Team competition quarterfinals at the 2023 Pan American Games

There was one surprise in the Women’s Team quarterfinals Wednesday at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, as the USA defeated Bolivia in two straight matches. The surprise came in Michelle Key (USA) knocking off Bolivia’s Angélica Barrios, 11-5, 4-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, in the first game of their quarterfinal. Barrios is a top 10 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), while Key is generally seen a doubles specialist, so it was surprising for her to beat Barrios.

American Erika Manilla completed the win by defeating Bolivian Yazmine Sabja, 11-7, 11-4, 11-3.

The USA will play Mexico in the semi-finals later on Wednesday, as Mexico defeated Canada in two straight matches. Canadian Frédérique Lambert almost forced a third match with Mexico, as she pushed Paola Longoria to a fifth game in their singles match. But in the end Longoria - who won gold in Women’s Singles yesterday - prevailed 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 10-12, 11-3.

On the other side of the women’s draw, Argentina beat the Dominican Republic in two straight matches. Maria José Vargas defeated Maria Cespedes, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4, and Natalia Mendez beat Merynanyelly Delgado, 11-0, 11-9, 11-3.

In the only women’s match to go to a deciding third match, the Independent Athletes defeated Costa Rica 2-1. Costa Rica won the first singles match, as Maricruz Ortiz defeated Maria Renee Rodriguez, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, but Gabriela Martinez won the second singles match against Jimena Gomez, 11-2, 11-1, 11-2. Thus, they played doubles to decide who would advance to the semi-finals, and Martinez and Rodriguez beat Gomez and Ortiz, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.

All four of the Men’s Team quarterfinals were over in two straight matches. Mexican Eduardo Portillo beat Juan José Salvatierra (Independent Athletes), 11-5, 11-6, 11-9, and his team-mate Rodrigo Montoya defeated Edwin Galicia, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8.

Mexico will play Canada in the semi-finals, as Canada defeated Costa Rica in the quarters. Coby Iwaasa came back from 2-1 down against Andrés Acuña, who had beaten him in the Men’s Singles draw, to win in five games, 8-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9, 11-6. Samuel Murray closed out the quarter by beating Gabriel Garcia, 11-6, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5.

On the other side of the draw, Bolivia beat Argentina two straight. Bolivian Carlos Keller defeated Argentine Fernando Kurzbard, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, and then Conrrado Mosoco beat Diego Garcia, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8.

Bolivia will play the USA in the semi-finals. In the quarters, American Adam Manilla defeated Ecuadoran José Daniel Ugalde, 11-6, 11-4, 4-11, 11-4, and Daniel De La Rosa beat Juan Francisco Cueva, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6.

The semi-finals of the team competition will have the #2 singles players playing first, and then the doubles team, and then the #1 singles players, if necessary.

2023 Pan American Games - Santiago, Chile
Note: all times are Chilean time, which is one hour earlier than Eastern time in North America.

Men’s Team - Quarterfinals - Wednesday

1) Mexico d. 8) Independent Athletes, 2-0
4) Canada d. 5) Costa Rica, 2-0

3) USA v. 6) Ecuador, 2-0
2) Bolivia d. 7) Argentina, 2-0

Men’s Team - Semi-finals - Wednesday

1) Mexico v. 4) Canada - 4 PM
2) Bolivia v. 3) USA - 4 PM

Women’s Team - Quarterfinals - Wednesday

1) Mexico d. 9) Canada, 2-0
5) USA d. 4) Bolivia, 2-0

3) Independent Athletes d. 6) Costa Rica, 2-1
2) Argentina d. 10) Dominican Republic, 2-0

Women’s Team - Semi-finals - Wednesday

1) Mexico v. 5) USA - 4 PM
2) Argentina v. 3) Independent Athletes - 4 PM

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