Moscoso wins 2023 IRT Golden State Open

Conrrado Moscoso may not have finished as the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) this year, but he played like he did on Sunday in the final of the Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California, where he beat Daniel De La Rosa, 15-4, 15-3. De La Rosa will be the #1 player for the year, which is his 3rd straight #1 finish.

It was a dominant performance by Moscoso. Consider that De La Rosa served first in game one, and went up 3-0. Yet he only got three points over the rest of the match.

Number 1 and out

Speaking after the match, De La Rosa said “finishing #1 in the world means a lot to me,” but he announced that he won’t be playing the IRT full time next year, as he pursues another sport. De La Rosa never said the sport aloud, but it’s well known that he plays pickleball, so presumably that will be his main focus going forward.

De La Rosa added that “it’s tough to leave racquetball,” as “it’s been my whole life since I was 5 years old.” He said “I’ll be playing a couple events here and there,” suggesting he's not completely going away, but added “I’m going to miss you guys a lot,” so it’s unclear what his participation will be going forward.

Our big question is whether De La Rosa will try to qualify for Team USA. 2024 is an International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships year, so the USA will want to have its best players there, and De La Rosa just began competing for the USA this year. Is that going to continue?

Casting doubt on De La Rosa’s Team USA participation is the fact that Alejandro Landa, who has been his doubles partner the last couple years announced his IRT retirement yesterday.

The portable court reappears

The Golden State Open was made special this year with the use of the portable court that was created for the US Open with the funding help of Leo and Susan Klimaitis. It was last seen at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.

There was a suggestion that the court would be used again at next year’s Golden State Open, but no word on if it will be used for other events.

The 2024 IRT season will begin in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with the Lewis Drug Pro-Am, January 25-28, 2024. If you missed any of the Golden State Open action played out on the portable court, check out the IRT YouTube channel.

2023 IRT Golden State Open presented by JMB
Pleasanton, California - December 7-10, 2023

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

3) Conrrado Moscoso d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-4, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas wins singles, Herrera & Mejia doubles at 2023 LPRT Christmas Classic

Maria Jose Vargas, the #3 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), won the 31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic in Millersville, Maryland Sunday by defeating LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia, 15-11, 11-15, 11-3. It’s Vargas’s second consecutive win of the season, and leaves Mejia winless on the season.

However, Mejia did win doubles in Maryland, as she and Alexandra Herrera beat Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas, 15-10, 15-8. Herrera and Mejia were seeded 2nd and Longoria and Salas 1st, so both finals were won by the lower seeded side. Also as with Vargas, Herrera and Mejia’s win was their second consecutive LPRT title this season, and their third in a row going back to the end of last season.

The first game of the singles final was a serving fest, as both players hit multiple aces. They were close early, but Mejia took the lead in the mid-game, going up 11-6 with six of those points coming from ace drive serves. She had all the momentum and looked like she was going to win game one easily.

Yet, Mejia didn’t score another point, as Vargas got 9 unanswered points almost on consecutive rallies. Vargas only lost serve once in that stretch, but got it right back. Mejia called a timeout still leading at 11-9, and then another timeout down 13-11, but to no avail.

Indeed, after the second timeout, Vargas hit her fourth ace of the game, a drive serve to the left side. The game ended on the next rally, as Mejia skipped a backhand shot.

For most of game two, it looked like Vargas was going to win in two straight games, as she led early, 6-2, and even in the mid-game at 10-5 and 11-8. But Mejia kept at it, and tied the game at 11-11 prompting Vargas to call a timeout.

On the next rally, Vargas was assessed an avoidable, or penalty, hinder, which she appealed, but the line judges upheld the referee’s call. That put Mejia in the lead at 12-11 for the first time since 1-0. The last three points took nine rallies, but Mejia got them to force a tie-breaker.

Mejia may have had momentum going into the breaker, but that evaporated as Vargas stormed out to a 6-0 lead, helped by two aces and a service winner. Mejia called a timeout.

That didn’t stop Vargas, who got three more points to lead 9-0. Mejia called another timeout, which did lead to her first points. But she was only able to get three before Vargas closed it out at 11-3.

In the doubles final, Herrera and Mejia never trailed Longoria and Salas. In game one, they took a 4-0 lead, extended that to 7-2 and 10-6. Longoria and Salas called a timeout at that point.

