Saturday, May 28, 2016

Green & Saunders are 2016 Canadian Racquetball Champions

Mike Green and Jennifer Saunders are the winningest players at the Canadian National Championships, and Saturday they both extended their career records by winning the 2016 Canadian Men's and Women's Open titles, respectively, in Burlington, Ontario. With the win, Green ties Sherman Greenfeld with 10 singles titles, which is the most open singles titles by a man or woman. Saunders now trails them by one, as she won her 9th title Saturday.

Green, at 42 and without the meniscus in his right knee, is still a world class player, because he can drive serve with the best of them. He showed that in Saturday's final against 2nd seed Tim Landeryou, as he served 11 aces or service winners in taking the match in two straight games, 15-6, 15-8.

Saunders had a more difficult time Saturday, as Michèle Morissette gave her all she could handle before Saunders won 15-10, 17-15. Saunders didn't trail in game one, but in game two, she found herself down 6-1.

Saunders came back and led 12-9, but Morissette got to 14 first, and had four chances to force a tie-breaker, but failed to do so, as Saunders came back from 14-12 to tie it at 14-14, then again at 15-15, and eventually won 17-15.

Racquetball Canada streamed matches via their Facebook page, and if you missed them, you can check out the action there.

These championships were the last opportunity for players to earn points that will get them spots on the Canadian National Team that will compete at the 2016 World Championships in Cali, Colombia in July. The team will be announced in the coming days.

2016 Racquetball Canada National Championships
May 23-28, Burlington, Ontario

Men's Open


Final

1) Mike Green d. 2) Tim Landeryou, 15-6, 15-8

3rd place

5) James Landeryou d. 6) Nicolas Bousquet, 10-15, 15-11, 11-3

Women's Open

1st Place

Jennifer Saunders d. Michèle Morissette, 15-10, 17-15

3rd Place

Alexis Iwaasa d. Danielle Drury, 18-16, 15-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

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