2021 LPRT Arizona Open - Preview

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will return to action this weekend at the 2021 Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona. For the second time in three months they’ll play Mixed Doubles with the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as the Arizona Open is both a LPRT and an IRT event.

Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, leads the Arizona field of 31 players, which is missing a couple of the top players in Montserrat Mejia (LPRT #5) and Samantha Salas (#7). But 16 of the top 18 players will be in Tempe.

Intriguingly, Longoria’s first match could be against the woman who had her on the ropes at the US Open last month in Erika Manilla. Manilla had an outstanding run at the Open, going from the qualifying rounds to the semis, and was playing well against the the 10 time defending US Open champion.

Then Longoria hit Manilla in late in game two, with Manilla up 10-8. Manilla didn’t score another point, as Longoria came back to win the match in two games and then win her 11th US Open with a decisive victory over Maria Jose Vargas in the final.

How Manilla plays this weekend after her wonderful US Open is of great interest. However, Manilla’s ranking was so low prior to US Open that her semi-final result hasn’t raised her into the top 20, let alone the top 10. She’s still just 21st, and is actually the slight underdog in her first match as Manilla is seeded 17th and plays fellow 16th seed and fellow American Sheryl Lotts in the Round of 32.

Rounding out the top seeds are LPRT #2 Vargas, #3 Alexandra Herrera and #4 Gabriela Martinez. Also, notable in the draw is Mexican veteran left-hander Susana Acosta, who is seeded 19th and will play 14th seed American Kelani Lawrence with the winner to likely face Herrera in the Round of 16.

Finally, Brenda Laime, who has upset the 2nd seeds in the Round of 16 in the last two LPRT tournaments (she beat Herrera at the US Open and Mejia in Colorado), won’t be able to do that this weekend, as she’s seeded 11th, rather than 15th. Laime faces 22nd Annie Roberts in the 32s, and if she wins that, she’ll play the winner of 6th seed Angelica Barrios and 27th seed Michelle De La Rosa.

The LPRT matches begin Friday morning with the Rounds of 32. The Round of 16 will be Friday afternoon at 4 and 5 PM with the quarterfinals Saturday morning at 10 and 11 AM. The semi-finals will be Saturday 3 and 4 PM with the final Sunday at 11:15 AM. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 12-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Sheryl Lotts v. 17) Erika Manilla - Noon

9) Rhonda Rajsich v. 24) Lexi York - Noon
8) Valeria Centellas v. 25) Naomi Ros - Noon

5) Natalia Mendez v. 28) Stephanie Synhorst - 9 AM
12) Carla Muñoz v. 21) Daniela Rico - 9 AM

13) Cristina Amaya v. 20) Maria Paz Riquelme - 9 AM
4) Gabriela Martinez v. 29) Carlee Jansz - 9 AM

3) Alexandra Herrera v. 30) Estefania Perez Picon - 10 AM
14) Kelani Lawrence v. 19) Susana Acosta - 10 AM

11) Brenda Laime v. 22) Annie Roberts - 10 AM
6) Angelica Barrios v. 27) Michelle De La Rosa - 10 AM

7) Jessica Parrilla v. 26) Aisling Hickey - 11 AM
10) Nancy Enriquez v. 23) Shane Diaz - 11 AM

15) Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 17) Erin Slutzky - 11 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 31) Andrea Perez Picon - 11 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk addresses his US Open withdrawal & complaints about the IRT

Kane Waselenchuk, the long time #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT),* was on Sudsy Monchik’s Beyond The Court podcast last month trying to explain his reasons for withdrawing from singles at the US Open prior to his semi-final match with Carlos Keller, despite the fact that Waselenchuk was the 12 time defending champion. His explanation was, well, not very concise. It seems that Waselenchuk feels disrespected by the IRT executive, and was made to feel uncomfortable at the US Open from some things members of the IRT executive did.

If you and Waselenchuk stepped on to an elevator, and you asked him to explain why he withdrew from the US Open, we don’t think he could do it by the time you reached your floor, even if you were going from the first floor of the Sears Tower to the top floor. Does that mean his grievance is unfounded or simply whining? No. Rather, it means it’s a long standing issue that has come to a breaking point for Waselenchuk in a “straw that broke the camel’s back” kind of way.

Waselenchuk feels the IRT hasn’t done enough for him, and that they have been antagonistic towards him recently. We certainly don’t feel that the IRT is blameless in this situation, even if only some of Waselenchuk’s claims are accurate.