When play resumed, Longoria and Salas got the serve back, and scored four points in a row to tie the game at 10-10. But a Longoria skipped forehand shot ended that run, and put Herrera and Mejia into the service box. They didn’t leave it, as they got the last five points without yielding the serve to win game one, 15-10.

In game two, Herrera and Mejia went up 3-0, and while Longoria and Salas got within one at 3-2 and 4-3, they never tied it, as Herrera and Mejia went up 9-3 and 13-4.

Longoria and Salas did get some points late in game two, so Herrera and Mejia called a timeout at 13-8. The next rally was a hinder, but they got the serve back on the second rally after their timeout, and proceeded to get the last two points to end the game, 15-8, and the match in two straight games.

The next LPRT events are the Arizona Open, January 12-14, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona, followed by the Boston Open in Marlborough, Massachusetts, March 1-3, 2024.

If you missed any of the 31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic action - and there were several great matches, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
Millersville, Maryland - December 8-10, 2023

Final - Sunday

3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 1) Montserrat Mejia, 15-11, 11-15, 11-3

Doubles - Final - Sunday

2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas, 15-10, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

No upsets at 2023 IRT Golden State Open as Mar & Montoya win doubles

No upsets on Saturday at the 2023 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California. The singles final on Sunday will be between IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa and #3 Conrrado Moscoso. Regardless of the outcome, De La Rosa will finish #1 for the 3rd straight year, as the #2 player - Jake Bredenbeck - lost in the quarterfinals.

Neither of the semi-finals were close. De La Rosa defeated IRT #4 Rodrigo Montoya, 15-8, 15-7, and Moscoso beat IRT #7 Eduardo Portillo, 15-6, 15-2.

Doubles

It was #1 versus #2 in the doubles final, as top seeds Javier Mar and Montoya defeated 2nd seeds De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa, 15-12, 15-10. Both games were close the whole way, including ties late: 12-12 in game one, and 11-11 in game two. (note: De La Rosa was assessd a technical late in game two for smashing his racquet into the floor, and that's how there could be an 11-11 tie, but a 15-10 final score).

Landa announced that it was his last match on tour. He retires at age 35, with 4 career IRT singles wins and 4 doubles wins (two with De La Rosa and one each with Sudsy Monchik and Samuel Murray). His singles wins put into a tie for 21st all time on the IRT and is second most for a Mexican born player after De La Rosa’s 12 wins.

”I’m happy with my decision,” Landa said, thanking the IRT and everyone who put on the Golden State Open. “This was my life,” he added, but now it’s time for other things.

The singles final will be at 11:45 AM Sunday. You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Pacific.

2023 IRT Golden State Open presented by JMB
Pleasanton, California - December 7-10, 2023

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 4) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-8, 15-7
3) Conrrado Moscoso d. 7) Eduardo Portillo, 15-6, 15-2

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 3) Conrrado Moscoso - 11:45 AM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-9, 15-6
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 6) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo, 8-15, 15-9, 11-6

IRT Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa, 15-12, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Two 11-10 tie-breakers in semi-finals at 2023 LPRT Christmas Classic

There were four semi-finals (2 singles & 2 doubles) Saturday at the 31st Annual Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic in Millersville, Maryland, and three of them needed tie-breakers with two finishing 11-10 in the breaker. Perhaps surprisingly, Paola Longoria was involved in both of those 11-10 matches.

In singles, she lost to Maria Jose Vargas, 13-15, 15-10, 11-10, in a battle of the LPRT’s #2 and #3 players, respectively. But Longoria was a winner in doubles with her longtime partner Samantha Salas, as they defeated a very resilient team of Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 15-7, 12-15, 11-10.

We call Lawrence and Scott resilient, because they were down 10-1 in game two, and came back to tie it at 12-12, and then push ahead to win 15-12, forcing a tie-breaker with Longoria and Salas. In that run, Lawrence - playing on the left side - was hitting backhand drive jam serves to the right that were coming over to Longoria on the left and she wasn’t comfortable taking them. Longoria and Salas actually switched sides at one point, so Salas could return that serve, which she did effectively.

The breaker was a see-saw game, as Longoria and Salas got the first two points, then Lawrence and Scott got the next four, to lead 4-2. The next eight points went to Longoria and Salas, who then led 10-4.

