World medal summary & World Games qualifiers

The 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships ended last week in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and the IRF World Junior Championships were already underway in Guatemala, so we didn’t have a chance to do a summary of the Worlds medalists, and what the team standings were.

Mexicans won three of the four divisions with Paola Longoria winning both Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles with Samantha Salas. Those were Longoria’s 4th titles in both singles and doubles, which made her the winningest player in IRF World Championships history. Also the Longoria-Salas partership is the winningest in World Championship history. Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya won Men’s Doubles, which was the third straight title for Mexico and seventh overall.

The USA’s Alejandro Landa win in Men’s Singles - his first World Championship - was the only title Mexico didn’t claim. Yet the USA won the overall team title. They won the Men’s title, and were second in the Women’s title race, and that combined for them to take first overall.

That might be difficult to understand, and the IRF hasn’t posted the breakdown in points. But in Men’s Singles, the USA won and finished in quarterfinals, while Mexico also had a quarterfinal finish, but Montoya lost in the Round of 16 - to the USA’s Jake Bredenbeck. In doubles, Mexico won and the USA was in the semi-finals. The difference between winning singles and a 16s finish is greater than winning and a semi-final finish, so advantage USA.

On the women’s side, Mexico won singles and finished in the quarterfinals (when Longoria defeated Salas) with the USA finishing 2nd (Kelani Lawrence) and in the semi-finals (Lawrence beating Rhonda Rajsich). In doubles, Mexico beat the USA in the final. Both the women’s and men’s team points must have been close, and apparently the difference in the men’s points was slightly greater than the difference in the women’s points, so the USA takes the overall title.

World Games qualifying

This year’s World Championships was also the qualifying event for the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama next July. Sixteen players qualified for Birmingham, and it’s the players who qualify, not their countries. Thus, if one of the 16 can’t go to Birmingham, then the next qualifying player will be invited, rather than a country substituting another player for the player who can’t go. Thus, only players who were at Worlds will be in Birmingham.

There were matches to determine the ranking of all the players in men’s and women’s singles to determine the top qualifiers (the World Games racquetball competition involves singles only, not doubles). For example, Natalia Mendez of Argentina and Rhonda Rajsich of the USA played off after they both lost in the semi-finals of Women’s Singles. They both got bronze medals, because they’d reached the semis, but for World Games purposes, they played to determine who would be the 3rd seed and who would be 4th. Rajsich won that match, 15-12, 15-6, and qualifies 3rd for Birmingham.

We have a complete list of the qualifiers for you below. Note that as we’d mentioned prior to the competition, two positions were granted to players from both Asia and Europe. Thus, the other players were vying for the top 12 spots (assuming no withdrawals).

There should be some tasty matches at the World Games. In Guatemala, Alejandro Landa benefited by the top seeding - based on past USA results at Worlds - but in Birmingham he could face Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) in the quarterfinals and then either Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) or Jake Bredenbeck (USA) in the semis. That’s not an easy route to the final.

On the women’s side, the bottom of the draw seems more competitive with Samantha Salas (Mexico) and Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) looking to faceoff right off the bat with the winner likely taking on the USA’s Kelani Lawrence. The winner (survivor?) of all that will likely face one of Rhonda Rajsich, Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) or Cristina Amaya (Colombia). Again, not an easy route to the final.

All in all, it should make for some great matches in Birmingham next July.

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

Men's Singles Medalists

GOLD - Alejandro Landa (USA)
SILVER - Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
BRONZE - Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) & Mario Mercado (Colombia)

Women's Singles Medalists

GOLD - Paola Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER - Kelani Lawrence (USA)
BRONZE - Natalia Mendez (Argentina) & Rhonda Rajsich (USA)

Men's Doubles Medalists

GOLD - Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
SILVER - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
BRONZE - Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) & Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia)

Women's Doubles Medalists

GOLD - Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico)
SILVER - Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
BRONZE - Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) & Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina)

Men’s Team Standings

1. USA
2. Mexico
3. Bolivia
4. Costa Rica

Women's Team Standings

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

Overall Team Standings

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

2022 World Games Qualifiers - Men’s Singles

1. Alejandro Landa (USA)
2. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
3. Mario Mercado (Colombia)
4. Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
5. Jake Bredenbeck (USA)
6. Andree Parrilla (Mexico)
7. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
8. Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala)
9. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
10. Diego Garcia (Argentina)
11. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
12. Shai Manzuri (Argentina)
13. Kim Mingyu (South Korea)
14. Ken Cottrell (Ireland)
15. Lee Gunhee (South Korea)
16. Eoin Tynan (Ireland)

2022 World Games Qualifiers - Women’s Singles

1. Paola Longoria (Mexico)
2. Kelani Lawrence (USA)
3. Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
4. Natalia Mendez (Argentina)
5. Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
6. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
7. Samantha Salas (Mexico)
8. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
9. Carla Muñoz (Chile)
10. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
11. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
12. Michèle Morissette (Canada)
13. Sumin Lee (South Korea)
14. Aisling Hickey (Ireland)
15. Majella Haverty (Ireland)
16. Ayako Hanashi (Japan)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Longoria wins twice at 2021 LPRT Christmas Classic

Paola Longoria won twice on Sunday at the 29th Annual Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic Pro-Am in Millersville, Maryland, where she defeated Maria Jose Vargas in the singles final, 15-13, 15-5, and then teamed up with Vargas to win the doubles title over Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1. The wins further confirm Longoria as the LPRT’s #1 player.

Longoria was up 7-1 in game one, but then found herself behind, as Vargas scored seven straight points to go up 8-7. That lead didn’t last long, as a Longoria forehand winner got her the serve back, and she scored three points to go up 11-8.

Longoria stayed ahead, but Vargas kept battling and tied the score at 13-13. They exchanged sideouts, and then Longoria was able to close out the game with two forehand pinch shot winners, 15-13.

They were close early in game two, tied at 3-3, and only a 1 point difference at 5-4, Longoria ahead. She extended that lead out to 14-4, and the writing was on the wall then. Vargas got a point back, but no more as Longoria won it 15-5.

Other divisions

The Christmas Classic was also a Tier 5 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event. Mario Mercado won the IRT division, as he was the beneficiary of a forfeit by Eduardo Portillo in the final. In the semi-finals, Mercado defeated Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 7-15, 11-9, and Portillo beat Mauricio Zelada, 15-11, 15-0.

Mercado and Zelada took the doubles title with a win over Jacob Matthews and Brent Walters in the final, 15-11, 15-6. In the semis, Mercado and Zelada defeated Austin Cunningham and Dylan Pruitt, 15-9, 15-8, while Matthews and Walters beat David Austin and Portillo, 15-13, 15-5.

With both LPRT and IRT players on hand, they also played pro mixed doubles with Herrera and Portillo winning the title by defeating Erika Manilla and Mercado, 15-9, 15-4, in the final. In the semi-finals, Herrera and Portillo beat Ben Bleyer and Masiel Rivera, 15-5, 15-3, while Manilla and Mercado needed a tie-breaker to defeat Kelani Lawrence and Jacob Matthews, 12-15, 15-9, 11-3.

The LPRT won’t be in action again until mid-February, when they go to Florida for the Vero Beach Open, February 17-19, 2022. If you missed any of the Christmas Classic action, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

29th Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
December 10-12, 2021 - Millersville, Maryland

LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 15-5

LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas d. 1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1

IRT Singles - Final

3) Mario Mercado d. 1) Eduardo Portillo, forfeit

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 4) Mauricio Zelada, 15-11, 15-0
3) Mario Mercado d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 7-15, 11-9

IRT Doubles - Final

1) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada d. 3) Jacob Matthews & Brent Walters, 15-11, 15-6

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada d. 4) Austin Cunningham & Dylan Pruitt, 15-9, 15-8
3) Jacob Matthews & Brent Walters d. 2) David Austin & Eduardo Portillo, 15-13, 15-5

Pro Mixed Doubles - Final

1) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Erika Manilla & Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-4

Pro Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo d. 12) Ben Bleyer & Masiel Rivera, 15-5, 15-3
2) Erika Manilla & Mario Mercado d. 6) Kelani Lawrence & Jacob Matthews, 12-15, 15-9, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & Vargas to playoff in 2021 LPRT Christmas Classic final

Results ran true to seeding on Saturday at the 29th Annual Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic Pro-Am in Millersville, Maryland. In fact, there was only one tie-breaker in the six quarterfinal and semi-final matches. That came when 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas needed three games to get past 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, 15-7, 13-15, 11-8.

Vargas will play Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, in the final Sunday, as Longoria beat 4th seed Natalia Mendez, 15-8, 15-9, in the other semi-final.

There was one “upset” in doubles, although if the top two LPRT players - Longoria and Vargas - team up to play doubles is really an upset when they beat anyone? Longoria is the top ranked doubles player, but Vargas is only ranked 12th, so together they were seeded 3rd in Maryland.

Saturday night they defeated 2nd seeds Valeria Centellas and Mendez, 15-6, 15-7, in the semi-finals. They’ll play top seeds Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia in the final, as Herrera and Mejia beat 5th seeds Jessica Parrilla and Montserrat Perez in the semi-finals, 15-11, 15-6.

The singles final is Sunday at noon with the doubles final at 1 PM. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
December 10-12, 2021 - Millersville, Maryland

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Carla Muñoz, 15-0, 15-1
4) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Erika Manilla, 15-9, 15-7

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 6) Jessica Parrilla, 15-7, 15-5
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 10) Kelani Lawrence, 15-14, 15-6

LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Natalia Mendez, 15-8, 15-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 15-7, 13-15, 11-8

LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Maria Jose Vargas - Noon

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 5) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez, 15-11, 15-5
3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas d. 2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez, 15-6, 15-7

LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Two singles sweeps as play wraps up at 2021 IRF World Junior Championships

Bolivians swept the girls singles divisions while Mexicans swept the boys singles divisions in the finals of the 32nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Saturday. In Girls U18 Singles, Micaela Meneses of Bolivia beat Martina Katz of Argentina, 15-5, 15-2, and her teammate Kristin Salinas defeated Mexican Cynthia Gutierrez, 15-3, 15-5, the closest singles final of the day was in Girls U14 as Natalia Mendez of Bolivia eked out a victory over Mexican Maria Fernanda Trujillo, 15-14, 15-12.

