteban Reque d. Juan Pablo Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-14
Scott McClellan - BYE

Kadim Carrasco - BYE
Alex Zamudio d. Roland Keller, 15-13, 15-13

Javier Martinez d. Hanzel Martinez, 15-12, 15-9
BYE

Noslen Jimenez d. Edwin Galicia, 15-14, 15-7
Christian Wer d. Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-2, 15-11

Geovani Mendoza d. Matt Fontana, 7-15, 15-6, 11-4
Felipe Camacho - BYE

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday

Q1 - Sam Bredenbeck d. Josh Shea, 13-15, 15-13, 11-9
Q8 - Juan Salvatierra d. Julian Cruz, 15-1, 15-8

Q5 - Erick Cuevas Fernandez d. Dylan Pruitt, 15-6, 15-10
Q4 - Esteban Reque d. Scott McClellan, 15-14, 15-13

Q3 - Kadim Carrasco d. Alex Zamudio, 15-7, 15-6
Q6 - Javier Martinez - forfeit

Q7 - Noslen Jimenez d. Christian Wer, 7-15, 15-5, 11-7
Q2 - Felipe Camacho d. Geovani Mendoza, 15-8, 15-12

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
16) Sebastian Fernandez v. Sam Bredenbeck - 9 AM

9) Alvaro Beltran v. Juan Salvatierra - 9 AM
8) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

5) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
12) Sebastian Franco v. Erick Cuevas Fernandez - 9 AM

13) Adam Manilla v. Esteban Reque - 9 AM
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Samuel Murray - BYE
14) Eduardo Garay v. Kadim Carrasco - 10 AM

11) Carlos Keller v. Javier Martinez - 10 AM
6) Rocky Carson - BYE

7) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
10) Mario Mercado v. Noslen Jimenez - 10 AM

15) Andres Acuña v. Felipe Camacho - 10 AM
2) Alejandro Landa - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

29th Annual LPRT Turkey Shoot - Preview

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) plays their second of back to back events this weekend at the 29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot in Lombard, Illinois. That it’s the second of back to back weekends and with the International Racquetball Federation (IRF)) World Championships looming in the near future may explain why the draw of 17 players is reduced from what we saw last weekend at the Arizona Open.

But Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas and #3 Alexandra Herrera will all be in Illinois, so there it’s not a weak field of players by any stretch. Also notable, Samantha Salas and Veronica Sotomayor will be there too, and neither were in Arizona.

Longoria looked dominant last weekend in Arizona, and it will be interesting to see if she can come back and do it again. We wouldn’t bet against that. But she could face Sotomayor in her first match. Sotomayor was a top 10 player, who returned to the tour at last month’s US Open, and was in good form. She would certainly provide a stronger than usual first match for Longoria.

Elsewhere in the draw, Brenda Laime is positioned where she could take out the 2nd seed in her second match, which she has done twice this season. But Laime is the 10th seed, so she will have to defeat 7th seed Jessica Parrilla before entertaining thoughts of upsetting the 2nd seed again, who is Maria Jose Vargas this time. Vargas will also have to beat 15th seed Adrienne Haynes before a possible meeting with Laime.

Based on previous tournaments, the LPRT matches will begin Friday with the Rounds of 32 and 16 with the quarterfinals Saturday morning, the semi-finals Saturday afternoon and the final on Sunday. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot
November 19-21, 2021 - Lombard, Illinois

LPRT Singles - First Round - Friday (unofficial draw - based on LPRT rankings)

16) Montserrat Perez v. 17) Veronica Sotomayor

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday (unofficial draw - based on LPRT rankings)

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Montserrat Perez or 17) Veronica Sotomayor
8) Rhonda Rajsich v. 9) Valeria Centellas

5) Angelica Barrios v. 12) Kelani Lawrence
4) Natalia Mendez v. 13) Erika Manilla

3) Alexandra Herrera v. 14) Ana Laura Flores
6) Samantha Salas v. 11) Carla Muñoz

7) Jessica Parrilla v. 10) Brenda Laime
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 15) Adrienne Haynes

Follow the bouncing ball….

2021 IRT Sarasota Open - Preview

Over the last four years there have been seven 1st time winners on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Mario Mercado is the latest rookie winner after he won the Arizona Open last weekend. But he was almost the first of this run, as Mercado was in the 2017 John Pelham Memorial final against Charlie Pratt, when Pratt won his 1st IRT title.

Since then, Alejandro Landa, Sebastian Franco, Andree Parrilla, Conrrado Moscoso and Samuel Murray have all claimed their first event prior to Mercado’s win. Will there be another first time winner this weekend when the IRT rolls into Florida for the 2021 Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail? Or will Daniel De La Rosa get back to the winner’s circle, where he was for three straight tournaments prior to last weekend, when Mercado beat him in the final?