Lawrence and Scott fought off that match point, and then scored six straight points of their own from two Lawrence winners and four Scott winners to tie the score at 10-10. Longoria ended that run with a backhand cross court winner. The match ended when Scott hit Lawrence with a shot on the next rally.

Despite the loss, Lawrence and Scott showed that they are a “never quit” team by making big comebacks in both game two and three. They had one opportunity to serve for the match, so they could easily have won it.

Longoria showed some resilience of her own in the tie-breaker against Vargas, as she was down 5-1 and 10-6, yet came back to tie the game at 10-10. She fought off three match points to create the 10-10 tie before Vargas served up a drive serve ace to the left side that won her the game, 11-10, and match, 2-1.

In Sunday’s singles final, Vargas will play LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia, who broke 13th seed Cristina Amaya’s glass slipper, by winning their semi-final match 15-8, 15-3. It was Amaya’s first semi-final or better finish since March 2017, when she was in the New Jersey Open final. Moreover, it’s just Amaya’s 8th LPRT semi-final or better finish in her career.

Amaya reached the semis by upsetting 5th seed Gabriela Martinez, 4-15, 15-14, 11-5, in the quarterfinals Saturday morning.

Longoria and Salas, the top seeds, will play 2nd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Mejia in the doubles final Sunday, as Herrera and Mejia came back from a game down to defeat 6th seeds Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 13-15, 15-6, 11-7.

The singles final is noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. You can watch the action live from Maryland via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Eastern.

31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
Millersville, Maryland - December 8-10, 2023

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Montserrat Mejia d. 9) Samantha Salas, 15-2, 15-11
13) Cristina Amaya d. 5) Gabriela Martinez, 4-15, 15-14, 11-5

3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Alexandra Herrera, 15-3, 15-10
2) Paola Longoria d. 10) Kelani Lawrence, 15-4, 15-2

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Montserrat Mejia d. 13) Cristina Amaya, 15-8, 15-3
3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 2) Paola Longoria, 13-15, 15-10, 11-10

Final - Sunday

1) Montserrat Mejia v. 3) Maria Jose Vargas - Noon

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 15-7, 12-15, 11-10
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 13-15, 15-6, 11-7

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Amaya defeats Laime at 31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic

It’s the time of year for traditions, and perhaps the most traditional event on the pro racquetball calendar is the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic. The 31st LPRT Christmas Classic began Friday in Millersville, Maryland. Thirteenth seed Cristina Amaya got the first big upset of the tournament, as she defeated 4th seed Brenda Laime, 15-13, 15-14, in the Round of 16.

Amaya will play 5th seed Gabriela Martinez in the quarterfinals, as Martinez beat 12th seed Hollie Scott, 15-9, 15-12, in the 16s.

The top three seeds all won their respective Round of 16 matches in two straight games. LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia defeated 17th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-12, 15-3. LPRT #2 Paola Longoria beat 18th seed Naomi Ros, 15-1, 15-5, and LPRT #3 Maria Jose Vargas beat 14th seed Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-1.

Mejia will play 9th seed Samantha Salas in the quarterfinals, as Salas came back from a game down to upset 8th seed Carla Muñoz, 7-15, 15-9, 11-5.

There was one other upset in the 16s, as 10th Kelani Lawrence won over 7th seed Natalia Mendez by injury forfeit. Reportedly, Mendez hurt her ankle in training earlier in the week, so while she was in Maryland, Mendez wasn’t fit to compete. Lawrence will play Longoria in the quarters Saturday.

Mendez’s injury also meant that she and Vargas had to forfeit their doubles match against Martinez and Rodriguez.

Martinez and Rodriguez’s won over Mendez and Vargas was the only upset in the double quarterfinals, as Martinez and Rodriguez were the 6th seeds, and Mendez and Vargas 3rd seeds.

Play continues Saturday morning with the singles quarterfinals at 10 and 11 AM. The semi-finals will be Saturday at 4 and 5 PM and the final at noon on Sunday. The doubles semis will be 6 and 7 PM Saturday with the final at 1 PM Sunday. You can watch the action live from Maryland via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Eastern.

