Saturday, October 23, 2010 - UnitedHealthcare US OPEN

The Daily Racquet
S U P E R S AT U R D AY
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Established 1996
Volume 15, Issue 4
In Play Saturday...
October 23, 2010
Play the Pro Challenge
for St. Jude
LIFE TIME FITNESS - Target Center
1:00 p.m.
WPRO & IRT Semifinals #2
Ticket Session #7
LIFE TIME FITNESS - Target Center
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
PARTY WITH
THE PROS
OFFICIAL
AFTER PARTY!
Bar 508
508 1st Avenue
Across the street from EPIC
Midnight - 2:00 a.m.
US OPEN
MEDIA STAFF
Media Manager
Jeff Oliver
Media Coordinator
Leo Vasquez
Contact Us...
media@usopenracquetball.com
After missing most of the 2009-10 IRT Season due
to a knee injury, Alvaro Beltran has returned to the court
in full force. The most recent evidence: A Round of 16 win
over IRT #2 Rocky Carson here in Minneapolis. In his first
event back on the tour last April, Alvaro reached the semifinals in his hometown of Tijuania, Mexico.
But it was Ben Croft who defeated Alvaro in that
semifinal, and in three straight games. Ben was two points
away from going home yesterday when Mitch Williams dove
and suffered a shoulder injury. Alvaro has already gone
the deepest in the main draw for a qualifier. Both players
though are looking for a bigger prize: a spot in the finals
and a chance at their first US OPEN title.
The two most decorated US OPEN Women’s Champions face off today in the semifinals for the right to play
for their record fourth US OPEN trophy.
Christie has returned to the WPRO Tour after putting her playing career on hold to start a family. In her first
event back in Dallas in August she reached the semifinals.
While Christie was away, Rhonda held her position as one
of the top female players in the game, including winning
the US OPEN a year ago.
Rhonda wants a shot at Paola and the world’s top
ranking. Christie seems to win big events after being away
from the game for a bit. The men’s draw has been littered
with upsets this year. Time for an upset for the women?
Prediction: Ben Croft in Five
Prediction: Rhonda Rajsich in Five
VS
VS
SAMANTHA
EPIC Nightclub
110 North 5th Street
One Block East of
Target Center
8:45 p.m. - Midnight
More Details on Page 2
WPRO Semifinal #1
10:00 A.M. - Stadium Court
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Christie Huczek
JACK
RHONDA
IRT Semifinal #1
11:00 A.M. - Stadium Court
Alvaro Beltran vs. Ben Croft
PAOLA
WPRO & IRT Semifinals #1
Ticket Session #6
LIFE TIME FITNESS - Target Center
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
VS
CHRISTIE
VS
BEN
USAR Amateur Matches
LIFE TIME FITNESS Locations
Target Center
St. Louis Park
Minneapolis Athletic Club 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
ALVARO
Registration
LIFE TIME FITNESS - Target Center
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
KANE
IRT Semifinal #2
3:00 P.M. - Stadium Court
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Jack Huczek
WPRO Semifinal #2
3:00 P.M. - Stadium Court
Paola Longoria vs. Samantha Salas Solis
Kane Waselenchuck was almost perfect against
Andy Hawthorne in the quarterfinals. Perfection though
is something Kane is getting used to. Since January 2009
he has won 73 consecutive matches on the IRT. That span
includes 219 games won and only 12 dropped! Simply put:
Kane Waselenchuck is playing racquetball at a level the
sport has never seen before.
If Jack Huczek has any advantage, it is that at 40
matches, he has played Kane more than any other player on
tour. Huczek has only triumphed in five of those matches.
Jack took a game from Kane in San Deigo, but when we’re
counting single games - and not matches - that King Kane
is dropping, that shows his domination.
Samantha Salas Solis has made a quick climb up
the WPRO rankings after a highly successful junior career.
Samantha won the Junior Worlds in 2004 and was the
Mexican national champion in 2005 & 2007. But guess
who came behind her and won those exact same titles? Her
opponent in today’s semifinal: WPRO #1 and former US
OPEN Champion Paola Longoria.
On the heels of rumors she has inked a sponsorship
deal with Nike, Paola is looking to make a statement as one
of the worlds best athletes, not just racquetball player.
Longoria and Salas Solis have met twice already
this season with Paola winning both match-ups without
dropping a game. Paola will make it three for three today.
Prediction: Kane Waselenchuck in Three
Prediction: Paola Longoria in Four
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Established 1996
Volume 15, Issue 4
A HUGE thank you to the crew keeping the
LIFE TIME FITNESS club clean for all of us!
Marco Rojas gives everything he
has against Kane Waselenchuk.
Jack Huczek is into another US OPEN
semifinal. Is this his year for the title?
Andy Hawthorne might be the
best diver on the IRT Tour.
Rhonda Rajsich reaches out on her quest
for her fourth US OPEN Championship.
Ben Croft gets some air to clear the
way for Mitch Williams’ shot.
The group who attended the Ladies Night Out
party last night. Who are the guys though?
You can try to hit it behind
Kane Waselenchuk, but good luck!
CPRT: Racquetball’s Icons Square Off For US OPEN Glory
The men in the Classic Professional Racquetball Tour (40+ Division) have reached the
Quarterfinals at the 2010 US OPEN. Here is a preview of Saturday’s Matches:
Wood y Cl ou se vs. Mike Ray
11:00 A.M. - TARGET CENTER
The reigning US OPEN CPRT Champion is looking to
repeat, but in his way is Racquetball Hall of Famer Mike
Ray. Woody is currently the top ranked player on the
CPRT, while Mike offers one of the best forehands in the
game. Be entertained by this battle of southpaws.
Dale Valentine is a US National Champion many times
over and a former US OPEN Champion in the Men’s 30+
Division. He finished 2nd at the CPRT Doubles Division at
the 2010 World Outdoor Championships. His opponent
will be Jeff Bell, the current Arizona state champion.
J im m y Lowe vs . Lou i s Vog e l
D ou g Gan i m vs . B rad McCu n n i f f
Jimmy Lowe captured the US OPEN CPRT Championship in
2008. An multiple USA Racquetball National Age-Group
champion, Jimmy dominates the Open Draw at tournaments up and down the West Coast. The Phoenixian
Louis reached the semis of the CPRT Nationals in April.
Ranked 5th on the CPRT, Doug Ganim reached the semis
of the CPRT Nationals in Las Vegas. Brad - the Iowan hopes to reach the semis of the US OPEN CPRT division
for the second consecutive year. But so is Doug - the
Ohio native. Who will win this Midwestern battle?
11:00 A.M. - TARGET CENTER
Woody Clouse: Defending US OPEN
CPRT Champion
Jef f B ell vs. Dale Valent i ne
12:00 P.M. - TARGET CENTER
11:00 A.M. - TARGET CENTER
St. Jude Silent Auction
Place your bids for these exciting items
in the Players Village:
Air Force One & Presidential Memorabilia
3M Cigar Box
Kraken Spiced Rum
Wilson Golf Clubs
Pro Penn Tennis Balls
Crown Royal Gift Pack
Plus Much, Much More!
Every dollar from each winning bid will
be donated directly to St. Jude.
F O L LO W T H E U S O P E N O N FAC E B O O K & T W I T T E R :
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / U S O p e n R a c q u e t b a l l
w w w. t w i t t e r. c o m / u s o p e n r b