2021 IRT Arizona Open - Preview

Daniel De La Rosa, for perhaps the first time in his career, will be the #1 seed at an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event when the 2021 Arizona Open kicks off in Tempe, Arizona today. De La Rosa is coming off three straight wins including his first US Open championship last month. He could hardly be hotter, as he tries for his 4th consecutive win. If he wins in Arizona, De La Rosa will be the first 4 time winner since Kane Waselenchuk in 2019, and the first 4 time winner not named Waselenchuk since 2006, when Jack Huczek won four straight events.

But there’s a lot of racquetball to be played before that happens. Indeed, De La Rosa may face Carlos Keller - who he needed a tie-breaker to defeat in last month's US Open final - in the quarterfinals, so his path to a fourth consecutive title won’t be easy.

The IRT matches began today with the qualifying rounds. The Round of 32 begins Friday at 10 and 11 AM with the Round of 16 at 6 and 7 PM Friday evening. The quarterfinals will be Saturday at noon and 1 PM. The semi-finals will be 5 and 6 PM Saturday and the final at 12:15 PM Sunday. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

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

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Alan Natera - BYE
Brennan Jennings v. Thomas Gerhardt - 2 PM

Juan Salvatierra v. Luis Rivero - 2 PM
Edwin Galicia v. Esteban Reque - 2 PM

Set Cubillos v. Julius Ellis - 2 PM
Jim Douglas v. John Wolfe - 1 PM

Christian Wer v. Juan Pablo Rodriguez - 1 PM
Kadim Carrasco v. Dj Mendoza - 1 PM

Felipe Camacho - BYE
Jose Diaz v. Rodrigo Rodriguez - 1 PM

Majeed Shahin v. Ben Baron - 1 PM
Mauricio Zelada v. Cody Elkins - 1 PM

Scott McClellan v. Roland Keller - Noon
Anthony Martin v. Daniel Bautista - Noon

Joel Adler v. Javier Martinez - Noon
Sam Bredenbeck - BYE

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday

Q1 - Alan Natera v. Brennan Jennings or Thomas Gerhardt - 5 PM
Q8 - Juan Salvatierra or Luis Rivero v. Edwin Galicia or Esteban Reque - 5 PM

Q5 - Set Cubillos or Julius Ellis v. Jim Douglas or John Wolfe - 5 PM
Q4 - Christian Wer or Juan Pablo Rodriguez v. Kadim Carrasco or Dj Mendoza - 5 PM

Q3 - Felipe Camacho v. Jose Diaz or Rodrigo Rodriguez - 4 PM
Q6 - Majeed Shahin or Ben Baron v. Mauricio Zelada or Cody Elkins - 4 PM

Q7 - Scott McClellan or Roland Keller v. Anthony Martin or Daniel Bautista - 4 PM
Q2 - Sam Bredenbeck v. Joel Adler or Javier Martinez - 4 PM

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
16) Sebastian Fernandez v. Q1 - 11 AM

9) Carlos Keller v. Q8 - 11 AM
8) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

5) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
12) Adam Manilla v. Q5 - 11 AM

13) Eduardo Garay v. Q4 - 11 AM
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Samuel Murray - BYE
14) Sebastian Franco v. Q3 - 10 AM

11) Thomas Carter v. Q6 - 10 AM
6) Rocky Carson - BYE

7) Alvaro Beltran - BYE
10) Mario Mercado v. Q7 - 10 AM

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

Follow the bouncing ball….