31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
Millersville, Maryland - December 8-10, 2023

Singles Round of 32 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
17) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 16) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-10, 15-4

9) Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE

5) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
12) Hollie Scott - BYE

13) Cristina Amaya - BYE
4) Brenda Laime- BYE

3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Maria Paz Riquelme d. 19) Chanis Leon, 15-7, 15-3

11) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
6) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

7) Natalia Mendez - BYE
10) Kelani Lawrence - BYE

18) Naomi Ros d. 15) Lexi York, 12-15, 15-10, 11-5
2) Paola Longoria - BYE

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia d. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-12, 15-3
9) Samantha Salas d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 7-15, 15-9, 11-5

5) Gabriela Martinez d. 12) Hollie Scott, 15-9, 15-12
13) Cristina Amaya d. 4) Brenda Laime, 15-13, 15-14

3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 14) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-1
6) Alexandra Herrera d. 11) Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-5

10) Kelani Lawrence d. 7) Natalia Mendez, injury forfeit
2) Paola Longoria d. 18) Naomi Ros, 15-1, 15-5

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Montserrat Mejia v. 9) Samantha Salas - 11 AM
5) Gabriela Martinez v. 13) Cristina Amaya - 11 AM

3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Alexandra Herrera - 10 AM
2) Paola Longoria v. 10) Kelani Lawrence - 10 AM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
9) Naomi Ros & Lexi York d. 8) Jessica Parrilla & Stephanie Synhorst, 15-7, 15-8

5) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence v. Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - BYE
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 9) Naomi Ros & Lexi York, 15-9, 15-1
4) Kelani Lawrence v. Hollie Scott d. 5) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz, 15-8, 15-14

6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, injury default
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-3

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4) Kelani Lawrence v. Hollie Scott - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Portillo upsets Bredenbeck at 2023 IRT Golden State Open

Another round, another big upset at the 2023 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California. This time it was 7th seed Eduardo Portillo defeating IRT #2 Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-13, in the quarterfinals. Bredenbeck’s loss, combined with IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa’s quarterfinal win over 8th seed Andrés Acuña, 11-15, 15-9, 11-8, mean that De La Rosa will finish #1 for the 3rd straight year.

In the other quarters, IRT #3 Conrrado Moscoso defeated IRT #6 Adam Manilla, 15-6, 15-11, and IRT #4 Rodrigo Montoya beat veteran Rocky Carson, 15-1, 15-13. Thus, the semi-finals will be De La Rosa versus Montoya and Moscoso versus Portillo.

The singles semi-finals will be Saturday at 2:45 and 3:30 PM with the final at 11:45 AM Sunday. The doubles semi-finals will be at 11 and 11:45 AM Saturday, and the final Saturday at 7:15 PM. You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Pacific.

2023 IRT Golden State Open presented by JMB
Pleasanton, California - December 7-10, 2023

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 8) Andrés Acuña, 11-15, 15-9, 11-8
4) Rodrigo Montoya d. 21) Rocky Carson, 15-1, 15-13

3) Conrrado Moscoso d. 6) Adam Manilla, 15-6, 15-11
7) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-13

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 4) Rodrigo Montoya - 3:30 PM
3) Conrrado Moscoso v. 7) Eduardo Portillo - 2:45 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 8) Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson - 7 PM
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 7 PM

3) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 6) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 8 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo - 8 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Carson into quarters at 2023 IRT Golden State Open

Chalk up another victory for a wily veteran, as Rocky Carson defeated 5th seed Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-9, in the Round of 16 at the 2023 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California on Friday. Carson, 44, has two IRT #1 finishes, and five International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in his illustrious career, and he’d surely like another IRT title.

It looked like Kane Waselenchuk, 42, the other wily veteran in the draw, would join Carson in the quarterfinals, as he took the first game from IRT #3 Conrrado Moscoso. But Moscoso came back to win the next two games by comfortable margins, to take the match in three games, 10-15, 15-4, 11-4.

Current IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa defeated 17th seed Sam Bredenbeck, 15-13, 15-5, and will play 8th seed Andrés Acuña in the quarters later today, as Acuña beat 9th seed Alan Natera, 15-6, 15-10.

Also, IRT #2 Jake Bredenbeck made short work of 15th seed Jaime Martell, winning 15-1, 15-4. Bredenbeck will play 7th seed Eduardo Portillo in the quarters. Portillo defeated 10th seed Alejandro Landa, 15-10, 15-3, in the Round of 16.

In the other quarterfinal matches, Moscoso will play American left-hander Adam Manilla, as the 6th seed defeated Thomas Carter, 15-14, 15-8, in the 16s, and Carson will play the winner of IRT #4 Rodrigo Montoya and 20th seed Juan Salvatierra.

