Surprise results in first rounds of 2023 Longhorn Open

The two top seeds in qualifying both lost their first matches at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Longhorn Open in Austin, Texas Friday morning. Robert Collins, IRT #22, lost to Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-9, 9-15, 11-5, and IRT #24 Erick Cuevas Fernandez, was beaten by Jose Carlos Ramos, 15-10, 15-11. Ramos is ranked #137 and Miranda is unranked, so these are surprise wins.

Both Ramos and Miranda had to win yesterday to play today, so when they play in the Round of 32 this afternoon, it will be their third matches of the tournament. Miranda will take on 16th seed Erick Trujillo, while Ramos faces 15th seed Javier Mar.

Some of the other matches in the 32s should also be interesting, as two 10th seed Andrés Acuña plays Diego Garcia, lefty Thomas Carter faces Sam Bredenbeck, Eduardo Garay is up against Jaime Martell, and Sebastian Fernandez plays Alan Natera, who needed a tie-breaker to advance, holding on to defeat Elias Nieto, 15-6, 11-15, 11-3, Friday morning.

You can see some of the Longhorn Open action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The Round of 32 begins Friday morning with the Round of 16 Friday night from 7:25 PM. The quarterfinals will be Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM and 2:45 PM with the semi-finals at 7:35 PM and 8:35 PM. The final is Sunday at noon. The doubles competition begins Friday afternoon at 4:15 and 5:25. All times Central.

2023 IRT Longhorn Open
January 5-8, 2023 - Austin, Texas

Men’s Singles

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Robert Collins - BYE
Gerson Miranda Martinez d. Josue Perdomo, 15-3, 15-3

Cole Cendrey - BYE
Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr - BYE

Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
Diego Gastelum - BYE

Elias Nieto d. Scott McClellan, 15-10, 15-7
Alan Natera - BYE

Jaime Martell - BYE
Carlos Ramirez d. Diego Romano, 11-15, 15-8, 11-6

Anthony Martin - BYE
Mauricio Zelada - BYE

Diego Garcia - BYE
Alejandro Cardona - BYE

Jose Carlos Ramos d. Eridson Lopez, 15-0, 15-2
Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE

Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday / Friday

Q1: Gerson Miranda Martinez d. Robert Collins, 15-9, 9-15, 11-5
Q8: Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr d. Cole Cendrey, 15-10, 15-2

Q5: Sam Bredenbeck d. Diego Gastelum, 15-12, 15-8
Q4: Alan Natera d. Elias Nieto, 15-6, 11-15, 11-3

Q3: Jaime Martell d. Carlos Ramirez, 15-1, 15-4
Q6: Anthony Martin d. Mauricio Zelada, forfeit

Q7: Diego Garcia d. Alejandro Cardona, 15-14, 15-10
Q2: Jose Carlos Ramos d. Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-10, 15-11

Round of 32 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
16) Erick Trujillo v. Gerson Miranda Martinez - 1:50 PM

9) Adam Manilla v. Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr - 11:25 AM
8) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE

5) Alejandro Landa - BYE
12) Thomas Carter v. Sam Bredenbeck - 11:20 AM

13) Sebastian Fernandez v. Alan Natera - 1:50 PM
4) Eduardo Portillo - BYE

3) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
14) Eduardo Garay v. Jaime Martell - 1:50 PM

11) Sebastian Franco v. Anthony Martin - 11:35 AM
6) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

7) Mario Mercado - BYE
10) Andrés Acuña v. Diego Garcia - 10:35 AM

15) Javier Mar v. Jose Carlos Ramos - 1:50 PM
2) Andree Parrilla - BYE

Men’s Doubles

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
8) Thomas Carter & Andree Parrilla v. 9) Robert Collins & Mauricio Zelada - 4:15 PM

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 12) Diego Garcia & Gerson Miranda Martinez - 4:15 PM
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Sebastian Fernandez v. 13) Eridson Lopez & Josue Perdomo - 4:15 PM

3) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo v. 14) Elias Nieto & Jose Carlos Ramos - 5:25
6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay v. 11) Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. - 5:25 PM

7) Adam Manilla & Mario Mercado v. 10) Alejandro Cardona & Erick Cuevas Fernandez - 5:25 PM
2) Alejandro Landa & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….