16th IRF World Championships - Women's Results Day 1

The 16th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships began Saturday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and there are no big upsets on the women's side so far, and few surprises. Top seed American Rhonda Rajsich, who seeking her 3rd consecutive World Championship, won easily against Diana Maura (Panama), 15-1, 15-0. So did second seed Jennifer Saunders of Canada, a 15-3, 15-2 winner against Giulia Barboni of Panama.

Also winning were Mexican Paola Longoria, beating Lisa Lopezcepero (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-0, and Cheryl Gudinas of the USA, who Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-1, 15-2.

Perhaps the only surprise was Cristina Amaya of Colombia losing to Japan's Toshiko Sakamoto, 15-14, 8-15, 11-5, as Amaya was the 8th ranked player on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization last season.

Play continues Sunday and there is live streaming of the event via the IRF website. The men's and women's singles and doubles competitions will conclude on Tuesday. Then there will be an off day before the team competition begins on Thursday and that will conclude next Saturday.

16th IRF World Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Women's Singles - Round of 32

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Diana Maura (Panama), 15-1, 15-0
Cristina Cordova (Ecuador) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-13, 15-8

Angela Grisar (Chile) d. Maria Rene Roriguez (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-0
Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-14, 8-15, 11-5

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Lisa Lopezcepero (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-0
Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic), 15-14, 15-6

Jung Eun Ane (South Korea) d. Sofia Soley Saborio (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-11
Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Canada) d. Véronique Guillemette (Argentina), 11-5, 15-11, 11-8

Cheryl Gudinas (USA) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-1, 15-2
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-7

Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Marie Gomar (Guatemala), 15-13, 15-2
Naomi Wikimoto (Japan) d. Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-11, 15-10

Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) d. Anna Maldonado (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-6
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Yira Portes (Dominican Republic), 15-1, 15-3

Melanie Sauma Masis (Costa Rica) d. Malhee Kwon (South Korea), 15-13, 15-7
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Giulia Barboni (Panama), 15-3, 15-2

Women's Singles - Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cristina Cordova (Ecuador)
Angela Grisar (Chile) v. Toshiko Sakamoto (Japan)

Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Canada) v. Jung Eun Anh (South Korea)

Cheryl Gudinas (USA) v. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador)
Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Naomi Wikimoto (Japan)

Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) v. Carola Loma (Bolivia)
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Melanie Sauma Masis (Costa Rica)

Women's Singles - Round of 64

Diana Maura (Panama) d. Rebeca Tristan (Catalunya), 15-2, 15-3
Giulia Barboni (Panama) d. Natalia Corti (Argentina), 15-2, 15-8

Women's Doubles - Round of 16

Aimee Ruiz & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Dian Maura & Giulia Barboni (Panama), 15-2, 15-0
Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Mariana Paredes & Vivianna Reveron (Venezuela), 15-4, 15-9

Maiko Satoh & Etsuko Noda (Japan) d. Maria Montaro & Delgado Marinangely (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-1
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Anna Maldonado & Lisa Lopezcepero (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-1

Josée Grand'Maître & Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Véronique Guillemette & Natalie Corti (Argentina), 15-5, 15-0
Carola Loma & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Naomi Sasso Kessler & Deborah Kessler Payne (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-1

Malhee Kwon & Mi Ok An (South Korea) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 10-15, 15-14, 11-7
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (MEX) d. Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-3, 15-2

Women's Doubles - Quarter finals

Aimee Ruiz & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador)
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Maiko Satoh & Etsuko Noda (Japan)

Josée Grand'Maître & Frédérique Lambert (Canada) v. Carola Loma & Jenny Daza (Bolivia)
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (MEX) v. Malhee Kwon & Mi Ok An (South Korea)

Follow the bouncing ball....