PARC - 2013 Pan American Championships - Semi-finals are set

The top four women's seeds reached the semi-finals at the 2013 Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia, with wins in the quarter finals on Thursday. Top seed Paola Longoria of Mexico and 2nd seed Rhonda Rajsich of the USA both won in two straight games, Longoria beat Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-4, 15-2 and Rajsich defeated Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-11.

However, the 3rd and 4th women's seeds both needed tie-breakers to win their quarter-final matches. Fourth seed American Sharon Jackson, playing in first international event, had a close match with veteran Angela Grisar of Chile, winning 15-12, 12-15, 11-9.

Third seed Samantha Salas of Mexico also had a narrow tie-breaker win over Bolivian Jenny Daza, 14-15, 15-1, 11-8.

On the men's side it was top seed Marco Rojas of the USA who needed a tie-breaker to advance, as Cesar Castillo of Venezuela forced Rojas to go the distance in order to win. Rojas pulled it out, 13-15, 15-6, 11-3.

Rojas will face Bolivian Felipe Mercado in the semi-finals, as Mercado defeated Argentine Shai Manzuri, 15-8, 15-8.

On the other side, Mexican veteran Polo Gutierrez will face off against Bolivian Carlos Keller in the semi-finals, as in the quarter-finals Gutierrez beat Felipe Camacho Martin (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-8 and Keller defeated Daniel Maggi (Argentina), 15-0, 15-0.

The International Racquetball Federation (IRF) is streaming matches live from Cali via its website.

2013 Pan American Championships
Cali, Colombia

Men's Singles - Quarter finals

Marco Rojas (USA) d. Cesar Castillo (Venezuela), 13-15, 15-6, 11-3
Felipe Mercado (Bolivia) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-8, 15-8

Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Felipe Camacho Martin (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-8
Carlo Keller (Bolivia) d. Daniel Maggi (Argentina), 15-0, 15-0

Men's Singles - Semi-finals

Marco Rojas (USA) v. Felipe Mercado (Bolivia)
Carlo Keller (Bolivia) v. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)

Women's Singles - Quarter finals

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-4, 15-2
Sharon Jackson (USA) d. Angela Grisar (Chile), 15-12, 12-15, 11-9

Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 14-15, 15-1, 11-8
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-11

Women's Singles - Semi-finals

Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Sharon Jackson (USA)
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Samantha Salas (Mexico)

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