Saturday, October 8, 2011

Waselenchuk & Carson to face off in US Open final

Three time defending champion Kane Waselenchuk can make it four times on Sunday as he'll be in the final of the US Open Racquetball Championships again after defeating Jose Rojas in the semi-finals, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3. It was another dominating performance by Waselenchuk, who hasn't lost a US Open match since 2002.

After dropping the first two games, Rojas actually tied Waselenchuk at 3-3 in the third using some high lobs into the back right corner - the backhand side of the leftie Waselenchuk. But the champ closed the door after that by continuing to use a combination of drive serves on first serve and backhand Z lob serves to the right on second serve, and didn't allow his young opponent another point.

Waselenchuk's opponent will be second seed Rocky Carson, who won his semi-final match against Chris Crowther, 11-1, 11-8, 11-5. Carson, the #2 ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), will play in his fourth US Open final on Sunday, and his first since 2008.

Carson won the first game comfortably, but game two was tight, as he and Crowther were tied at 4-4, 7-7, and 8-8. Crowther led at 8-7, but he couldn't close it out.

Crowther led again early in game three at 4-1, but Carson came back to lead 5-4 and didn't look back as he won game three, 11-5, taking the match in three straight games.

Carson hasn't dropped a game in Minneapolis this year, giving up only 3.75 point per game.

Three time defending champion Kane Waselenchuk plays Jose Rojas in the other semi-final later on Saturday.

The final can be viewed via the IRT Network on Sunday.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Semi finals (Saturday)

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3
Rocky Carson d. Chris Crowther, 11-1, 11-8, 11-5

IRT Finals (Sunday)

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Rocky Carson 1 PM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

No comments: