Canadian National Racquetball Championships underway in Brossard, Quebec

The 2012 Canadian National Racquetball Championships began Monday in Brossard, Quebec, and the defending doubles champions - Mike Green and Kris Odegard in men's open and Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître in women's open - are off to a good start, as they won their first matches comfortably on Monday.

Saunders and Grand'Maître defeated the junior team of Danielle Drury and Michèle Morissette, 15-1, 15-7. Morissette is Canada's top junior having won both U16 and U18 girls titles at last month's Junior National Championship, and Drury will partner with her at the Junior World Championships later this year in Los Angeles.

But playing against 7 time national champions is not like playing other juniors.

Saunders and Grand'Maître will face 2010 champions Brandi Jacobson Prentice and Frédérique Lambert in the final Tuesday, as they were winners over Brigitte Richard and Christine Richardson in the other semi-final, 17-15, 15-12.

Green and Odegard also faced the top Canadian junior in men's action, as they were up against Coby Iwaasa, who was the U16 and U18 boys champion at this year's Junior Nationals. Iwaasa was playing with Kurtis Cullen, who was last year's U18 boys champion. But the veterans carried the day with little problem, winning 15-2, 15-3.

There was an upset in the quarter finals on the men's side, however, as 5th seeds Eric Desrochers and Pedro Castro defeated the 4th seeded brother team of James and Tim Landeryou, 15-9, 11-15, 11-5. Desrochers and Castro will face Greed and Odegard in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

The other semi-final will be a battle between 2nd seeds Corey Osborne and Francis Guillemette and 3rd seeds François Viens and  Vincent Gagnon.

The 2012 Canadian National Racquetball Championships continue through the week at the Nautilus Plus club in Brossard. The doubles finals will be Tuesday evening with the singles competition beginning on Wednesday and concluding on Saturday.

2012  Canadian National Racquetball Championships
Brossard, Quebec 


Results Summary


Men's Open Doubles  


Round of 16 

Mike Green  & Kris Odegard  BYE
Coby Iwaasa  & Kurtis Cullen d. Joshua Keil & Lee Connell, 13-15, 15-13, 12-10
Eric Desrochers & Pedro Castro d. Tanner Mattson & Anthony Schonberger, 15-0, 15-2
James Landeryou &  Tim Landeryou d. Nicolas Bousquet & Mathieu Grand'Maître, 15-13, 15-6

Vincent Gagnon  & Francois Viens d. Greg Holland & Steve Scagnetti, 15-4, 15-7
Barret Husulak & Nathaniel Husulak d. Hugo Laprise & Sébastian Juteau, 14-16, 15-5, 12-10
Ashton Duda & Conrad Cole d. Alain Lavigne & Patrick Jauvin, 15-8, 15-8
Corey Osborne  & Francis Guillemette   d. Jean-Philippe Morin & Samuel Murray, 15-6, 15-6

Quarter finals

Mike Green & Kris Odegard d. Coby Iwaasa & Kurtis Cullen, 15-2, 15-3
Eric Desrochers  & Pedro Castro d. James Landeryou &  Tim Landeryou, 15-9, 11-15, 11-5

Vincent Gagnon  & Francois Viens d. Barret Husulak & Nathaniel Husulak, 15-4, 15-7
Corey Osborne  & Francis Guillemette d. Ashton Duda & Conrad Cole, 15-7, 15-5

Semi-finals

Mike Green & Kris Odegard  v. Eric Desrochers  & Pedro Castro
Corey Osborne & Francis Guillemette  v. Vincent Gagnon & Francois Viens

Women's   Open Doubles 


Quarter finals 

Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître  BYE
Danielle Drury & Michèle Morissette d. Valerie Fallu & Nadia Verilli, 15-9, 15-6
Brigitte Richard  & Christine Richardson  d. Zoe Hanson  & Brittany Nelson, 15-5, 15-7
Brandi Jacobson Prentice & Frederique Lambert  d. Julie Dechene & Murielle Boivin, 15-6, 15-5

Semi-finals 

Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître d. Danielle Drury  & Michèle Morissette, 15-1, 15-7
Brandi Jacobson Prentice & Frederique Lambert d. Brigitte Richard & Christine Richardson, 17-15, 15-12

Final - Tuesday 

Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître v. Brandi Jacobson Prentice &  Frederique Lambert

Follow the bouncing ball….