The most likely first time winners are Eduardo Portillo, who’s seeded 5th, 8th seed Jake Bredenbeck, and 11th seed Carlos Keller. They have all been in finals in the last two years - Bredenbeck and Keller this year and Portillo in 2020 - and coincidentally all of them lost to De La Rosa. Also, we could put Adam Manilla in this group, because, although he’s not been in a final yet, the young American lefthander has shown a good run of form lately.

Could Mercado win again? He did show very good form last weekend, and also great resolve in coming back against De La Rosa in the final, as well as fending off a strong challenge from Rocky Carson in the semi-finals. Yet he’ll likely face Moscoso in the Round of 16, and after that Landa in the quarters. He defeated Landa in two games in Arizona, but you can be sure that Landa will do everything he can prevent that happening again if they do meet in Florida.

Doubles

They are playing doubles in Sarasota too, and top seeds Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa are the team to beat, as they have won the last three IRT doubles titles and five of the last nine. But men’s doubles can be a crap shoot with a team that gets hot upsetting a higher seeded team. Nonetheless, we expect to see Beltran and De La Rosa in the final, if not the winner’s circle.

But there are 15 teams in the field, and some interesting new teams. Perhaps most curious is that long time partners Andree Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo have split up. Whether this is a permanent split or just a one time thing is unknown. But in Sarasota Parrilla will play with Sebastian Fernandez, and Portillo partners with Rocky Carson. Parrilla and Fernandez have the more difficult spot in the draw, as they are seeded 8th and will play 9th seeds Jake and Sam Bredenbeck first with the winner to face Beltran and De La Rosa in the quarterfinals.

Portillo and Carson are the 6th seeds, and face 11th seeds Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer first with the winner to likely go against 3rd seeds Sebastian Franco and Eduardo Garay in the quarters.

Other teams of note are 2nd seeds Alejandro Landa and Samuel Murray, as well as the two Bolivian teams of Kadim Carrasco and Carlos Keller, seeded 4th, and Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso, seeded 5th. As the 4th and 5th seeds, the Bolivians will likely face off against each other in the quarterfinals, so there will probably be one Bolivian team in the semi-finals, but not two.

Finally, there’s 7th seeds Adam Manilla and Mario Mercado, who’ve played together once before (in Sioux Falls in 2020 when they beat Parrilla and Portillo, then lost to Beltran and De La Rosa) and the long time Costa Rican team of Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho, who are seeded 10th. Manilla and Mercado play Acuña and Camacho first with the winner likely facing Landa and Murray in the quarters.

The IRT matches begin Thursday with the qualifying rounds. The Round of 32 begins Friday at 9 and 10 AM with the Round of 16 at 4 and 5 PM Friday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Saturday at 10 and 11 AM with the semi-finals at be 5 and 6 PM, and the final at 11 AM Sunday. All times are Eastern. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

2021 IRT Sarasota Open presented by Team Dovetail
November 18-21, 2021 - Sarasota, Florida

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
Josh Shea v. Pedro Castro - Noon

Juan Salvatierra v. Abraham Cardenas - Noon
Jim Douglas v. Julian Cruz - Noon

Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE
Dylan Pruitt v. Rafael Gatica - 1 PM

Juan Pablo Rodriguez v. Esteban Reque - 1 PM
Scott McClellan - BYE

Kadim Carrasco - BYE
Alex Zamudio v. Roland Keller - 1 PM

Javier Martinez v. Hanzel Martinez - 2 PM
Erick Trujillo - BYE

Edwin Galicia v. Noslen Jimenez - 2 PM
Christian Wer v. Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - 2 PM

Matt Fontana v. Geovani Mendoza - 2 PM
Felipe Camacho - BYE

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday

Q1 - Sam Bredenbeck v. Josh Shea or Pedro Castro - 5 PM
Q8 - Juan Salvatierra or Abraham Cardenas v. Jim Douglas or Julian Cruz - 5 PM

Q5 - Erick Cuevas Fernandez v. Dylan Pruitt or Rafael Gatica - 5 PM
Q4 - Scott McClellan v. Juan Pablo Rodriguez or Esteban Reque - 5 PM

Q3 - Kadim Carrasco v. Alex Zamudio or Roland Keller - 6 PM
Q6 - Erick Trujillo v. Javier Martinez v. Hanzel Martinez - 6 PM

Q7 - Edwin Galicia or Noslen Jimenez v. Christian Wer or Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - 6 PM
Q2 - Felipe Camacho v. Matt Fontana or Geovani Mendoza - 6 PM