In the boys divisions, Erick Trujillo won the all-Mexico final in U18, but it wasn’t easy, as Sebastian Longoria was on fire in game one of the match. He took an 11-2 lead, but Trujillo slowly worked his way back, and passed Longoria at 13-12, getting to game point first at 14-12.

Trujillo made an unforced error - skipping a backhand shot - on his first match point opportunity. Longoria took advantage of the error and scored two points to tie the match at 14-14. On the ensuing rally, Trujillo hit a backhand pinch shot from the backwall that rolled out, putting him back in the service box. He hit a forehand pass to win it on the next rally.

In game two, Trujillo went up 7-1. Longoria did fight back to get within four at 7-3, 8-4 and 11-7, he couldn’t get any closer, as Trujillo closed it out at 15-7.

In the other boys finals, Jorge Gutierrez of Mexico won a battle of two power players in Boys U16, as he defeated Bolivian Ezequiel Subieta, 15-13, 15-9. Finally, there was another all-Mexico final in Boys U14 with Eder Renteria beating Sebastian Ruelas, 15-0, 15-12.

Meneses had a chance to win two gold medals Saturday, as she and Florencio Villazon (Bolivia) were in the Girls U18 Doubles final, but they lost to Mexicans Ximena Martinez and Daniela Rico, 15-9, 15-12. The Bolivians used a front-back strategy with Villazon up front and Meneses at the back, and it looked like they might get it to a tie-breaker when they were up 7-3 in game two, and then tied at 12-12. But it wasn’t to be, as the Mexicans power wore out the Bolivian side.

The Girls U16 Doubles final was won by the hometown favourites Andrea Reyes and Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) who hung to defeat Cynthia Gutierrez and Angela Ortega and Mexico, 15-10, 7-15, 11-7.

The Girls U14 Doubles final was played between Mexico and Costa Rica - the only sides entered in the division - but Ashly Arce got hurt early in the tournament, so they substituted another girl in her play so that they could have one match at least. That match was won by Mexicans Yanna Salazar and Maria Fernanda Trujillo over Costa Ricans Ared Arce and Jessie Vargas.

The Boys U18 Doubles final was one of only two finals that didn’t involve at least one Mexican player. In it Jhoel Acha and Nestor Zenteno of Bolivia defeated Felipe Guillen and Andres Matamoros of Costa Rica, 15-6, 15-4.

Although Meneses didn’t win two gold medals, Mexican Jorge Gutierrez did. He won Boys U16 Doubles Saturday by defeating Jose Caceres and Hector Sierra of Guatemala, 15-2, 15-10, which followed up his win in Boys U16 singles. Finally, Eder Renteria and Sebastian Ruelas of Mexico beat Marco Mamani and Marco Vedia of Bolivia, 15-4, 15-12.

Overall, Mexico won seven of the twelve gold medals in the World Cup divisions - Boys and Girls U14, U16, U18 - five in boys and two in girls. Bolivia won four (three in girls) and Guatemala won one.

If you missed the action from Guatemala, they did stream matches, including several of Saturday’s finals, and you can check them out via the (IRF page on Facebook.

32nd IRF World Championships
December 2-December 11 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Girls U18 Singles - Final - Saturday

Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. Martina Katz (Argentina), 15-5, 15-2

Girls U16 Singles - Final - Saturday

Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) d. Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico), 15-3, 15-5

Girls U14 Singles - Final - Saturday

Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico), 15-14, 15-12

Boys U18 Singles - Final - Saturday

Erick Trujillo (Mexico) d. Sebastian Longoria (Mexico), 15-14, 15-7

Boys U16 Singles - Final - Saturday

Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia), 15-13, 15-9

Boys U14 Singles - Final - Saturday

Eder Renteria (Mexico) d. Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico), 15-0, 15-12

Girls U18 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Ximena Martinez & Daniela Rico (Mexico) d. Micaela Meneses & Florencio Villazon (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-12

Girls U16 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Andrea Reyes & Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Cynthia Gutierrez & Angela Ortega (Mexico), 15-10, 7-15, 11-7

Girls U14 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Yanna Salazar & Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) d. Ared Arce & Ashly Arce (Costa Rica)

Boys U18 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Jhoel Acha & Nestor Zenteno (Bolivia) d. Felipe Guillen & Andres Matamoros (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-4

Boys U16 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Christian Sanchez & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Jose Caceres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-10

Boys U14 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Eder Renteria & Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) d. Marco Mamani & Marco Vedia (Bolivia), 15-4, 15-12

Follow the bouncing ball....

Three upsets Friday at 2021 LPRT Christmas Classic

There were three upsets in the Round of 16 on Friday at the 29th Annual Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic Pro-Am in Millersville, Maryland. The biggest was 12th seed Erika Manilla defeating 5th seed Mexican Montserrat Mejia, 15-14, 15-9. It’s the second straight time Manilla has beaten Mejia, as she did so at the US Open in October.

Also, 10th seed Kelani Lawrence came back from a game down to upset 7th seed Rhonda Rajsich, 5-15, 15-14, 11-9. That was Lawrence’s second win over Rajsich in a week, as they also played in the semi-finals of the 2021 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala on Sunday.

Finally, 9th seed Carla Muñoz defeated 8th seed Valeria Centellas, 15-7, 15-8, and set up a match with Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Longoria beat Montserrat Perez in the 16s, 15-2, 15-5.

In the doubles draw, top seeds Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia won their first match, beating Shane Diaz and Naomi Ros, 15-2, 15-7. They’ll play 5th seed Jessica Parrilla and Montserrat Perez in the semi-finals Saturday, as Parrilla and Perez upset 4th seeds Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 14-15, 15-9, 11-6, on Friday.

Also, 2nd seeds Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez got a measure of revenge against 7th seeds Erika Manilla and Rhonda Rajsich by defeating them Friday, 15-10, 6-15, 11-1, after losing to them in the semi-finals at the IRF World Championships on Sunday.

Centellas and Mendez will play the new team of Longoria and Maria Jose Vargas in the semis on Saturday, as Longoria and Vargas beat 6th seeds Muñoz and Masiel Rivera, 15-8, 15-3, in the quarters.

The singles quarterfinals will be Saturday at 11 AM and noon with the semi-finals Saturday afternoon at 4 and 5 PM and the final Sunday at noon. The doubles semi-finals will be at 6 and 7 PM Saturday night with the final on Sunday at 1 PM. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
December 10-12, 2021 - Millersville, Maryland

LPRT Singles - First Round - Friday

16) Montserrat Perez d. 17) Jessica Chen, 15-6, 15-12
Hollie Scott d. Naomi Ros, 15-1, 15-8
Masiel Rivera d. 18) Shane Diaz, 15-6, 15-5

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Montserrat Perez, 15-2, 15-5
9) Carla Muñoz d. 8) Valeria Centellas, 15-7, 15-8

12) Erika Manilla d. 5) Montserrat Mejia, 15-14, 15-9
4) Natalia Mendez d. 13) Sheryl Lotts, 15-11, 15-6

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 14) Hollie Scott, 15-2, 15-7
6) Jessica Parrilla d. 11) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-10, 12-15, 11-3

10) Kelani Lawrence d. 7) Rhonda Rajsich, 5-15, 15-14, 11-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 15) Masiel Rivera, 15-1, 15-3

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Carla Muñoz - Noon
4) Natalia Mendez v.

12) Erika Manilla - Noon

3) Alexandra Herrera v. 6) Jessica Parrilla - 11 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v.

10) Kelani Lawrence - 11 AM

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Shane Diaz & Naomi Ros, 15-2, 15-7
5) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez d. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 14-15, 15-9, 11-6

3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Carla Muñoz & Masiel Rivera, 15-8, 15-3
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez d. 7) Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-10, 6-15, 11-1

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 5) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez - 7 PM
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Meneses has chance to win two gold medals at 2021 IRF World Junior Championships

Mexicans have a chance to win gold in 10 of the 12 World Cup divisions at the 32nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, as they have at least one finalist in the four U16 and four U14 divisions as well as two of the U18 divisions. Mexicans will win at least two gold medals, as both finalists in Boys U18 Singles and Boys U14 Singles are Mexican.

In Boys U18 Singles, Sebastian Longoria of Mexico defeated Ecuador’s Pablo Vera, 15-3, 15-6, in one semi-final Friday, while team-mate Erick Trujillo beat Bolivian Luis Aguilar, 15-9, 15-0, in the other.

The Girls U18 final is one of the two that doesn’t have a Mexican, as both Mexicans lost in the semi-finals. Bolivian Micaela Meneses beat Daniela Rico of Mexico, 15-6, 15-2, in the semis, and will face Argentina’s Martina Katz in the final, as Katz defeated Ximena Martinez of Mexico, 15-6, 15-6, in the other semi.

Meneses could be a double gold medalist, as she and Florencio Villazon are in the Girls U18 Doubles final after beating Ecuador’s Fabi Landry and Maria Laura Villacreses, 15-1, 15-5, in the semi-finals. They’ll face Mexicans Martinez and Rico in the final, as the Mexicans defeated Sofia Freer and Abigail Solano of Costa Rica, 15-7, 15-7, in the semis.