The singles quarterfinals will begin at 3 PM Friday. The semi-finals will be Saturday at 2:45 and 3:30 PM with the final at 11:45 AM Sunday. The doubles quarterfinals will be Friday at 7 and 8 PM with the semi-finals at 11 and 11:45 AM Saturday, and the final Saturday at 7:15 PM. You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Pacific.

2023 IRT Golden State Open presented by JMB
Pleasanton, California - December 7-10, 2023

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 17) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-13, 15-5
8) Andrés Acuña d. 9) Alan Natera, 15-6, 15-10

21) Rocky Carson d. 5) Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-9
4) Rodrigo Montoya v. 20) Juan Salvatierra - Noon

3) Conrrado Moscoso d. 19) Kane Waselenchuk, 10-15, 15-4, 11-4
6) Adam Manilla d. 11) Thomas Carter, 15-14, 15-8

7) Eduardo Portillo d. 10) Alejandro Landa, 15-10, 15-3
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 15) Jaime Martell, 15-1, 15-4

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Andrés Acuña - 5 PM
4) Rodrigo Montoya or 20) Juan Salvatierra v. 21) Rocky Carson - 6 PM

3) Conrrado Moscoso v. 6) Adam Manilla - 3 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 7) Eduardo Portillo - 4 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 8) Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson - 7 PM
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 7 PM

3) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 6) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 8 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo - 8 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

First rounds at 2023 IRT Golden State Open presented by JMB

The 2023 Golden State Open presented by JMB - the last event of International Racquetball Tour’s (IRT’s) 2023 season - began Thursday in Pleasanton, California. There are three players who have a chance at finishing #1 this season. Daniel De La Rosa is #1, and he’s about 256 points ahead of #2 Jake Bredenbeck, who is about 110 points ahead of #3 Conrrado Moscoso.

De La Rosa has been #1 the last two seasons, while neither Bredenbeck or Moscoso have finished #1. If Bredenbeck does so, he’ll be the first US player to be #1 since Rocky Carson in 2017-18. If Moscoso manages to be #1, he’ll be the first South American player to be #1 on the IRT.

Both of the players who were #1 before De La Rosa: Carson and Kane Waselenchuk are in the draw this weekend. They both had to play a qualifying match - Round of 64 - prior to the main draw of 32, and both won those matches, as well as their matches in the 32s.

Carson defeated 12th seed Javier Mar, 15-10, 9-15, 11-4, and will play 5th seed Andree Parrilla in the Round of 16, as Parrilla beat Alejandro Cardona, 15-11, 15-4, in the 32s. Waselenchuk defeated 14th seed Erick Trujillo, 15-7, 15-7, and will play Moscoso in the 16s, as Moscoso beat Cole Sendrey, 15-7, 15-4, in the 16s.

The only other upset in the Round of 16 was in the 16/17 match, as 17th seed Sam Bredenbeck eked out a win over 16th seed Kadim Carrasco, 9-15, 15-5, 11-9, to set up a showdown with De La Rosa, who was a winner over 32nd seed Nicholas Riffel, 15-4, 15-3.

They are also playing doubles in Pleasanton this weekend, with Mar and Rodrigo Montoya as the top seeds. They won their first match against 16th seeds Israel Torres and Walter Ramos Jr., 15-7, 15-9, and will play the veteran team of Carson and Alvaro Beltran, who defeated 9th seeds Edwin Galicia and Juan Salvatierra, 15-9, 15-10, in the Round of 16.

Play continues Friday with the Round of 16 from 10 AM on. The quarterfinals will begin at 3 PM Friday. The semi-finals will be Saturday at 2:45 and 3:30 PM with the final at 11:45 AM Sunday. The doubles quarterfinals will be Friday at 7 and 8 PM with the semi-finals at 11 and 11:45 AM Saturday, and the final Saturday at 7:15 PM. You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Pacific.