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
16) Sebastian Fernandez v. Q1 - 9 AM

9) Alvaro Beltran v. Q8 - 9 AM
8) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

5) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
12) Sebastian Franco v. Q5 - 9 AM

13) Adam Manilla v. Q4 - 9 AM
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Samuel Murray - BYE
14) Eduardo Garay v. Q3 - 10 AM

11) Carlos Keller v. Q6 - 10 AM
6) Rocky Carson - BYE

7) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
10) Mario Mercado v. Q7 - 10 AM

15) Andres Acuña v. Q2 - 10 AM
2) Alejandro Landa - BYE

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Andree Parrilla v. 9) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 1 PM

5) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 12) Javier Martinez & Juan Salvatierra - 1 PM
4) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller v. 13) Pedro Castro & Rafael Gatica - 1 PM

3) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay v. 14) Jim Minkel & Michael Smith - 2 PM
6) Rocky Carson & Eduardo Portillo v. 11) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer - 2 PM

7) Adam Manilla & Mario Mercado v. 10) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho - 2 PM
2) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray v. 15) Juan Pablo Rodriguez & Erick Trujillo - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up: Wins for Barrios, Natera & a 21st seed

Alan Natera and Angelica Barrios won Men’s and Women’s Open, respectively, at the Arizona Open Racquetball Championships in Tempe, Arizona on the weekend. Barrios, who was the top seed in Women’s Open, defeated 3rd seed Nancy Enriquez, 15-14, 15-11, in the final. Natera was seeded 3rd in Men’s Open, and beat 8th seed Sam Bredenbeck, 15-12, 15-13, for the title.

Both women’s semi-finals went to a tie-breaker. Barrios eked out a win over 4th seed Carla Muñoz, 15-8, 13-15, 11-10, and Enriquez held on for a win over 2nd seed Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 12-15, 11-4. In the men’s semis, Bredenbeck beat 5th seed Felipe Camacho, 15-12, 15-5, and Natera got the benefit of a walkover win from Mario Mercado, who had other business to attend to (namely winning his 1st International Racquetball Tour (IRT) title).

From the That’s Weird Department

It’s rare for a low ranked player to make it deep in a draw, regardless of the division. Even rarer for two players to do it in the same draw. But for four (4!) players to do it, and the lowest ranked player in the draw to win the event?!? Well, now you’re just being silly.

But, your honour, let us present the 2021 Arizona Open Men’s A division, which was won by 21st seed (in a field of 21) Dante Ramos, who defeated 19th seed Spencer Galloway in the final, 15-2, 15-8. In the semi-finals, Ramos defeated 16th seed Oliver Terrazas, 15-10, 15-9, while Galloway had a forfeit win over 15th seed Bruce Pope.

That’s right. In a field of 21 players the semi-finalists were the 15th, 16th, 19th and 21st seeds. Crazy.

Some of those players were also in Men’s Elite, which Mr Terrazas won (as the 15th seed). Mr Ramos, who was only the 2nd highest seeded player (17th out of 18 players), lost in the quarterfinals, although that was after defeating the #1 seed in the Round of 16.

Coming up

Both the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) and the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) are back in action this weekend. The LPRT will be in Illinois for the 29th Annual Glass Court LPRT Turkey Shoot, while the IRT will be in Florida for the 2021 Sarasota IRT Open.

Then in the last week of November the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) XX World Racquetball Championships will begin in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Worlds will run from November 28 to December 6, and the IRF XXXII World Junior Championships will begin December 2 and run to December 11.

Usually, Worlds and World Juniors are run separately, but these are not usual times. Also, Worlds is usually done in even numbered years, but the pandemic caused the postponement of the event last year. There is some urgency to hold the World Championships this year, as racquetball is part of the program for the 2022 World Games (previously the 2021 World Games, but it was postponed following the postponement of the Summer Olympics) in Birmingham, Alabama.

The World Championships are the qualifying event for the World Games. The top 16 finishers at Worlds will earn spots to play in Birmingham. Note: the spots are earned by the players, not their countries. Thus, Rocky Carson not going to Worlds means he cannot qualify for the World Games, even if a US man qualifies for one of the 16 spots and then is unable to play; Carson could not take his place.