The Boys U18 Doubles final is the other final that doesn’t involve Mexico. Costa Ricans Felipe Guillen and Andres Matamoros upset top seeds Diego Gatica and Jaime Mansilla of Chile, 15-11, 8-15, 15-1, in one semi-final, and will take on Bolivia’s Jhoel Acha and Nestor Zenteno in the final. Bolivia beat the Canadians Nathan Jauvin and Christian Pocsai, 15-10, 15-9 in the semis.

Reminder that matches are being live streamed from Guatemala, and they’ll be streaming through the finals on Saturday. Check with the (IRF page on Facebook to see the streaming schedule.

32nd IRF World Championships
December 2-December 11 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Girls U18 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. Daniela Rico (Mexico), 15-6, 15-2
Martina Katz (Argentina) d. Ximena Martinez (Mexico), 15-6, 15-6

Girls U18 Singles - Final - Saturday

Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. Martina Katz (Argentina) - Noon

Girls U16 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-11
Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) d. Angela Ortega (Mexico), 1-15, 15-12, 11-10

Girls U16 Singles - Final - Saturday

Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) - 11 AM

Girls U14 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) d. Chloe Jauvin (Canada), 15-2, 15-2
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Yanna Salazar (Mexico), 15-10, 15-11

Girls U14 Singles - Final - Saturday

Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) v. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - 10 AM

Boys U18 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. Pablo Vera (Ecuador), 15-3, 15-6
Erick Trujillo (Mexico) d. Luis Aguilar (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-0

Boys U18 Singles - Final - Saturday

Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) v. Erick Trujillo (Mexico)

Boys U16 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) d. Christian Sanchez (Mexico), 15-5, 15-12
Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Hernan Ruiz Michel (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-4

Boys U16 Singles - Final - Saturday

Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) v. Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - 1 PM

Boys U14 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Eder Renteria (Mexico) d. Martin Carchi (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-7
Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) d. Marco Vedia (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-10

Boys U14 Singles - Final - Saturday

Eder Renteria (Mexico) v. Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) - 10 AM

Girls U18 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Micaela Meneses & Florencio Villazon (Bolivia) d. Fabi Landry & Maria Laura Villacreses (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-5
Ximena Martinez & Daniela Rico (Mexico) d. Sofia Freer & Abigail Solano (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-7

Girls U18 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Micaela Meneses & Florencio Villazon (Bolivia) v. Ximena Martinez & Daniela Rico (Mexico) - 2 PM

Girls U16 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Andrea Reyes & Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Jimena Gomez & Jimena Rodriguez (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-4
Cynthia Gutierrez & Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. Natalia Mendez & Kristin Salinas (Bolivia), 4-15, 15-11, 11-6

Girls U16 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Andrea Reyes & Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Cynthia Gutierrez & Angela Ortega (Mexico) - 4 PM

Girls U14 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Yanna Salazar & Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) v. Ared Arce & Ashly Arce (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

Boys U18 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Felipe Guillen & Andres Matamoros (Costa Rica) d. Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 15-11, 8-15, 15-1
Jhoel Acha & Nestor Zenteno (Bolivia) d. Nathan Jauvin & Christian Pocsai (Canada), 15-10, 15-9

Boys U18 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Jhoel Acha & Nestor Zenteno (Bolivia) v. Felipe Guillen & Andres Matamoros (Costa Rica)

Boys U16 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Christian Sanchez & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Javier Farfan & Ezequiel Zubieta (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-0

Jose Caceres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala) d. Santiago Gamboa &.Victor Segura (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-2

Boys U16 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Christian Sanchez & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Jose Caceres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala) - 4 PM

Boys U14 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Eder Renteria & Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) d. Tomas Alvarado & Juan Pinedo (Colombia), 15-2, 15-1
Marco Mamani & Marco Vedia (Bolivia) d. Rafael Guillemette & Asher Pocsai (Canada), 15-5, 15-2

Boys U14 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Eder Renteria & Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) v. Marco Mamani & Marco Vedia (Bolivia) - 3 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

2021 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am - Preview

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is back in action this weekend at the 29th Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am in Millersville, Maryland. The LPRT has been a part of the Christmas Classic for many years now so it's perhaps their longest running event. There’s 19 players in the draw, a smaller number than usual, presumably because it’s so soon after the conclusion of the 2021 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala.

Nonetheless, Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player and recently crowned IRF Women's Singles World Champion (for the fourth time), is in Maryland along with LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas and #3 Alexandra Herrera.

There are a few matches from the “Didn’t I Just Play You?” (DIJPY) Department. The first among them being the all American match up of Rhonda Rajsich and Kelani Lawrence, who played in the semi-finals at Worlds on Sunday with Lawrence winning. However, if Rajsich wins in Maryland, she’ll likely face Vargas in the quarterfinals, who she beat in the Round of 16 at Worlds.

Also from the DIJPY Dept, Mexican Montserrat Mejia and American Erika Manilla will face off in the Round of 16, which will be Mejia’s first LPRT match since losing to Manilla at the US Open in October, which was part of Manilla’s remarkable run at the Open that saw her reach the semi-finals for the first time.

The LPRT doubles draw is also interesting. Samantha Salas is Longoria’s usual doubles partner, and the two won their fourth IRF Women's Doubles World Championship in Guatemala on Monday, but Salas won't be in Maryland, so Longoria has teamed up with Vargas. They are seeded 3rd, despite being the #1 and #2 players in the singles rankings, because there are separate rankings for singles and doubles. Longoria is also #1 in doubles, but Vargas is only 12th.

Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia are the top seeds in doubles, and should be able to reach the final. But who will they meet there? Will it be Longoria and Vargas? Or will it be either 2nd seeds Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez or 7th seeds Manilla and Rajsich, who beat Centellas and Mendez in the semi-finals at Worlds on Sunday (another one for the DIJPY Dept)? There will certainly be a couple of interesting match ups on the bottom half of the doubles draw.

Singles matches will begin Friday with the Rounds of 32 and 16 with the quarterfinals Saturday at 11 AM and noon. The semi-finals will be Saturday afternoon at 4 and 5 PM and the final Sunday at noon. The doubles matches start Friday night with the quarterfinals at 7 and 8 PM. The doubles semi-finals will be at 6 and 7 PM Saturday night with the final on Sunday at 1 PM. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

29th Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
December 10-12, 2021 - Millersville, Maryland

LPRT Singles - First Round - Friday

16) Montserrat Perez v. 17) Jessica Chen - 10 AM
Hollie Scott v. Naomi Ros - 10 AM
Masiel Rivera v. 18) Shane Diaz - 11 AM

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Montserrat Perez or 17) Jessica Chen - 5 PM
8) Valeria Centellas v. 9) Carla Muñoz - 5 PM

5) Montserrat Mejia v. 12) Erika Manilla - 2 PM
4) Natalia Mendez v. 13) Sheryl Lotts - 2 PM

3) Alexandra Herrera v. 14) Hollie Scott or 19) Naomi Ros - 3 PM
6) Jessica Parrilla v. 11) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 3 PM

7) Rhonda Rajsich v. 10) Kelani Lawrence - 4 PM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 15) Masiel Rivera or 18) Shane Diaz - 4 PM

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 8) Shane Diaz & Naomi Ros - 8 PM
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 5) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez - 8 PM

3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Carla Muñoz & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 7) Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich - 7 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Semi-finals are set for 2021 IRF World Junior Championships

The third day of the medal round at the 32nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Thursday had fewer matches and fewer surprises. However, in Boys U18 Singles, Ecuador’s Pablo Vera defeated top seed Felipe Guillen of Costa Rica, 15-8, 15-9, in the quarterfinals. He’ll play Mexican Sebastian Longoria in the one semi-final, as Longoria beat Colombian Juan Segovia, 15-2, 15-1.

In the other semi-final, it will be Erick Trujillo of Mexico versus Luis Aguilar of Bolivia, as Trujillo beat another Bolivian Jhoel Acha, 15-7, 15-1, in one quarterfinal, while Aguilar was defeating Nathan Jauvin of Canada, 15-2, 15-5.

In the Girls U18 quarterfinals, top seed Micaela Meneses of Bolivia was a straight game winner over Guatemala’s Jazmin Salvatierra, 15-5, 15-4, and will play Mexican Daniela Rico in the semi-finals. Rico defeated Anna Salvatierra of Guatemala, 15-7, 15-1, in the quarters.

On the other side of the draw, Martina Katz of Argentina was a narrow winner over Sofia Freer of Costa Rica, 15-13, 15-14, and in the semis, she’ll play Mexican Ximena Martinez, who defeated Canadian Juliette Parent, 15-10, 15-13.

Overall, Mexico’s 12 players in singles have all made it to the semi-finals. Seven Bolivians are semi-finalists (four boys and two girls), two players from Ecuador (both boys), and one each from Argentina, Canada and Guatemala (all of those are girls).

In doubles, five teams from Bolivia, Costa Rica and Mexico in the semi-finals, as well as two teams from Canada and Guatemala and one each from Colombia, Chile and Ecuador.

Thus, there are a variety of countries looking to win matches on semi-final Friday in Guatemala City, so they can play in the finals on Saturday.

Reminder that matches are being live streamed from Guatemala, and they’ll be streaming through the finals on Saturday. Check with the (IRF page on Facebook to see the streaming schedule.

