WOR - Women's Round of 16 Results

The 2010 Racquetball Warehouse World Outdoor Racquetball Championships (WOR) began Wednesday in Huntington Beach, California and the top women's seeds won their first matches. Top seed Jackie Paraiso defeated Cathryn Mahoney, 15-3, 15-1, and second seed Rhonda Rajsich beat Courtney Chisholm (score unavailable).

The closest match of the day was between Angela Grisar and Jennifer Saunders, as it went tie-breaker with Grisar coming back from one game down to win 13-15, 15-9, 11-6. Outdoor experience may have played a role in the match, as Grisar won this event two years ago while Saunders is playing in her first outdoor event.

Next up for Grisar is Michelle Poage who defeated Veronica Sotomayor, 15-9, 15-9.

2010 Racquetball Warehouse World Outdoor Racquetball Championships
Huntington Beach, California

Women's Pro/Open Round of 16

Jacqueline Paraiso d. Cathryn Mahoney, 15-3, 15-1
Aubrey O'brien d. Devon Pimentelli, 15-7, 15-8

Angela Grisar d. Jennifer Saunders, 13-15, 15-9, 11-6
Michelle Poage d. Veronica Sotomayor, 15-9, 15-9

Keely Franks d. Michelle Key, 15-7, 15-10
Janel Tisinger d. Linda Scales, 15-5, 15-8

Aimee Ruiz d. Christie Noller, 15-11, 15-4
Rhonda Rajsich d. Courtney Chisholm

Quarter finals
Jacqueline Paraiso vs. Aubrey O'brien
Angela Grisar vs. Michelle Poage

Keely Franks vs. Janel Tisinger
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Aimee Ruiz

Follow the bouncing ball....

WOR's a comin' to Huntington Beach

The 2010 Racquetball Warehouse World Outdoor Racquetball Championships (WOR) begin Wednesday in Huntington Beach, California. With 326 players participating there are again more players participating this year than the year before, as there are over 40 more players than last year and almost 100 more than two years ago.

Last year's finalists are the top two seeds on the men's side, as Rocky Carson will try to defend his title with Alvaro Beltran as his chief competitor. Outdoor racquetball specialists Robert Sostre and Greg Solis are seeded 3rd and 4th, respectively.

Last year's women's winner, Paola Longoria, isn't in Huntington Beach this time, so Jackie Paraiso, runner up to Longoria last year, is the top seed with former champion Rhonda Rajsich seeded 2nd.

Of note on the women's side, Veronica Sotomayer is playing in her first competition since May 2009, as she took last year off of competition. She's up against Michelle Poage in the first round and playing doubles with Jennifer Saunders.

If Sotomayor and Saunders win their first match against Celeste Pafford and Mary Schoumaker they'll face Paraiso and Aimee Ruiz, who are seeded third as they were semi-finalists last year, losing to eventual winners Rajsich and Martha Mcdonald. Poage and Janel Tisinger were runners up last year and are seeded 2nd.

2010 Racquetball Warehouse World Outdoor Racquetball Championships
Huntington Beach, California

Men's Pro/Open Top 8 Seeds
1 Rocky Carson
2 Alvaro Beltran
3 Robert Sostre
4 Greg Solis
5 Charles Pratt
6 Shane Vanderson
7 Mike Orr
8 Josh Tucker

Women's Pro/Open Round of 16

Jacqueline Paraiso vs. Cathryn Mahoney
Devon Pimentelli vs. Aubrey O'brien

Angela Grisar vs. Jennifer Saunders
Veronica Sotomayor vs. Michelle Poage

Keely Franks vs. Michelle Key
Janel Tisinger vs. Linda Scales

Aimee Ruiz vs. Christie Noller
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Courtney Chisholm

Follow the bouncing ball....

C'est triste !

Philipe Lecompte of the Paris Racquetball Association (PRA) informed us that their club plans to convert its four racquetball courts to squash courts in the near future. He expects it to happen this summer.

Anyone who wants racquetball to grow internationally will be saddened by this news.

The courts are at the City Form location of the Forest Hill chain of athletic clubs, and are located in the Nanterre part of Ile de France just to the west of Paris. Forest Hill has multiple clubs around Paris including a club that was exclusively for squash also located in Nanterre. They are closing that other club and to accommodate the members there are changing the racquetball courts at City Form to squash courts.

The French Open has been held in Paris for many years and was part of the European Racquetball Federation (ERF) tournament schedule. It's unclear when that event will be held again.

The PRA is not giving up on racquetball and plans to lobby to get courts in another location, and we wish them the best with that effort.

But having had the pleasure of playing racquetball in Paris, we are depressed by this news.

Follow the bouncing ball....