2023 IRT Golden State Open presented by JMB
Pleasanton, California - December 7-10, 2023

IRT Singles - Round of 64 - Thursday

Q1: Sam Bredenbeck d. Brennen Jennings, 15-4, 15-6
Q16: Nicholas Riffel d. Andrés Gómez, 15-10, 15-8

Q9: Sebastian Alejandro Ruelas Reza d. Cody Elkins, 15-6, 15-2
Q8: Christian Sãnchez Rico d. Anthony Martin, 15-10, 10-15, 11-2

Q5: Rocky Carson d. Nathan Rykhus, 15-1, 15-5
Q12: Alejandro Cardona d. Edwin Galicia, 6-15, 15-14, 11-5

Q13: Wayne Antone d. Diego Gastelum, 15-13, 15-3
Q4: Juan Salvatierra d. Jack Goldberg, forfeit

Q3: Kane Waselenchuk d. Craig Clement Jr., 15-1, 15-1
Q14: Cole Sendrey d. John Wolfe, 15-1, 15-3

Q11: Diego Gatica d. Blase Zera, 15-2, 15-8
Q6: David Horn d. Rafael Gatica, 15-13, 15-12

Q7: Alan Flores d. Jim Douglas, 15-2, 15-4
Q10: Conrad Cole d. Axel Barojas, 15-2, 15-5

Q15: Bradly Rogers d. DJ Mendoza, 15-4, 15-2
QU2: Carlos Ramiez d. Clint Mehta, 15-11, 15-7

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 32) Nicholas Riffel, 15-4, 15-3
17) Sam Bredenbeck d. 16) Kadim Carrasco, 9-15, 15-5, 11-9

9) Alan Natera d. 24) Christian Sãnchez Rico, 15-5, 15-3
8) Andrés Acuña d. 25) Sebastian Alejandro Ruelas Reza, 15-5, 15-7

5) Andree Parrilla d. 28) Alejandro Cardona, 15-11, 15-4
21) Rocky Carson d. 12) Javier Mar, 15-10, 9-15, 11-4

20) Juan Salvatierra d. 13) Robert Collins, 15-14, 12-15, 11-6
4) Rodrigo Montoya d. 29) Wayne Antone, 15-3, 15-3

3) Conrrado Moscoso d. 30) Cole Sendrey, 15-7, 15-4
19) Kane Waselenchuk d. 14) Erick Trujillo, 15-7, 15-7

11) Thomas Carter d. 22) David Horn, 15-8, 15-10
6) Adam Manilla d. 27) Diego Gatica, 15-4, 15-1

7) Eduardo Portillo d. 26) Conrad Cole, 15-8, 15-7
10) Alejandro Landa d. 23) Alan Flores, 15-2, 15-9

15) Jaime Martell d. 18) Carlos Ramirez, 15-2, 15-7
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 31) Bradly Rogers, 15-1, 15-0

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 17) Sam Bredenbeck - Noon
8) Andrés Acuña v. 9) Alan Natera -11 AM

5) Andree Parrilla v. 21) Rocky Carson - Noon
4) Rodrigo Montoya v. 20) Juan Salvatierra - Noon

3) Conrrado Moscoso v. 19) Kane Waselenchuk - 10 AM
6) Adam Manilla v. 11) Thomas Carter - 10 AM

7) Eduardo Portillo v. 10) Alejandro Landa - 11 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 15) Jaime Martell - 11 AM

IRT Doubles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Israel Torres & Walter Ramos Jr. d. 17) Anthony Martin & Nicholas Riffel, 15-14, 15-14

9) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra - BYE
8) Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson - BYE

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
12) Thomas Carter & Bradly Rogers - BYE

13) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey - BYE
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

3) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla - BYE
14) Alejandro Cardona & Will Reynolds - BYE

11) Diego Gatica & Rafael Gatica - BYE
6) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - BYE

7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo - BYE
10) Carlos Ramirez & Cristhian Sãnchez Rico - BYE

15) Wayne Antone & David Horn d. 18) Clint Mehta & Greg Vezey, 15-7, 15-10
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Israel Torres & Walter Ramos Jr., 15-7, 15-9
8) Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson d. 9) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra, 15-9, 15-10

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 12) Thomas Carter & Bradly Rogers, 15-13, 15-0
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso d. 13) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 15-13, 15-12

3) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla d. 14) Alejandro Cardona & Will Reynolds, 15-7, 15-5
6) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo d. 11) Diego Gatica & Rafael Gatica, 15-3, 15-1

7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo d. 10) Carlos Ramirez & Cristhian Sãnchez Rico, 15-11, 15-3
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 15) Wayne Antone & David Horn d. 18) Clint Mehta & Greg Vezey, 15-13, 15-7

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 8) Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson - 7 PM
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 7 PM

3) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 6) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 8 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo - 8 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….