32nd IRF World Championships
December 2-December 11 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Girls U18 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-4
Daniela Rico (Mexico) d. Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-1

Ximena Martinez (Mexico) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-10, 15-13
Martina Katz (Argentina) d. Sofia Freer (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-14

Girls U18 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. Daniela Rico (Mexico) - 11 AM
Martina Katz (Argentina) v. Ximena Martinez (Mexico) - 11 AM

Girls U16 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico) - 1 PM
Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) v. Angela Ortega (Mexico) - 1 PM

Girls U14 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) - BYE
Chloe Jauvin (Canada) d. Maria Argueta (Guatemala), 15-13, 15-9

Yanna Salazar (Mexico) d. Jessie Vargas (Costa Rica), 15-1 15-4
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE

Girls U14 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) v. Chloe Jauvin (Canada) - 10 AM
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) v. Yanna Salazar (Mexico) - 10 AM

Boys U18 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Pablo Vera (Ecuador) d. Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-9
Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. Juan Segovia (Colombia), 15-2, 15-1

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) d. Nathan Jauvin (Canada), 15-2, 15-5
Erick Trujillo (Mexico) d. Jhoel Acha (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-1

Boys U18 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Pablo Vera (Ecuador) v. Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) - 10 AM
Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) - 10 AM

Boys U16 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) d. Victor Segura (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-0
Christian Sanchez (Mexico) d. Jose Caceres (Guatemala), 15-11, 15-10

Hernan Ruiz Michel (Bolivia) d. Hector Sierra (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-6
Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Christian Pocsai (Canada), 15-13, 15-8

Boys U16 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) v. Christian Sanchez (Mexico) - Noon
Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Hernan Ruiz Michel (Bolivia) - Noon

Boys U14 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Martin Carchi (Ecuador) v. Eder Renteria (Mexico) - 11 AM
Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) v. Marco Vedia (Bolivia) - 11 AM

Girls U18 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Micaela Meneses & Florencio Villazon (Bolivia) v. Fabi Landry & Maria Laura Villacreses (Ecuador) - 4 PM
Ximena Martinez & Daniela Rico (Mexico) v. Sofia Freer & Abigail Solano (Costa Rica) - 4 PM

Girls U16 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Andrea Reyes & Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Jimena Gomez & Jimena Rodriguez (Costa Rica) - 5 PM
Cynthia Gutierrez & Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. Natalia Mendez & Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) - 5 PM

Girls U14 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Yanna Salazar & Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) v. Ared Arce & Ashly Arce (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

Boys U18 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) v. Felipe Guillen & Andres Matamoros (Costa Rica) - 3 PM
Jhoel Acha & Nestor Zenteno (Bolivia) v. Nathan Jauvin & Christian Pocsai (Canada) - 3 PM

Boys U16 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Christian Sanchez & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Javier Farfan & Ezequiel Zubieta (Bolivia) - 5 PM

Jose Caceres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala) v. Santiago Gamboa &.Victor Segura (Costa Rica) - 5 PM

Boys U14 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

Eder Renteria & Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) v. Tomas Alvarado & Juan Pinedo (Colombia) - 3 PM
Marco Mamani & Marco Vedia (Bolivia) v. Rafael Guillemette & Asher Pocsai (Canada) - 3 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Canada defeats Mexico in Boys U18 Doubles at 32nd IRF World Junior Championships

The big result of the second day of the medal round at the 32nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Wednesday came in Boys U18 Doubles, as Canadians Nathan Jauvin and Christian Pocsai upset the 2nd seeded Mexican team of Sebastian Longoria and Erick Trujillo, 15-13, 5-15, 11-8, in the quarterfinals. They’ll play Bolivians Jhoel Acha and Nestor Zenteno on Friday in the semi-finals, after Bolivia beat Josue Bermeo and Pablo Vera of Ecuador, 15-11, 15-4, on Wednesday.

The result was a surprise, as Trujillo has had some good results on the International Racquetball Tour, yet he was not a dominant force in the match even though the Canadians did serve to him throughout the match with Jauvin hitting mostly straight lob and half lob serves to Trujillo on the left side. Pocsai hit drive Z serves to Longoria on the right side to good effect, and Jauvin made some good rekill shots off Trujillo’s would be winners.

After splitting the first two games, the Canadians led throughout the breaker and had their biggest lead of the match at 8-3. When Mexico got four straight points to get within one at 8-7, Canada called a timeout, and got a side out when play resumed.

They got two points to reach match point at 10-7, but Mexico stopped them there. The Mexicans picked up a point after getting the serve back when Jauvin skipped a shot with Trujillo jumping in front of him. Jauvin appeared to hesitate in taking the shot, and told the referee that Trujillo being right in front of him was a hinder, but the ref was having none of it.

Two rallies later, and Jauvin took a shot that Trujillo again jumped try to avoid, but got hit by. The referee called an avoidable, as he deemed Jauvin’s shot was straight in, so hitting Trujillo was taking away Jauvin's shot. Perhaps both of these plays should have been hinders, and the rallies replayed, but with no line judges there were no appeals to be made.

The next rally was match point number three, and the play came around to the back of the court with both Jauvin and Pocsai scrambling back to try to keep the ball in play and in doing so, Pocsai hit his partner in the head with his racquet while swinging for the ball. Jauvin actually did make contact with the ball, despite being hit, but his shot didn’t make the front wall. He stayed down on the court for a couple of minutes, as the Canadians took some injury time.

Once he was ready to resume playing, Jauvin’s first task was to hit arguably the most important serve of his life: a serve to try to beat Mexico at World Juniors. He served as he’d done throughout the match - a half lob to the left side, and the ball came off the side and back walls, so Trujillo - a right handed player - chose to turn and take it with his forehand. Yet he skipped the shot, giving Canada their 11th point and the match in three games.

The outcome is even more remarkable considering Jauvin and Pocsai lost their three matches in the group stage, including a 15-5, 15-6 loss to the Mexicans.

There were a few other matches that needed a tie-breaker to decide the winner, and one of them also involved Canadian Christian Pocsai, as he came back from a game down to defeat Santiago Gamboa of Costa Rica, 12-15, 15-1, 11-8, in Boys U16 Singles. There was another breaker in that division as Costa Rican Victor Segura also came back from a game down to defeat Colombian Duvan Torres, 4-15, 15-3, 11-9.

Other matches that went three games on Wednesday were in Boys U18 Doubles, as Costa Ricans Felipe Guillen and Andres Matamoros held on to defeat Colombians Juan Segovia and Duvan Torres, 15-14, 8-15, 11-7, and in Boys U14, Canadians Rafael Guillemette and Asher Pocsai’s comeback victory over Gabriel Matamoros and Andre Pacheco, 1-15, 15-8, 11-7. Then in one of the strangest story lines Guatemalans Jose Caceres and Hector Sierra split the first two games of their match wth Mexicans Jorge Gutierrez and Cristian Sanchez by identical scores: 15-1. In the breaker, Mexico managed to pull out the win by an 11-5 score.

No surprises - or even tie-breakers - in the girls matches, but there is likely some disappointment in Girls U14 with the way the medal round is set up. There are seven players in Girls U14 this year, so to give the players more matches, they played a double round robin in the group stage with two groups: one with three players and one with four players. The medal round has the three players from Group A all on the top of the draw, and the four player from Group B all on the bottom of the draw. So, only the players who reach the final will play someone different than who they have already played. That’s a bit odd, and might disappoint some of the players.

Reminder that matches are being live streamed from Guatemala, and they’ll be streaming through the finals on Saturday. Check with the IRF page on Facebook to see the streaming schedule.

32nd IRF World Championships
December 2-December 11 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Girls U18 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 1 PM
Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Daniela Rico (Mexico) - 1 PM

Ximena Martinez (Mexico) v. Juliette Parent (Canada) - 1 PM
Martina Katz (Argentina) v. Sofia Freer (Costa Rica) - 1 PM

Girls U16 Singles - Quarterfinals - Wednesday

Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Florencio Villazon (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-14
Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 15-13, 15-11

Angela Ortega (Mexico) d. Tamara Wilscam (Canada), 15-10, 15-5
Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) d. Paula Mansilla (Chile), 15-11, 15-1

Girls U16 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico) - 1 PM
Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) v. Angela Ortega (Mexico) - 1 PM

Girls U14 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) - BYE
Chloe Jauvin (Canada) v. Maria Argueta (Guatemala) - 5 PM

Yanna Salazar (Mexico) v. Jessie Vargas (Costa Rica) - 5 PM
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE

Boys U18 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica) v. Pablo Vera (Ecuador) - 11 AM
Juan Segovia (Colombia) v. Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) - 11 AM

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) v. Nathan Jauvin (Canada) - 11 AM
Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. Jhoel Acha (Bolivia) - 11 AM

Boys U16 Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) - BYE
Victor Segura (Costa Rica) d. Duvan Torres (Colombia), 4-15, 15-13, 11-9

Jose Caceres (Guatemala) d. Martin Carchi (Ecuador), 15-0, 15-6
Christian Sanchez (Mexico) - BYE

Hernan Ruiz Michel (Bolivia) - BYE
Hector Sierra (Guatemala) d. Joaquin Benalcazar (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-2

Christian Pocsai (Canada) d. Santiago Gamboa (Costa Rica), 12-15, 15-1, 11-8
Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - BYE

Boys U16 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) v. Victor Segura (Costa Rica) - Noon
Christian Sanchez (Mexico) v. Jose Caceres (Guatemala) - Noon

Hernan Ruiz Michel (Bolivia) v. Hector Sierra (Guatemala) - Noon
Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Christian Pocsai (Canada) - Noon

Boys U14 Singles - Quarterfinals - Wednesday

Martin Carchi (Ecuador) d. Leonardo Luconi (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-10
Eder Renteria (Mexico) d. Marco Mamani (Bolivia), 15-14, 15-4

Marco Vedic (Ecuador) d. Rafael Guillemette (Canada), 15-4, 15-3
Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) d. Gabriel Maramoros (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-5

Boys U14 Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

Martin Carchi (Ecuador) v. Eder Renteria (Mexico) - 11 AM
Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) v. Marco Vedic (Ecuador) - 11 AM

Boys U18 Doubles - Quarterfinals - Wednesday

Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE
Felipe Guillen & Andres Matamoros (Costa Rica) d. Juan Segovia & Duvan Torres (Colombia), 15-14, 8-15, 11-7