Thus, it’s going to be a busy, busy racquetball period before the end of the year. Did we mention that the LPRT will also play in December? Oh, well, they will, as the 30th Annual Christmas Classic takes place in Maryland, December 10-12.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 11-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

Men’s Open Singles - Final

3) Alan Natera d. 8) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-12, 15-13

Men’s Open Singles - Semi-finals

8) Sam Bredenbeck d. 5) Felipe Camacho, 15-12, 15-5
3) Alan Natera d. 2) Mario Mercado, forfeit

Men’s Open Singles - Quarterfinals

8) Sam Bredenbeck, d. 16) Julius Ellis, 15-2, 15-2
5) Felipe Camacho d. 13) Juan Pablo Rodriguez, 15-4, 14-15, 11-6

3) Alan Natera d. 22) Felipe Arenas, 15-7, 15-7
2) Mario Mercado d. 7) Set Cubillos, 15-11, 15-3

Women’s Open Singles - Final

1) Angelica Barrios d. 3) Nancy Enriquez, 15-14, 15-11

Women’s Open Singles - Semi-finals

1) Angelica Barrios d. 4) Carla Muñoz, 15-8, 13-15, 11-10
3) Nancy Enriquez d. 2) Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 12-15, 11-4

Women’s Open Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Angelica Barrios d. 8) Annie Roberts, 15-6, 15-11
4) Carla Muñoz d. 5) Sheryl Lotts, 15-9, 15-14

3) Nancy Enriquez d. 11) Aisling Hickey, 15-7, 15-6
2) Valeria Centellas d. 7) Lexi York, 15-14, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Landa & Longoria win Mixed Doubles at 2021 Arizona Open

The top seeds Alejandro Landa and Paola Longoria won the Pro Mixed Doubles division Sunday at the Arizona Open Racquetball Championships in Tempe, Arizona by winning a battle of #1s. Longoria is the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) and she and Landa defeated Daniel De La Rosa - the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and his partner (and wife) Michelle De La Rosa, 15-3, 15-13.

De La Rosa had played the IRT final immediately before the Mixed Doubles final, and he lost it to Mario Mercado, so that might explain some of why the De La Rosas had a slow start against Landa and Longoria. But they did better in game two, leading by as many as six (at 11-5), and even at 13-8.

But Landa and Longoria kept at it, and tied the game at 13-13. The De La Rosas got a side out at that point, but didn’t score, giving the serve back to their opponents after Daniel skipped a shot. Landa and Longoria won the next two rallies to close out the match with the final point coming off a Longoria backhand pinch shot from deep in the court.

If you missed any of the Mixed Doubles action from Arizona, check out the LPRT and IRT YouTube channels (LPRT YouTube channel & IRT YouTube.). The final was on the IRT channel.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 11-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

Mixed Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Alejandro Landa & Paola Longoria d. 11) Daniel De La Rosa & Michelle De La Rosa, 15-3, 15-13

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mercado wins 1st IRT title by defeating De La Rosa in the 2021 IRT Arizona Open final

Mario Mercado won his first International Racquetball Tour (IRT) title Sunday by claiming the 2021 IRT Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona, and he had to do it against the #1 IRT player in Daniel De La Rosa. Moreover, Mercado had to come from behind for the victory, as De La Rosa won game one of the final. But Mercado was up to the task, as he defeated De La Rosa, 6-15, 15-12, 11-0. Mercado is the 42nd player to win an IRT event and just the 2nd Colombian and 2nd Bolivian born player to do so.

”I cannot believe this,” Mercado said afterwards. But he’s “super happy” to win his first IRT event.

Mercado served well in the match, and said “one of my best things is my serve.” He’s also very good at putting the ball into the front left corner, which he did many times for winners to force De La Rosa to lunge forward to try to keep the ball in play.

After De La Rosa won game one, he went up 4-1 in game two, and you thought maybe he would win his 4th IRT title in a row. However, Mercado won eight unanswered points to lead 9-4. He wouldn’t give up the lead from there, although De La Rosa did made it close, as he get within one point at 13-12.

De La Rosa had a chance to tie the game at 13, as he had a forehand set up. But he skipped that shot. And De La Rosa didn’t score again in the match.

Mercado won game two on a backhand cross court, and then won eleven unanswered points to blank De La Rosa in the tie-breaker.

The IRT will be in action next weekend, when they play at the Sarasota Open in Florida. If you missed any of this weekend’s matches, check out the IRT YouTube channel..

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 11-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

10) Mario Mercado d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa, 6-15, 15-12, 11-0

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria wins 2021 LPRT Arizona Open

Paola Longoria won the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona Sunday by defeating Maria Jose Vargas, 15-7, 15-3. Longoria, who's the LPRT’s #1 player, got her second consecutive win of the season, and followed up her 11th US Open win last month, when she also beat Vargas in the final.

