Montoya upsets De La Rosa in Round of 16 at US Open

Rodrigo Montoya defeated defending US Open champion Daniel De La Rosa, 10-15, 15-14, 11-9, in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Round 16 at the 2022 US Open at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The win almost guarantees a new man will be IRT US Open champion. Almost, because 2007 champion Rocky Carson is still alive in the draw, as he came back from a game down to defeat Adam Manilla, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5.

In the quarterfinals on Friday, Montoya will play Jake Bredenbeck, who was a winner over Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-12, and Carson will play IRT #2 Andree Parrilla, who beat Eduardo Garay, 15-9, 15-8.

The Montoya-De La Rosa tie-breaker started slowly. There were 11 sideouts at 1-1. De La Rosa broke the tie, and went up 5-1. He maintained that lead through 7-3 and 9-6 at which point Montoya called a timeout.

Montoya hit a great backhand pinch shot to get the serve back when play resumed, but then committed a penalty hinder as he moved forward as De La Rosa was swinging and was unintentionally hit by De La Rosa.

But Montoya got the serve back with another backhand winner, and then got four points on as many rallies. After the first three, which tied the game at 9-9, De La Rosa called a timeout. He’d gifted Montoya his 8th and 9th points with two skipped shots.

After the timeout, De La Rosa skipped another shot to put Montoya on match point at 10-9. A hinder was called at the point, though it seemed like a penalty hinder might have been called on Montoya. De La Rosa hit a forehand winner on the next rally so maybe the ball knew better.

De La Rosa’s joy was short lived though, as Montoya hit a backhand pinch winner on the next rally, and get his 3rd match point. That was enough, as De La Rosa tried to force a forehand shot that skipped. It wasn’t even clear what shot De La Rosa was attempting to hit.

The IRT singles quarterfinals start at 4:10 PM on Friday. The semi-finals will be Saturday afternoon at 2:10 and 3:10 PM with the final Sunday at 1:10 PM.

The IRT comeback of the day was Samuel Murray’s win over Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-3, 11-8, as Murray was down 7-0 in the tie-breaker, but still managed to pull out the victory.

You can watch the US Open IRT action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the IRT YouTube channels or their Facebook page.

2022 US Open - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
September 28-October 2, 2022

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday

16) Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa, 10-15, 15-14, 11-9
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 9) Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-12

5) Alejandro Landa d. 12) Andés Acuña, 15-8, 15-9
4) Eduardo Portillo d. 13) Carlos Keller, 15-12, 15-13

3) Samuel Murray d. Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-3, 11-8
6) Conrrado Moscoso d. Diego Garcia, 15-9, 15-6

7) Rocky Carson d. 10) Adam Manilla, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5
2) Andree Parrilla d. 15) Eduardo Garay, 15-9, 15-8

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

8) Jake Bredenbeck v. 16) Rodrigo Montoya - 9:10 PM
4) Eduardo Portillo v. 5) Alejandro Landa - 4:10 PM

3) Samuel Murray v. 6) Conrrado Moscoso - 5:10 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Rocky Carson - 8:10 PM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla v. 9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada, 15-12, 15-6

5) Andés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo d. 12) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon, 15-2, 15-5
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. 13) Alejandro Cardona & Robert Collins, forfeit

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla d. 14) Jordan Barth & John Goth, 15-7, 15-6
6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay d. 11) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer, 15-11, 15-12

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 10) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller, 15-10, 15-5
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 15) Charles Rankin & Paul Saraceno, 15-2, 15-6

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla - 1:10 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Andés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 10:10 AM

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay - 11:10 AM
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 12:10 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…..