Jhoel Acha & Nestor Zenteno (Bolivia) d. Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador), 15-11, 15-4
Nathan Jauvin & Christian Pocsai (Canada) d. Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico), 15-13, 5-15, 11-8

Boys U18 Doubles - Semi-finals - Thursday

Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) v. Felipe Guillen & Andres Matamoros (Costa Rica) - 3 PM
Jhoel Acha & Nestor Zenteno (Bolivia) v. Nathan Jauvin & Christian Pocsai (Canada) - 3 PM

Boys U16 Singles - Round Robin Group Stage Standings - Wednesday

1. Christian Sanchez & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - 5-0
2. Jose Caceres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala) - 3-2
3. Javier Farfan & Ezequiel Zubieta (Bolivia) - 2-3
4. Santiago Gamboa &.Victor Segura (Costa Rica), 0-5

Boys U14 Doubles - Round Robin Group Stage Standings - Tuesday

1. Eder Renteria & Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) - 3-0
1. Marco Mamani & Marco Vedic (Bolivia) - 3-0
3. Tomas Alvarado & Juan Pinedo (Colombia) - 2-2
4. Rafael Guillemette & Asher Pocsai (Canada) - 0-3
4. Gabriel Metamoros & Andre Pacheco (Costa Rica) - 0-3

Girls U18 Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Micaela Meneses & Florencio Villazon (Bolivia) v. 4) Fabi Landry & Maria Laura Villacreses (Ecuador) - 4 PM
2. Ximena Martinez & Daniela Rico (Mexico) v. 3. Sofia Freer & Abigail Solano (Costa Rica) - 4 PM

Girls U16 Singles - Round Robin Group Stage Standings - Wednesday

1. Andrea Reyes & Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 5-0
2. Natalia Mendez & Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) - 4-1
2. Cynthia Gutierrez & Angela Ortega (Mexico) - 4-1
4. Yanna Salazar & Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) - 3-2
5. Jimena Gomez & Jimena Rodriguez (Costa Rica) - 2-4
6. Ofelia Wilscam & Tamara Wilscam (Canada) - 0-5
6. Ared Arce & Ashly Arce (Costa Rica) - 0-5

Girls U14 Doubles - Final - Saturday

Yanna Salazar & Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) v. Ared Arce & Ashly Arce (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Medal round begins at XXXII IRF World Junior Championships

After three days of group stage matches, play began in the medal rounds Tuesday at the 32nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. While Mexico, Bolivia and the USA have traditionally been the strongest teams at World Juniors, players from other countries are also looking good so far. That’s undoubtedly helped by the smaller than expected turnout of players, including a complete absence of USA players. That is presumably due to the pandemic affecting travel decisions by people around the world.

The top seeds as the medal round began were Micaela Meneses of Bolivia in Girls U18, Jazmin Salvatierra of Guatemala in Girls U16, Maria Trujillo of Mexico in Girls U14 (although there is one more round of group matches in this division, it seems like Trujillo has top spot clinched), Felipe Guillen of Costa Rica in Boys U18, Ezequiel Subieta of Bolivia in Boys U16, and finally in Boys U14 Martin Carchi of Ecuador. It’s fun that players from 5 countries are the top seeds across the six World Cup divisions.

There have been some close matches so far, including several tiebreakers, some finishing 11-10. On the first day of the medal round, there were three breakers, two involving Canadians. The one that didn’t have a Canadian was in Girls U16, as Paula Mansilla of Chile held on to defeat Jimena Gomez of Costa Rica, 15-7, 14-15, 11-8. It was a similar story in Boys U18, as Canadian Nathan Jauvin beat Josue Bermeo of Ecuador, 15-12, 7-15, 11-8. Also, Jauvin’s teammate Rafael Guillemette came back from a game down to get a win over Tomas Alvarado of Colombia, 14-15, 15-10, 11-2.

Some of Tuesday’s matches were live streamed from Guatemala, and they’ll be streaming through the finals on Saturday. Check with the (IRF page on Facebook to see the streaming schedule.

32nd IRF World Championships
December 2-December 11 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Girls U18 Singles - Round of 16 - Tuesday

Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) - BYE
Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Fabi Landry (Ecuador), 15-12, 15-5

Daniela Rico (Mexico) - BYE
Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) - BYE

Ximena Martinez (Mexico) - BYE
Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Paula Mansilla (Chile), 15-3, 15-3

Sofia Freer (Costa Rica) d. Abigail Solano (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-0
Martina Katz (Argentina) - BYE

Girls U18 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 1 PM
Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Daniela Rico (Mexico) - 1 PM

Ximena Martinez (Mexico) v. Juliette Parent (Canada) - 1 PM
Martina Katz (Argentina) v. Sofia Freer (Costa Rica) - 1 PM

Girls U16 Singles - Round of 16 - Tuesday

Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala) - BYE
Florencio Villazon (Bolivia) d. Jimena Rodriguez (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-1

Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - BYE
Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico) - BYE

Tamara Wilscam (Canada) - BYE
Angela Ortega (Mexico) d. Ofelia Wilscam (Canada), 15-7, 15-10

Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 15-7, 14-15, 11-8
Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) - BYE

Girls U16 Singles - Quarterfinals - Wednesday

Jazmin Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Florencio Villazon (Bolivia) - 11 AM
Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - 11 AM

Tamara Wilscam (Canada) v. Angela Ortega (Mexico) - 11 AM
Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) v. Paula Mansilla (Chile) - 11 AM

Girls U14 Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday

Will begin Thursday after last group stage round on Wednesday

Boys U18 Singles - Round of 16 - Tuesday

Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica) - BYE
Pablo Vera (Ecuador) d. Andres Matamoros (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-1

Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. Diego Gatica (Chile), 15-7, 15-5
Juan Segovia (Colombia) - BYE

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) - BYE
Nathan Jauvin (Canada) d. Josue Bermeo (Ecuador), 15-12, 7-15, 11-8

Jhoel Acha (Bolivia) d. Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 15-11, 15-12
Erick Trujillo (Mexico) - BYE

Boys U18 Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica) v. Pablo Vera (Ecuador) - 11 AM
Juan Segovia (Colombia) v. Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) - 11 AM

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) v. Nathan Jauvin (Canada) - 11 AM
Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. Jhoel Acha (Bolivia) - 11 AM

Boys U16 Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) - BYE
Victor Segura (Costa Rica) v. Duvan Torres (Colombia) - 10 AM

Jose Caceres (Guatemala) v. Martin Carchi (Ecuador) - 10 AM
Christian Sanchez (Mexico) - BYE

Hernan Ruiz Michel (Bolivia) - BYE
Hector Sierra (Guatemala) v. Joaquin Benalcazar (Ecuador) - 10 AM

Santiago Gamboa (Costa Rica) v. Christian Pocsai (Canada) - 10 AM
Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - BYE

Boys U14 Singles - Round of 16 - Tuesday

Martin Carchi (Ecuador) - BYE
Leonardo Luconi (Costa Rica) d. Angel Gonzalez (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-6

Marco Mamani (Bolivia) - BYE
Eder Renteria (Mexico) - BYE

Marco Vedic (Ecuador) - BYE
Rafael Guillemette (Canada) d. Tomas Alvarado (Colombia), 14-15, 15-10, 11-2

Gabriel Maramoros (Costa Rica) d. Asher Pocsai (Canada), 15-14, 15-3
Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) - BYE

Boys U14 Singles - Quarterfinals - Wednesday

Martin Carchi (Ecuador) v. Leonardo Luconi (Costa Rica) - Noon
Eder Renteria (Mexico) v. Marco Mamani (Bolivia) - Noon

Marco Vedic (Ecuador) v. Rafael Guillemette (Canada) - Noon
Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) v. Gabriel Maramoros (Costa Rica) - Noon

Boys U18 Doubles - Quarterfinals - Wednesday

Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE
Juan Segovia & Duvan Torres (Colombia) v. Felipe Guillen & Andres Matamoros (Costa Rica)

Jhoel Acha & Nestor Zenteno (Bolivia) v. Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador)
Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. Nathan Jauvin & Christian Pocsai (Canada)

Boys U16 Singles - Round Robin Group Stage Standings - Wednesday

1. Christian Sanchez & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - 5-0
2. Jose Caceres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala) - 3-2
3. Javier Farfan & Ezequiel Zubieta (Bolivia) - 2-3
4. Santiago Gamboa & Victor Segura (Costa Rica) - 0-5

Boys U14 Doubles - Round Robin Group Stage Standings - Tuesday

1. Eder Renteria & Sebastian Ruelas (Mexico) - 3-0
1. Marco Mamani & Marco Vedic (Bolivia) - 3-0
3. Tomas Alvarado & Juan Pinedo (Colombia) - 2-2
4. Rafael Guillemette & Asher Pocsai (Canada) - 0-3
4. Gabriel Metamoros & Andre Pacheco (Costa Rica) - 0-3

Girls U18 Doubles - Round Robin Group Stage Standings - Tuesday

1. Micaela Meneses & Florencio Villazon (Bolivia) - 5-0
2. Ximena Martinez & Daniela Rico (Mexico) - 3-2
3. Sofia Freer & Abigail Solano (Costa Rica) - 2-3
4. Fabi Landry & Maria Laura Villacreses (Ecuador) - 0-5

Girls U16 Singles - Round Robin Group Stage Standings - Tuesday

1. Andrea Reyes & Anna Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 4-0
2. Natalia Mendez & Kristin Salinas (Bolivia) - 3-1
3. Yanna Salazar & Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) - 3-1
3. Cynthia Gutierrez & Angela Ortega (Mexico) - 3-1
5. Jimena Gomez & Jimena Rodriguez (Costa Rica) - 2-3
6. Ofelia Wilscam & Tamara Wilscam (Canada) - 0-4
7. Ared Arce & Ashly Arce (Costa Rica) - 0-5

Girls U14 Doubles - Round Robin Group Stage - Saturday

Yanna Salazar & Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Mexico) v. Ared Arce & Ashly Arce (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Mexico win three of four titles at 2021 IRF World Championships

Mexico won three of the four championships Monday at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, led by Paola Longoria, who won both Women’s Singles and Doubles, and in doing so she has become the winningest player in World Championships history. Longoria now has eight titles - four each in singles and doubles, which is one more than American Jackie Paraiso, who won seven in Women's Doubles titles. This was the third time Longoria has won both singles and doubles in the same year at Worlds, having previously done it in 2012 and 2014. No one else has won both in the same year.