But the IRT is in an awkward position as they are trying to be fair to all of their players (we all want competitions to be fair), but there is one player that people regularly cite as the “best ever” or the “Goat” (greatest of all time). That player is Waselenchuk. Shouldn’t the Goat get more than the rest? Doesn’t he deserve that?

On the one hand, it makes total sense for the Goat to get more. But on the other hand, if one player gets more than the others, then that seems unfair. Those are the hands the IRT has been dealt, and how to play them can be tricky, especially if the players involved are uncooperative.

For much of Waselenchuk’s career, he didn't seem to be interested in being putting himself out there or being the face of the IRT. Rather, he seemed to take a “just watch me” position, letting his on court performance speak for him. And it didn’t just speak. It shouted. And echoed.

After more than a decade and a half with that position, you can understand if the current IRT executive assumed Waselenchuk would be maintaining that position. To their credit, the IRT has done more lately to try to put their players’ stories out there by interviewing them post-match on the matches they have streamed on line. Such interviews were rare prior to the current IRT regime.

Waselenchuk gave one such interview following his quarterfinal win over Rocky Carson at the US Open, which put him into the semi-finals against Carlos Keller. After stating that he was proud and happy for Keller reaching the semis, Waselenchuk said “I won’t be so proud and so happy for him tomorrow when I play him.” Thus, there was no indication that Waselenchuk had any intention of withdrawing from the event prior to his match with Keller.

Comparison with Longoria

Late in the podcast, Waselenchuk brought up Paola Longoria, stating “her success has had no correlation to the success in the United States or North America in racquetball.” (1:18:55 into the podcast) Now, last time we checked Mexico, where Longoria hails from, was part of North America, and women’s racquetball in Mexico is doing really well. Moreover, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is stronger now than it ever has been (certainly stronger than it’s been in two decades). Some of the younger players have probably been inspired by Longoria, and want to follow in her footsteps.

Geography aside, it’s not completely clear what Waselenchuk’s point is in referencing Longoria, but comparing the two is like apples and oranges or, really, apples and firetrucks. Sure they’re both red, but that’s about as far as it goes. That is, Waselenchuk and Longoria are not in similar places. Longoria as a Mexican player has built a career not simply by winning on the LPRT, but also on playing for her country, and winning gold medals for Mexico.

To understand the significance of that know that Mexico has sent over 2100 athletes to the Summer Olympics and they have come back with 13 gold medals.** In contrast, Longoria has won 42 gold medals in her international career. Included in Longoria’s accomplishments are six World Championships (three in singles & three in doubles), as well as three each in Women’s Singles and Doubles and Women's Team events at the Pan American Games. In brief, she is a sports super star in a country that doesn’t have many such stars.

Waselenchuk spoke of winning World titles, but those are IRT season titles, not International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, and winning a pro event - even a US Open - isn’t the same as winning a World Championship. He hasn’t won any World Championships in singles or doubles; he did win two team titles. Rocky Carson has five World Championships in Men’s Singles. Waselenchuk has none.

Moreover, Longoria has over 282,000 followers on Twitter and over 348,000 on Instagram. Waselenchuk has 67 followers on Twitter (the @KingKaneRB Twitter account, which we believe had ~2,000 followers, is currently suspended for reasons unknown) and 2,546 on Instagram. That’s a stark contrast. And the LPRT didn’t do all the work to promote Longoria to that level of notoriety. She did it herself.

Summary

The Waselenchuk-IRT situation is ugly, which is why we’ve resisted writing about it for so long. But it’s also an important story, because he has been a great player. Would we have advised Waselenchuk to withdraw at the US Open as he did? No. It would have been better to play, win and then air his grievances.

There are issues - and strong wills - on both sides. Thus, there is no clear path to a resolution of their differences.

Athletes don’t often choose their exits from sport. Most often Father Time chooses for them. However, Waselenchuk may have chosen his exit. We only wish it was a happier one.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

* - Note - Waselenchuk is currently #2 behind Daniel De La Rosa following De La Rosa's three straight titles this season.

** - some of Mexico’s gold medals were in team events, so technically more than 13 Mexican athletes have got gold medals at the Summer Olympics, but they’ve only done so in 13 events.

Mar & Montoya, Longoria & Salas win Mexican Doubles event & Carson won't be going to Worlds

The top seeds won both Mens’ and Womens’ Doubles on the weekend at the 2021 Campeonato Nacional Selectivo Dobles - the Mexican national team doubles selection event in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, with Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya winning Mens’ Doubles and Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas winning Womens’ Doubles, so they earn spots to represent Mexico at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships later this year in Guatemala.