Longoria started strongly, going up 5-1 in game one. But Vargas did respond, and got within three at 8-5 and 10-7, but 7 was as much as she would get in game one, as Longoria got five unanswered point to win it 15-7.

There was a spot of controversy at 12-7 in game one, as Vargas had gone to the floor to make a shot, and the ball came around to where Vargas was. But it seemed she had got up and out of the way in time for Longoria to make a play, although Longoria signalled for a hinder or avoidable; Longoria probably wanted the latter. The initial call seemed to be an avoidable - or penalty - hinder, which seemed like a harsh call. But then it seemed to get reversed or overturned.

The match did have line judges, so Vargas could have appealed to them to overturn the call. But we thought Vargas was out of appeals (players get three unsuccessful appeals a game). If you make an appeal when you don’t have any, then you are assessed a delay of game technical penalty, which results in a loss of one point. Nonetheless, the end result was - somehow - a hinder - not an avoidable / penalty hinder.

That confusion didn’t derail Longoria from closing out the game, as she won the next three rallies to get to 15.

Longoria just got stronger in game two, as she stormed out to a 12-0 lead. But still there was controversy. At 13-1, a Longoria backhand shot seemed to make it 14-1, but it was called a skip. Vargas’s reaction to the shot seemed to indicate that she thought it was good. But the call is the call. Longoria appealed the referee’s call, and - perhaps surprisingly - the line judges upheld the call. Then Longoria seemed to appeal to Vargas, who seemed to say “the call is the call.”

Play went on, and Vargas got a burst of energy from the situation, so she scored a couple more points, but the outcome wasn’t really in doubt. When it came - after Vargas whiffed trying to return a half lob serve - Longoria gave Vargas a very dismissive hand bump, as she was presumably still upset about the perceived missed call.

The win by Longoria - and Vargas’s runner up finish - reinforce their positions as the #1 and #2 players on the LPRT.

The LPRT will be in action again next weekend, when they play at the Turkey Shoot in Lombard, Illinois. If you missed any of the action from Arizona, check out the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 12-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-7, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

De La Rosa & Mercado into the IRT final at the 2021 Arizona Open

Daniel De La Rosa continued to show why he is the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Saturday at the 2021 Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona, as he won his quarterfinal and semi-final matches by wide margins. In the quarters, he beat 8th seed Jake Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-2, and then in the semis, De La Rosa defeated 4th seed Andree Parrilla, 15-7, 15-2. The wins put De La Rosa one match away from four straight IRT titles.

Standing in the way of De La Rosa’s 4th straight win is surprise finalist Mario Mercado. Mercado is the 10th seed, but was equally impressive in winning his matches on Saturday. He upset 2nd seed Alejandro Landa, 15-5, 15-9, in the quarters, and then in the semis came back from a game down to defeat 6th seed Rocky Carson, 5-15, 15-13, 11-10. Mercado had to hold on in game two, as he had a lead that Carson closed, and it looked like the veteran might just win it in two games.

But Mercado held firm and forced the breaker. But in the breaker, Carson took a big lead, 6-0, which forced Mercado into a comeback role. It was a role he filled perfectly, as Mercado worked his way back into the game, getting within one at 7-6. Then he tied the game 8-8 with a lob serve service winner. When Mercado went up 9-8, Carson called a timeout.

A backhand winner by Mercado coming out of the timeout, put him on match point at 10-8. But Carson wasn’t going to go away that easily, and he hit a backhand pinch winner to keep the match going. He fought off a second match point, and then scored to make it 10-9. Carson had a set up to tie the breaker, but inexplicably skipped it. Yet Mercado couldn’t convert his 3rd match point.

A great backhand down the line flick by Carson tied the game at 10-10. Thus, it was Mercado’s turn to fight off match point, and he did so with a backhand winning return off Carson’s drive serve to the left side. Then Mercado converted his 4th match point, winning a long rally with a backhand pinch shot.

The win puts Mercado into an IRT final for the third time in his career, and first since February 2020, when he lost to Kane Waselenchuk in the final of the Lou Bradley Memorial in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He's yet to win on tour, while De La Rosa will be trying to win his 8th career titles, which would tie him with John Ellis for 13th most all time.

The IRT final will be 12:15 PM Sunday Mountain time. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 11-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 8) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-9, 15-2
4) Andree Parrilla d. 12) Adam Manilla, 6-15, 15-2, 11-5

6) Rocky Carson d. 14) Sebastian Franco, 15-13, 15-6
10) Mario Mercado d. 2) Alejandro Landa, 15-5, 15-9

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-7, 15-2
10) Mario Mercado d. 6) Rocky Carson, 5-15, 15-13, 11-10

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 10) Mario Mercado - 12:15 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….