Longoria beat American Kelani Lawrence in the Women’s Singles final, 15-6, 15-1, and then she teamed up with long time partner Samantha Salas to win Women’s Doubles. They defeated Americans Erika Manilla and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-14, 15-6. The win was Salas’s fourth World Championship, which have all come in Women’s Doubles with Longoria.

Mexico also won Men’s Doubles, as Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya defeated Bolivians Conrrado Moscoso and Roland Keller in the final, 15-10, 15-9. It’s Mexico’s eighth Men’s Doubles World Championship title, but the first one for Mar and Montoya. However, it’s Montoya’s second World Championship, as he won Men’s Singles three years ago. Montoya is the fourth player to win both singles and doubles at Worlds, joining American Todd O’Neill, and Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Longoria.

American Alejandro Landa won Men’s Singles Monday, as he defeated Costa Rican Andres Acuña in the final, 15-6, 15-6. Landa was born in Mexico, so in one sense Mexico did sweep the fourth championships. He has played for Mexico in the past, including at the 2010 World Championships in Seoul, South Korea, where he earned a bronze medal in Men’s Doubles.

However, Landa was not selected for Team Mexico for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, even though he qualified to go. He was so angry with being passed over that Landa switched countries, choosing instead to compete for the USA, as he moved to the US as a teenager. Landa is the eighth American man to win Men’s Singles at Worlds.

The overall sense of the four finals is that none of them was very interesting, in the sense that they were all won in two straight games. Also, of those eight finals games, only two were within five points.

In the Women’s Doubles final, Mexico was up 10-0 and 14-8 in game one, only to have to stave off a USA comeback and hang on a win it by one, 15-14. But no other game was that close.

In game two of the Men’s Doubles final, it looked like Bolivia might force a breaker, as they were up 9-5 on Bolivia. Yet they failed to score another point, as Mexico came back with ten unanswered points to win it 15-9 and take the match in two straight games.

Monday’s finals were live streamed from Guatemala. Check with the IRF on Facebook to see replays of the finals. The live stream folks are staying in Guatemala through the week to stream World Junior Championship matches. Check the IRF Facebook page for the stream schedule.

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

Men's Singles Final - Monday

Alejandro Landa (USA) d. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-6

Women's Singles Final - Monday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Kelani Lawrence (USA), 15-6, 15-1

Men's Doubles Final - Monday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-9

Women's Doubles Final - Monday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-14, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball....

Longoria has chance to become winningest player in IRF World Championships history

Mexican Paola Longoria has a chance to win both Women’s Singles and Doubles on Monday at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala after winning in both semifinals Sunday. She’s the only player to win both in the same year at Worlds, doing so twice before in 2012 and 2014. If she wins one, she’ll tie American Jackie Paraiso as the winningest player in IRF Worlds history with seven career titles. If she wins both, she’ll pass Paraiso. Currently, Longoria has six titles - three each in singles and doubles, while Paraiso has seven in doubles.

Longoria beat Argentine Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-1, in the semifinals of Women’s Singles, and will face American Kelani Lawrence in the final, as Lawrence beat teammate Rhonda Rajsich, 15-12, 15-7, in the other semi.

Despite that loss in singles, Rajsich will have a chance to join Longoria as the only women to win both singles and doubles at Worlds, as she and Erika Manilla came back from a game down to defeat Mendez and Valeria Centellas, 6-15, 15-9, 11-8, in the Women's Doubles semifinals. It’s a chance that seemed unlikely when Rajsich went down on the court late in game two of her singles match with Lawrence, as she aggravated an injury to her left ankle. Nonetheless, Rajsich was able to finish that semifinal and show up for her doubles match.

Longoria and Samantha Salas beat Guatemalans Maria Renee Rodriguez and Gabriela Martinez, 15-9, 15-4, in the other semi.

There will be a new champion in Men's Singles, and perhaps a new country winning the title, as a Costa Rican is in the final for the first time. Andres Acuña is that Costa Rican, and he squeaked out a win over Colombian Mario Mercado, 12-15, 15-12, 11-9, in the semifinals.

Acuña will face American Alejandro Landa in the final. Landa also came back from a game down in his semifinal match with Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso, winning 3-15, 15-8, 11-5. Landa would be the eighth American man to win Men’s Singles at Worlds with a win on Monday.

In Men’s Doubles, Mexico and Bolivia will play for the title. Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico defeated Landa and Charlie Pratt, 15-2, 15-13, in one semifinal, while Moscoso and Roland Keller beat Mercado and Andres Gomez in the other.

Mar and Montoya are seeking Mexico’s seventh Men’s Doubles title, but the first one for either of them. In contrast, Moscoso and Keller are the first Bolivians to be in a Worlds Men’s Doubles final.

Monday’s finals will be live streamed from Guatemala. Check with the IRF on Facebook for the stream schedule, and for replays of previous matches, including most of the semi-final matches from Sunday.

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

Men's Singles Semi-finals - Sunday

Alejandro Landa (USA) d. Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 3-15, 15-8, 11-5
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Mario Mercado (Colombia), 12-15, 15-12, 11-9

Men's Singles Final - Monday

Alejandro Landa (USA) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

Women's Singles Semi-finals - Sunday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-10, 15-1
Kelani Lawrence (USA) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-12, 15-7

Women's Singles Final - Monday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Kelani Lawrence (USA) - Noon

Men's Doubles Semi-finals - Sunday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA), 15-2, 15-13
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia)

Men's Doubles Final - Monday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 2 PM

Women's Doubles Semi-finals - Sunday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-4
Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 6-15, 15-9, 11-8

Women's Doubles Semi-finals - Monday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 4 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Mexico & USA in semi-finals of both Men’s & Women’s Doubles at 2021 IRF World Championships

Both the Mexican and USA teams are through to the semi-finals in both Men’s and Women’s Doubles at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Saturday. The Mexican teams were expected to be there, as both with the top seeds in their respective divisions.

In Men’s Doubles, Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico defeated Gabriel Garro and Felipe Segreda of Costa Rica, 15-5, 15-5, while in Women’s Doubles Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas beat Carla Muñoz and Paula Mansilla of Chile, 15-1, 15-4. In the semis, Mar and Montoya will play Americans Alejandro Landa and Charlie Pratt, who were winners over Ecuador’s Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-5, 15-5. Longoria and Salas face Guatemalans Maria Renee Rodriguez and Gabriela Martinez in the semi-finals, as the Guatemalans beat Maria Paz Muñoz and Ana Lucia Sarmiento of Ecuador, 15-0, 15-2 on Saturday.

The other women’s semi-final will be 2nd seeds Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez of Argentina against Americans Erika Manilla and Rhonda Rajsich. One of those four players is trying to defend her Women’s Doubles World Championship, and that’s Centellas, who is also the youngest of the four. She won three years ago when playing for her native Bolivia with Yasmine Sabja.

Centellas and Mendez reached the semis with a win over Canadians Frédérique Lambert and Alexis Iwaasa, 15-3, 15-4, while Manilla and Rajsich defeated Bolivians Angelica Barrios and Micaela Meneses, 15-10, 15-5.

The bottom of the men’s draw had the most interesting matches Saturday, as both quarterfinals went to a tie-breaker. In one, Bolivians Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso came back from a game down to defeat Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray, 9-15, 15-12, 11-4. The win was a bit of revenge for the Bolivians who lost in the group stage to Canada on Monday.

Bolivia will take on Colombia in the semi-finals on Sunday, as Colombians Andres Gomez and Mario Mercado held on to defeat the Argentine team of Diego Garcia and Shai Manzuri, 15-12, 11-15, 11-8. Colombia came from 11-6 down in game one to win it, 15-12.

Bolivia will be trying to get to their first Worlds Men’s Doubles final on Sunday, while Colombia is seeking its second title. Colombians Sebastian Franco and Alejandro Herrera won the first in 2014. In contrast, a Mexico win would be its 8th, while a USA win would be its 13th, but first since 2010.

Sunday will be a big day of racquetball in Guatemala, as the singles and doubles semi-finals will be played. The four singles semi-finals will be live streamed, along with three of the doubles semis. Check with the (IRF on Facebook for the stream schedule, and for replays of previous matches, including both the Bolivia-Canada and Colombia-Argentina Men’s Doubles matches from Saturday.

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

Men's Doubles Quarterfinals - Saturday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-5
Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) d. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-5

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 9-15, 15-12, 11-4
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-12, 11-15, 11-8

Men's Doubles Semi-finals - Sunday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) - 2 PM
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 4 PM

Women's Doubles  Quarterfinals - Saturday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile), 15-1, 15-4
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 15-0, 15-2

Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-5
Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-3, 15-4

Women's Doubles Semi-finals - Sunday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - 3 PM
Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Three Americans into singles semi-finals at 20th IRF World Championships

They’re down to the semi-finals at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and of the eight semi-finalists in Men’s and Women’s Singles, three of them are American with five other countries accounting for one each. To be fair there are three Bolivian born players and two Mexican born players among the eight semi-finalists.

