Day 2
New Orleans, LA, WPH Press, 1/14/23-
Super Saturday at the 2023 Mardi Gras featured the first WR48 LTE and the quarterfinals and semifinals of the fourth R48 Men’s Pro event of the 2022/23 Race 4 Eight season.
WR48
The WR48 was guaranteed a new champion in New Orleans, as none of the women entered in New Orleans had ever won a WR48 event. “This is a great opportunity for the ladies entered in New Orleans to become part of history and join Catriona, Martina, and Danielle as the only players to ever win a WR48 stop,” stated the WPH’s David Fink.
Clodagh Munroe kicked off her ESPN career with a flawless start, scoring the first ten points of her semifinal against top-seeded Ashley Ruiz enroute to taking a one-game lead.
Tied at seven in game two, Ruiz took control, pinning Munroe in the back left corner with punch fists, eventually evening the match.
The ladies were tied at 11 in the decider and a costly Ruiz error and two great serves from Munroe pushed Munroe into the final.
“Motivation brought me here,” stated Clodagh Munroe. “It was sad to leave my friends and family to play but if you don’t do it when you are younger you probably never will. I was kind of nervous coming in because I haven’t played Ashley before. I just went in there and focused from the start. Catriona Casey and Martina are both very strong inspirations to me.”
Aimee Tuohey aimed to further stake her claim as the top women’s player in the U.S. against Mikaila Esser in the bottom bracket WR48 semifinal. Tuohey built a big lead in game one and held off a late Esser rally to take a one-game lead.
Esser led 7-2 in game two and appeared to be on the verge of forcing a third, but Touhey powered her way back into the game, playing offense with her left and hitting drives with her right to eliminate the deficit and book her spot in Sunday’s final.
Semifinals
Munroe def Ruiz 15-3, 7-15, 15-11
Tuohey def Esser 15-8, 15-12
Final: Munroe vs. Tuohey (10:45 am CST)
R48
Quarterfinals
R48 #1 Lucho Cordova was aiming for his fourth final of the season and third title while defending his R48 Mardi Gras title. “Watching Lucho last summer, I predicted he would win at least three stops during the (2022/23) season,” stated WPH Executive Director Dave Vincent. “He already has won two with six stops remaining in the season.”
Cordova cruised in game one of his quarterfinal with Sam Esser, needing just 14 minutes to take a one-game lead. Esser found his game in game two, surging to an 11-2 lead with crack serves into the right side wall glass and precision kills. “No matter what the score, I am always just telling myself to just keep playing my game,” stated Lucho.
Lucho held Esser scoreless for the next nine minutes, cutting the deficit to 9-11. “I felt good because even though he was serving, I was not allowing him to score,” stated Lucho.
Esser would eventually lead 13-9 but would stall there, as Lucho scored the final four points of the match, including a sensational falling back, 32-foot kill to end the match.
In the second quarterfinal of the day, Diarmaid Nash faced teenage sensation Mark Doyle for the first time with a spot in the Mardi Gras semifinal at stake. Nash started slowly in game one, trailing 5-8 before streaking, taking the first game with a 10-2 run. Nash was in control throughout game two, passing Doyle for points and “picking” nearly all of Doyle’s best shots. “Doyle is very very good and he had an unbelievable win yesterday,” stated Nash. “Doyle and his partner beat us in the doubles last year so I had an idea what to expect. He got off to a lead in the first game so I had to make adjustments.”
Martin Mulkerrins was the most impressive quarterfinalist, routing Shorty Ruiz in two quick games that featured just two 10+ rallies. Mulkerrins consistently ended rallies in five shots or less, striking aces and first strike kills. “Martin really looks like Paul Brady in there, hitting with tons of power and ending rallies with serves, return of serves, and back wall kills.”
“My focus is on getting back to the final here and just appreciating this opportunity I have to play the tour,” stated Mulkerrins.
Leo Canales was seeking revenge on Danos Cordova after losing an 11-10 tiebreaker in their last matchup at the 2022 R48 Icebreaker. Canales dominated game one, allowing Danos to score just two points. “I told Daniel that he was miss-hitting everything so to just get intense,” stated Lucho coaching Danos between games.
Danos took control in game two, building a 14-10 lead and winning the fifteenth point, only to have Canales appeal the serve and have the call overturned. Canales tied the score at 14, but Danos was able to close out the game on his fourth attempt to force a third.
The tiebreaker was a nearly exact replica of game one, as Canales took a 6-0 lead and ran away with the game to advance to the semifinal.
“Amazing, it’s just what I wanted,” stated Canales after beating Danos. “It’s been tough, I had a tough match last and it feels really good to end on top. I was just thinking push and make it as hard as you can for him. I was trying to ride the side walls with ceiling balls and I did a good job of that today.”
Semifinals
Lucho Cordova baized the current national champion in the first game, leaving Nash on three points in a 12-minute flurry of kills.
Nash was able to slow Lucho down to some degree in the second, building an 8-5 lead. “I was getting tired in the second game and was thinking we were going to the tiebreaker,” stated Lucho. “He was doing to me what I usually do to my opponents.”
Lucho summoned the energy to win his twelfth consecutive R48 match and eleventh consecutive match in New Orleans.
“Me and Nash have had a rivalry because we’re the same age,” stated Lucho. “We played in the Worlds in the 15 and under and 19 and under and we each won one. This is one of those rivalries where you try even harder. I feel good, especially the first game. It tells me that if I’m fit, I can play well. In general, I’m just focused on the game.”
Mulkerrins continued his assault on New Orleans in his first trip to the R48 Mardi Gras, decimating Leo Canales, Jr. in a lopsided two-game bottom bracket semifinal. Mulkerrins overwhelmed the “Juarez Kid” with tremendous power, back wall kills, and power serves.
“I don’t think either of us really played our best,” stated Mukerrins. “It’s about getting the result and thankfully I’m through to the final and that was the plan.”
“Martin looks about as sharp as anyone can look going into a final,” stated the WPH’s Dave Vincent.
Quarterfinals
Lucho def Esser 15-4, 15-13
Nash def Doyle 15-10, 15-9
Canales, Jr. def Danos 15-2, 14-16, 15-2
Mulkerrins def Ruiz 15-5, 15-6
Semifinals
Lucho def Nash 15-3, 15-11
Mulkerrins def Canales, Jr. 15-2, 15-5
Final: Lucho vs. Mulkerrins (11:30 am CST)
Watch Sunday’s matches live on ESPN3 starting at 10 am CST
Follow the brackets the 2023 R48LTE/SR48 New Orleans Mardi Gras HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
Sunday January 15, 2023, WPH/ESPN Broadcast Schedule (All Times Local CST)
(10:00 to 13:30 Broadcast Window)
10:00 Men’s Pro 9th: Burgos vs Langmack or 5th Place: Esser vs D. Cordova TBD
10:45 Women’s Pro Singles: Clodagh Munroe vs Aimee Tuohey
11:30 Men’s Pro Singles: Martin Mulkerrins vs Luis Cordova
Watch LIVE on the WatchESPN App (ESPN+ and/or WatchESPN) More details at wphlive.tv
Brackets: HERE