On the Mens’ side, Mar and Montoya needed a tie-breaker to defeat 2nd seeds Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa, 15-8, 9-15, 11-4, in the final. In the semi-finals, Mar and Montoya squeaked by 4th seeds Sebastian Hernandez and Erick Trujillo, 15-10, 14-15, 11-10, while Beltran and De La Rosa beat 3rd seeds Jordy Alonso and Erick Cuevas Fernandez in two straight games, 15-3, 15-10.

Hernandez and Trujillo won the 3rd place match by defeating Alonso and Cuevas Fernandez, 15-7, 11-15, 11-3.

In the Womens’ draw, Longoria and Salas also needed a tie-breaker to win the final, coming back to defeat 3rd seeds Jessica Parrilla and Montserrat Perez, 6-15, 15-13, 11-6. In the semis, Longoria and Salas beat 4th seeds Ximena Martinez and Daniela Rico, 15-7, 15-5, while Parrilla and Perez upset 2nd seeds Diana Aguilar and Alexandra Herrera, 15-8, 15-12.

Aguilar and Herrera beat Martinez and Rico, 15-6, 15-6, to take 3rd place.

Mexico had a singles championship in June, when Montoya and Longoria also came out on top. In those finals, Montoya beat Andree Parrilla and Longoria defeated doubles partner Salas. Thus, it seems that Montoya and Longoria double qualified for Worlds, so they could play both singles and doubles in Guatemala. The same goes for Salas, as a winner in doubles and runner up in singles.

Furthermore, this could mean that Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa do not go to Worlds. They are the reigning Mens’ Doubles World Champions, but it seems they won’t have a chance to defend that title. Also, De La Rosa, who seems like the best player on the International Racquetball Tour at the moment, won’t be at Worlds, which is surprising. Yet it highlights the depth of talent that Mexico has.

In years past, only the USA had such depth.

There were some notable absences from the weekend’s action. Specifically, Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo, who have often played doubles together - including at the last month’s US Open - as well as Alan Natera and, on the womens’ side, Montserrat Mejia.

Carson to miss Worlds

Rocky Carson announced on Facebook that he won’t be going to the IRF World Championships citing the possibility of contracting COVID-19, and the resulting quarantine needed before being allowed back into the USA. He’s been on Team USA at every World Championship since 2004, winning Mens’ Singles a record five times. Overall, Carson has gone to Worlds 10 times and made the podium every time.

At 42, this may have been Carson’s last chance to play at Worlds, although Ruben Gonzalez played at Worlds at age 50, so it’s possible Carson could make a future Worlds team, especially as the USA doesn’t have the depth of talent like it used to and Mexico has now.

Campeonato Nacional Selectivo Dobles 2021
San Luis Potosi, Mexico - October 27-31, 2021

Women's Open Doubles

Final

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 3) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez, 6-15, 15-13, 11-6

3rd Place

2) Diana Aguilar & Alexandra Herrera d. 4) Ximena Martinez & Daniela Rico, 15-6, 15-6

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 4) Ximena Martinez & Daniela Rico, 15-7, 15-5
3) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez d. 2) Diana Aguilar & Alexandra Herrera, 15-8, 15-12

Men's Open Doubles

Final

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa, 15-8, 9-15, 11-4

3rd Place

4) Sebastian Hernandez & Erick Trujillo d. 3) Jordy Alonso & Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-7, 11-15, 11-3

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Sebastian Hernandez & Erick Trujillo, 15-10, 14-15, 11-10
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 3) Jordy Alonso & Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-3, 15-10

Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Alejandro Bear & Juan Carlos Castillo, 15-12, 15-8
4) Sebastian Hernandez & Erick Trujillo d. 5) Diego Gastelum & Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-14, 15-3

3) Jordy Alonso & Erick Cuevas Fernandez d. 6) Emir Martinez & Carlos Alberto Ramierz, 15-5, 4-15, 11-6
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 10) Oscar Elias Nieto Valadez & Elias Nieto, 11-15, 15-8, 11-2

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
9) Alejandro Bear & Juan Carlos Castillo d. 8) Nicolas Galindo & Marco De La Cruz, 15-13, 15-12

5) Diego Gastelum & Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. - BYE
4) Sebastian Hernandez & Erick Trujillo - BYE

3) Jordy Alonso & Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE
6) Emir Martinez & Carlos Alberto Ramierz d. 11) Gerardo Huerta & Pedro Zesati, 15-6, 15-2

10) Oscar Elias Nieto Valadez & Elias Nieto d. 7) Carlos Bacmeister & Elias Nieto, 5-15, 15-7, 11-7
2) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….