Those Mexican born players are the top seeds Men’s and Women’s Singles, and both won their quarterfinal matches in two straight games. In Women’s Singles, Paola Longoria defeated long time doubles partner Samantha Salas, 15-13, 15-5, while, in Men’s Singles, Alejandro Landa - who now plays for the USA - beat Guatemalan Juan Jose Salvatierra, 15-8, 15-12.

Natalia Mendez of Argentina defeated the defending Women’s Singles World Campion Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 9-15, 15-10, 11-7, to book a showdown with Longoria in the semi-finals on Sunday.

In their tie-breaker, Martinez actually led early at 4-1, but then found herself behind as Mendez got seven unanswered points to lead 8-4. Martinez stopped the bleeding at that point by getting the serve back, and scored three points of her own to get within one at 8-7.

But that was as much as Martinez would get, as Mendez called a timeout, and then got the serve back on the ensuing rally. That was followed by three winners to take the breaker, 11-7, and the match in two out of three games.

The other semi-final features two Americans squaring off. One is the wily veteran Rhonda Rajsich, who beat Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-7, 15-1. The other is Kelani Lawrence, who defeated Bolivia’s Angelica Barrios, 15-13, 15-11. Lawrence was three points away from losing her match in the first round, but will be going home with at least a bronze medal.

But Lawrence isn’t the first World Championships medalist in her family, as her mother Malia Bailey (née Kamahoahoa) was in the semi-finals at the 1996 World Championships in Phoenix, Arizona, where she lost to Cheryl Gudinas. Lawrence will also have a chance to equal her mom in World Games medals, as she’s qualified for the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. Bailey was a silver medalist at the 1993 World Games in The Hague, Netherlands.

Men’s Singles

Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia will play Landa in the Men’s Singles semi-finals. Moscoso, the most recent winner on the (International Racquetball Federation, defeated Mexican Andrew Parrilla, 15-12-15-14. The games were close all the way with Parrilla holding game point in game two, leading 14-11. Yet Moscoso found a way to come back and win that game and the match in two straight games.

Second seed Andres Acuña of Costa Rica beat Ecuador’s Jose Daniel Ugalde in the quarters, 15-6, 15-2. Acuña will play Colombian Mario Mercado in the semi-finals, as Mercado defeated American Jake Bredenbeck, 15-13, 11-15, 11-4.

Bredenback had a late lead on Mercado in game one at 12-9. But Mercado was able to get out of that jam to win it 15-13.

It looked like that might happen again in game two, as Mercado came back from 9-4 to tie it at 9-9. Bredenbeck scored the next three points to lead 12-9. Then Mercado got two points of his own and was within one at 12-11. Yet he couldn’t close it, as Bredenbeck held on to win game two and force a tie-breaker. He did so with a drive serve ace to the right side for game point.

In the breaker, they were tied at 2-2 early in the game. But then Mercado got four straight points to lead 6-2. Bredenbeck then responded with two points of his own to get within two, making it 6-4. Then Mercado called timeout.

When play resumed, Mercado got the serve back with a backhand pinch shot off a drive serve to the left side. He followed that up with five straight points to go from 7-4 to 11-4, and reach his first ever podium finish at Worlds.

Afterwards, Mercado said he "cannot believe what is going on," but was "really excited" about it all. He also congratulated Bredenbeck on a good tournament saying the American is an "amazing player." Though Mercado's in disbelief, he also said "I'll be ready" for the semi-finals on Sunday.

Live streaming has begun! Check out the (IRF on Facebook for the live streaming feed.

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

Men's Singles Quarterfinals - Friday

Alejandro Landa (USA) d. Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-12
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Andree Parrilla (Mexico), 15-12, 15-14

Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Jake Bredenbeck (USA), 15-13, 11-15, 11-4
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-2

Men's Singles Semi-finals - Sunday

Alejandro Landa (USA) v. Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 9 AM
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 11 AM

Women's Singles Quarterfinals - Friday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Samantha Salas (Mexico), 15-13, 15-5
Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 9-15, 15-10, 11-7

Kelani Lawrence (USA) d. Angelica Barrios (Bolivia), 15-13, 15-11
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-1

Women's Singles Semi-finals - Sunday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 10 AM
Kelani Lawrence (USA) v. Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball....

Ecuador wins a close one as the doubles medal round begins at 20th IRF World Championships

No real surprises in the Men’s and Women’s Doubles on Thursday at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, as play in the medal round began. But there was one barn burner of a match in Men’s Doubles, made more exciting by having the home country involved. However, in the end it was Ecuador who carried the day, as Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador eked out a win over Edwin Galicia and Christen Wer of Guatemala, 15-14, 15-14. The win puts Ecuador up against Americans Alejandro Landa and Charlie Pratt in the quarters on Saturday. The USA beat Ecuador 11-10 in the group stage, so you know Ecuador will be looking to get revenge for that loss.

Live streaming is happening from Guatemala! Check with the (IRF on Facebook for streams, including a replay of that Ecuador-Guatemala barn burner.

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

Men's Doubles Round of 16 - Thursday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica) d. Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-3, 15-3

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-14
Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) - BYE

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea), 15-11, 15-4

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-5, 15-10
Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - BYE

Men's Doubles Quarterfinals - Saturday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica) - 4 PM
Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) v. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 4 PM

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 4 PM
Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 4 PM

Women's Doubles  Round of 16 - Thursday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. Katie Kenny & Antonia Neary (Ireland), 15-8, 15-13

Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) - BYE
Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE

Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) d. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 15-3, 15-8
Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Women's Doubles  Quarterfinals - Saturday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) - 4 PM
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - 4 PM

Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) - 4 PM
Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) - 4 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Rajsich upsets Vargas to reach quarters at 2021 IRF World Championships

Here at The Racquetball Blog we like to talk about wily veterans. Players who have been around for awhile, and although they are likely past their peak, they are still capable pulling out a big win. American Rhonda Rajsich may be the poster player for the wily veteran category, and she showed why - yet again - at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Thursday when the medal round began. Playing Women’s Singles, Rajsich came back from a game down to defeat 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, 5-15, 15-5, 11-10, in the Round of 16 to book a place in the quarterfinals on Friday and a chance at the podium.

Rajsich is a two time World Champion in Women’s Singles, and has been on the podium two other times. Friday she’ll try to make it five podiums when she takes on Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez, who was a winner over Colombian Cristina Amaya, 15-13, 15-10.

Rodriguez would surely love to get a medal on home soil, and she only had to play once Thursday, while Rajsich played twice, and both matches went to a tie-breaker. Before defeating Vargas, Rajsich played Merynanyelly Delagdo of the Dominican Republic, and had to come from a game down in that match as well, winning it 14-15, 15-3, 11-5.

So, Rajsich-Rodriguez is a toss up, and never discount a wily veteran in a toss up.

Also in Women’s Singles, top seed Paola Longoria of Mexico comfortably reached the quarters by beating Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-0, 15-1, in the Round of 16. She’ll play a familiar opponent in the quarterfinals Friday: Samantha Salas, who is Longoria’s doubles partner. Salas reached the quarters by defeating Canadian Michèle Morissette, 15-0, 15-2.

Also of note, American Kelani Lawrence was three points away from going out in the Round of 32, but will play in the quarterfinals Friday, as she came back to defeat Ireland’s Aisling Hickey, 7-15, 15-12, 11-5, in the 32s, and then beat Chilean Carla Muñoz in the Round of 16, 15-8, 15-13.

After winning game one, Hickey led the whole way in game two, holding leads at 8-3, 11-7 and 12-10. But Lawrence tied it at 12-12, and went on to win from there. Although Hickey got the first two points of the breaker, it was really all Lawrence, who went from 3-1 down to 10-3 up. Hickey got a couple points back before Lawrence finished it at 11-5.

Lawrence is one of three players - along with Rodriguez and Angelica Barrios of Bolivia - who are first time quarterfinalists at Worlds.

Men’s Singles

For the first time since 2008 the reigning Men’s Singles World Champion will not successfully defend his title, as current World Champion Mexican Rodrigo Montoya lost to American Jake Bredenbeck in the Round of 16, 15-10, 15-14. In the quarterfinals, Bredenbeck will take on Colombian Mario Mercado, who had to come back from a game down to defeat Juan Francisco Cueva of Ecuador, 14-15, 15-6, 11-2.

There will be mostly new men on the Men’s Singles podium, as seven of the eight quarterfinalists have not medaled in singles at Worlds before. That includes top seed Alejandro Landa of the USA, who defeated Argentina’s Shai Manzuri (another wily veteran, tho not wily enough on Thursday), 15-6, 15-9. Landa faces Juan Jose Salvatierra in the quarters, as Salvatierra won an all Guatemala match with team-mate Javier Martinez, 15-7, 12-15, 11-7, in the Round of 16.

Another team-mate battle in the 16s was won by Andres Acuña, who beat fellow Costa Rican Felipe Camacho, 15-5, 15-2. Acuña will play Ecuador’s Jose Daniel Ugalde in the quarters, as Ugalde defeated Luis Aguilar of Bolivia, 15-8, 15-9, in the 16s.

Finally, Andree Parrilla of Mexico beat Ramon De Leon of the Dominican Republic, 15-6, 15-4, and will play Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso in the quarters Friday as Moscoso defeated Diego Garcia of Argentina, 15-5, 15-3. Moscoso is the only quarterfinalist to have previously reached the podium at Worlds, doing it twice - in 2014 and 2016.

Live streaming has begun! Check out the (IRF on Facebook for the live streaming feed.

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

Men's Singles - Round of 32

Alejandro Landa (USA) - BYE
Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Francis Guillemette (Canada), 15-6, 15-2

Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-5, 15-9
Javier Martinez (Guatemala) d. Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-7, 15-2

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE
Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-2, 15-4

Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Lee Gunhee (South Korea), 15-6, 15-7
Andree Parrilla (Mexico) - BYE

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Lee Connell (Canada), 15-2, 15-4

Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-3, 15-11
Mario Mercado (Colombia) - BYE

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) - BYE
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Ken Cottrell (Ireland), 15-2, 15-1

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. Kim Mingyu (South Korea), 15-12, 15-14
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - BYE

Men's Singles Round of 16 - Thursday

Alejandro Landa (USA) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-6, 15-9
Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Javier Martinez (Guatemala), 15-7, 12-15, 11-7

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Diego Garcia (Argentina), 15-5, 15-3
Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 15-10, 15-14
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), 14-15, 15-6, 11-2

Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Luis Aguilar (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-9
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-2

Men's Singles Quarterfinals - Friday

Alejandro Landa (USA) v. Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) - Noon
Andree Parrilla (Mexico) v. Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - Noon

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. Mario Mercado (Colombia) - Noon
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - Noon

Women's Singles Round of 32 - Thursday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 15-8, 15-5

Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Michèle Morissette (Canada) - BYE

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Majella Haverty (Ireland), 15-3, 15-5

Lee Sumin (South Korea) d. Ayako Hanashi (Japan), 15-9, 15-4
Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE
Miceala Meneses (Bolivia) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-9, 15-1

Kelani Lawrence USA) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 7-15, 15-12, 11-5
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic), 14-15, 15-3, 11-5
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

Women's Singles Round of 16 - Thursday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-0, 15-1
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-0, 15-2

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-14
Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Lee Sumin (South Korea), 15-3, 15-3

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Miceala Meneses (Bolivia), 13-15, 15-7, 11-3
Kelani Lawrence USA) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-8, 15-13

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-13, 15-10
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 5-15, 15-5, 11-10

Women's Singles Quarterfinals - Friday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Samantha Salas (Mexico) - 1 PM
Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - 1 PM

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Kelani Lawrence USA) - 1 PM
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Singles draws for the 20th IRF World Championships

There will be two rounds of singles in the medal round Thursday at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The top two seeds in both Women’s and Men’s Singles are from four different countries, which might be a first for that. Paola Longoria of Mexico and Alejandro Landa of the USA are the top seeds in Women’s and Men’s Singles, respectively, while Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas and Costa Rica’s Andres Acuña are the respective 2nd seeds.

They all have byes in Round of 32 of medal play Thursday. But there are some interesting matches in the 32s, including a battle of two veterans Shai Manzuri from Argentina and Canada’s Francis Guillemette with the winner to face Landa in the Round of 16.

We wrote about how Mexican Rodrigo Montoya’s loss in the group stage of play to Acuña meant that he would be in an odd spot in the draw given he’s the defending Men’s Singles World Champion. Montoya will play Canadian Lee Connell - a never say die kind of player - in the 32s Thursday with the winner of the match to face American Jake Bredenbeck in the 16s.

In Women’s Singles, Colombia Cristina Amaya will take on home country favourite Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala in the Round of 16 (they both have byes in the 32s), and that should be a good match. Other potentially good matches in the 16s are American Kelani Lawrence against Chilean Carla Muñoz as well as Rhonda Rajsich versus 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas, although both of the Americans need to win a match in the 32s for those potential matches to happen.

Look for live streaming of medal round matches via the IRF website or their social media outlets (IRF on Facebook and @IRFRacquetball on Twitter) and YouTube.

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

Men's Singles

Alejandro Landa (USA) - BYE
Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Francis Guillemette (Canada) - 9 AM

Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile) - 9 AM
Javier Martinez (Guatemala) v. Eoin Tynan (Ireland) - 9 AM

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE
Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. Set Cubillos (Colombia) - 9 AM

Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. Lee Gunhee (South Korea) - 9 AM
Andree Parrilla (Mexico) - BYE

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Lee Connell (Canada) - 9 AM

Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) v. Rafael Gatica (Chile) - 9 AM
Mario Mercado (Bolivia) - BYE

Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) - BYE
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Ken Cottrell (Ireland) - 9 AM

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. Kim Mingyu (South Korea) - 9 AM
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - BYR

Women's Singles 

Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) v. Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) - 10 AM

Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Michèle Morissette (Canada) - BYE

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. Majella Haverty (Ireland) - 10 AM

Lee Sumin (South Korea) v. Ayako Hanashi (Japan) - 10 AM
Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE
Miceala Meneses (Bolivia) v. Juliette Parent (Canada) - 10 AM

Kelani Lawrence USA) v. Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - 10 AM
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM
Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

Doubles draws for the 20th IRF World Championships

The Men’s and Women’s Doubles draws are out for the medal round of the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. It’s a bit disappointing on the men’s side, as the teams that played each other on Monday in the group stage are favoured to meet again in the quarterfinals. That’s a bit boring, and also it can be tricky to beat the same team twice, when the teams are evenly matched, and three of the four Monday matches were close - two tie-breakers and a match where the difference was five points over two games.

Of course, with a relatively small number of teams, there can be some repetition in matches from group stage to medal stage, but for the higher seeded teams their first medal round match will likely be against the team they played on Monday. Moreover, some teams may play just three matches in Guatemala with two of those matches being against the same opponent.

Two quarters in Women’s Doubles will potentially be the same as in the group stage. Argentina's Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez may face Canada again, although Canadians Alexis Iwaasa and Frédérique Lambert will need to defeat Colombians Cristina Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme first to make that happen.

The top seeded Mexican team of Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas could have a replay with Chileans Carla Muñoz and Paula Mansilla in the quarters, although Chile needs to first get past Ireland’s Katie Kenny and Antonia Neary.

Look for some of the matches to be live streamed from Guatemala. 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 - Thursday

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica) v. Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland) - 4 PM

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Edwin Galicia & Christen Wer (Guatemala) - 4 PM
Alejandro Landa & Charlie Pratt (USA) - BYE

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea) - 4 PM

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile) - 4 PM
Diego Garcia & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - BYE

Women's Doubles  - Thursday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile) v. Katie Kenny & Antonia Neary (Ireland) - 5 PM

Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) - BYE
Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE

Frédérique Lambert & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) v. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) - 5 PM
Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

Doubles play concludes at the 2021 IRF World Championships

As on Tuesday, Wednesday held few surprises in the doubles competitions at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The closest match on a day that had no tie-breakers was between Ecuador and Ireland in Women’s Doubles, as the Ecuador team of Maria Paz Muñoz and Ana Lucia Sarmiento defeated Ireland’s Katie Kenny and Antonia Neary, 15-10, 15-11.

Ecuador finished 2nd in Group C with Bolivians Angelica Barrios and Micaela Meneses taking 1st place in the group sealed with a win over Colombians Cristina Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-7, 15-11, on Wednesday.

The Women’s Doubles match between Argentina’s Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez and Americans Rhonda Rajsich and Erika Manilla had the potential to be close, but in the end wasn’t very, as Argentina won 15-9, 15-6. The players did play close to each other, and Manilla probably isn’t on the Argentines Christmas card lists, as she and Centellas bumped each other on several occasions.

The doubles draws aren’t out yet, but we will have them for you here when they become available.

The live streaming has arrived in Guatemala, so the streaming of matches should begin sometime Thursday - the first day of 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) d. Gabriel Garro & Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-7

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) d. Lee Gunhee & Kim Mingyu (South Korea), 15-6, 15-6

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) d. Ken Cottrell & Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-3, 15-2

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) d. Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-3, 15-4

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE

Women's Doubles 

Group A

Monday

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 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) d. Carla Muñoz & Paula Mansilla (Chile), 15-3, 15-1

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) d. Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-9, 15-6

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 Kenny & Antonia Neary (Ireland), 15-12, 15-6

Tuesday

Angelica Barrios & Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. Katie Kenny & 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) d. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 15-7, 15-11
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Katie Kenny & Antonia Neary (Ireland), 15-10, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball....

Singles group play concludes at the 2021 IRF World Championships

There weren’t any big upsets on the last day of group play in the singles competitions at the 20th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. In Women’s Singles, Natalia Mendez of Argentina and Cristina Amaya of Colombia faced off with the winner taking Group D, and it went to Mendez by perhaps surprisingly comfortable margin, 15-6, 15-5.

In Group B of Men’s Singles, Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico, the defending Men’s Singles World Champion, won his match on Wednesday, defeating Shai Manzuri, 15-4, 15-9, but because he lost to Andres Acuña of Costa Rica on Monday, Montoya will finish second in the group, which means being the 13th seed for the draw (which could be put on either the top or the bottom of the draw). That placing is going to cause some issues, because either Montoya is going to go out earlier than expected for a defending champion, or he’s going to take someone out earlier than expected.

The singles draws aren’t out yet, but when they appear, we’ll be sure to post them here.

Finally, the live streaming equipment has arrived in Guatemala, so we expect that streaming will begin on Thursday. Check with the IRF website or their social media outlets (IRF on Facebook and @IRFRacquetball on Twitter) for updates on when the streaming will begin.

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) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-4

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) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-4, 15-9

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) d. Kim Mingyu (South Korea), 15-4, 15-2

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) d. Diego Garcia (Argentina), 15-11, 8-15, 11-6
Francis Guillemette (Canada) d. Eoin Tynan (Ireland), 15-5, 15-6

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) d. Lee Gunhee (South Korea), 15-5, 15-6
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Ken Cottrell (Ireland), 15-1, 15-4

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) d. Juan Jose Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-7
Lee Connell (Canada) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-11, 15-4

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) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile)
Javier Martinez (Guatemala) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 7-15, 15-7, 11-6

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) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-3

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) d. Lee Sumin (South Korea), 15-2, 15-0

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) d. Majella Haverty (Ireland), 15-1, 15-0
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-3, 15-2

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) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-6, 15-5
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-14, 15-0

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) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-6, 15-5
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Merynanyelly Delagdo (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-14

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) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 15-0, 15-0
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Ayako Hanashi (Japan), 15-5, 11-15, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball....