Day 2
Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 11/4/23
R48 Men’s Pro
After a thrilling Friday that started with thirty-eight players, with a record twenty-five currently ranked pros and an additional seven pris that were formerly ranked, the R48 Men’s Pro Memorial field was cut to eight. To illustrate the depth of the thirty-eight player field, last season’s two first-time finalists were bounced on Friday, as 2023 R48LTE RFC finlist (April) Max Langmack was dropped in two games by NorCal’s supremely talented Erik Torres and 2023 Aces Player’s Championship finalist (May) Leo Canales, Jr. was blitzed by former R48 #5 and LAFC’s Vic Perez.
Quarterfinals
Lucho Cordova faced Sam Esser for the fifth time in a Race 4 Eight quarterfinal in 2023 (New Orleans, Tucson, Salt Lake City, Portland) in the day’s opening match. Lucho was in control in game one, playing confidently and executing a high percentage of his opportunities. Esser gained control of the match in game two, building an 11-4 lead and seemingly on the verge of forcing a third game. Just as Lucho did in New Orleans and Salt Lake City earlier this year, Lucho took over the match, scoring eleven of the final twelve points of the match to advance. “One of these days I’ll beat him,” lamented Esser after the match.
Despite both playing in virtually every Race 4 Eight and Icebreaker stop since 2020, Danos Cordova and David Fink matched up for the first time since splitting matches in early 2020 (2020 Red Death, 2020 RFC) in the second quarterfinal of the day. Danos was dominant in game one, giving Fink very few opportunities and running away with a lopsided game. Fink extended the rallies in game two, forcing Danos into the back court and converting offensive chances in the left corner. “Dave really changed the game in the second and forced me to hit a lot of ceilings,” stated Danos.
After dropping game two 13-15, Danos took control in the tiebreaker, erasing a 3-4 deficit and surge to a 15-7 win on the strength of power hop serves and fly kills.
Sean Lenning faced Vic Perez in a rematch of their 2023 R48 Red Death round of 16 match that saw Perez rally from a one-game deficit to beat Lenning in both Perez’s and Lenning’s first Race 4 Eight starts in several seasons. Just as Lenning had done in Montana earlier this year, he dominated game one in less than ten minutes. The tour’s most consistent player started to apply pressure, pushing Lenning side to side to frustrate and tire out “The Freak.” Lenning wilted in the second and third games, sending Perez to his first Race 4 Eight semifinal since the 2020 R48 Red Death.
Martin Mulkerrins faced Tucson’s Ivan Burgos (by way of Mexico and Canada) in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive Race 4 Eight event (Portland). Unlike their previous encounter in Portland that was never competitive, Burgos asserted his game from the outset, never allowing Mulkerrins to take big leads or gain traction. In a match that had the entire club buzzing, the superstars dazzled the crowd with outrageous power and retrieves. “This is just unbelievable the way these guys are playing,” barked ESPN color analyst and SR48 Memorial finalist Kyle English.
Mulkerrins was able to overcome his younger counterpart in two games, advancing to his second semifinal of the season.
Semifinals
The upper bracket semifinals was a rematch of Portland’s upper bracket semifinal, with brothers Lucho and Danos battling for a spot in the final. Danos had not reached a Race 4 Eight final since the 2020 R48 RFC, while Lucho was aiming for his second final in as many events. The brothers unquestionably played the match of the year and one of the best matches in Race 4 Eight history, taking the crowd through the whole range of emotions, often in the same rally.
Danos took a one-game lead, crushing shoulder height kills off of Lucho lasers and defending many of Lucho’s best serves and drives. Lucho was in complete control in game two, quickly forcing a third.
Very little separated the brothers in the third, with many rallies featuring multiple dives and incredible rally-ending kills. Lucho built a lead late in the third game, eventually leading 13-10. Lucho would serve for the match at 14-13 and earned the shot he wanted, a right-hand setup from the short line. Shockingly, Lucho flubbed what would have been the match-ender, giving Danos life. Danos took advantage, becoming just the twenty-eighth player in the history of the Race 4 Eight to face match point and win. “My brother was really hustling, diving sometimes four times in a rally,” stated Danos. “He definitely was not giving me anything.”
Martin Mulkerrins played Vic Perez for the second consecutive tournament, with Martin defeating Vic in a tiebreaker in their round of 16 clash at October’s Portland Classic. Martin started well in the bottom bracket semifinal against Vic, building a 6-1 lead in the first. Perez remained composed, tying the score with Martin and playing close throughout the rest of the first game. A Mulkerrins surge at 11-10 separated the R48 #2 from Perez, allowing him to take a one-game lead. Perez took his first lead of the match at 7-6 in the second, but with the score tied at eight, Mulkerrins ran the table in two minutes, scoring six consecutive points to advance to the Memorial final for the second consecutive year.
“Fantastic (to win it), we went to a tiebreaker three weeks ago,” stated Mulkerrins. “In fairness he played a tiebreaker against my brother yesterday. Those long matches take a toll on your body. It could have gone either way in there. I thought I played quite well in Portland so I wanted to keep that going here. I felt I was far too passive against Ivan (in the quarterfinals). The semis was up a notch from earlier. Vic’s crack serves today were phenomenal, he must have hit seven aces. Daniel played fantastic earlier. I’m looking forward to the final tomorrow.”
Quarterfinals
Lucho def Esser 15-6, 15-12
Danos def Fink 15-3, 13-15, 15-7
Perez def Lenning 2-15, 15-6, 15-4
Mulkerrins def Burgos 15-13, 15-11
Semifinals
Danos def Lucho 15-12, 3-15, 16-14
Mulkerrins def V. Perez 15-12, 15-9
Final (Sunday): Mulkerrins vs. Danos 11:15 am PST
WR48
Catriona Casey was completely dominant in her sprint to the final, holding Mikaila Esser to just three points. “I told Mikaila to try to be more aggressive against Catriona but that’s very hard to do against Catriona,” stated Mikaila’s husband Sam Esser.
“I just love coming to this tournament,” stated Catriona. “The community is so welcoming. I took a little time off but I’m been practicing quite a bit in the last four or five weeks and building confidence.”
Eilise McCrory played perfect handball against Tucson’s Ashley Ruiz in the first game, serving aces down the left and right and hitting sensational kills. With Ruiz trailing 2-10 in the second, Ruiz came alive, striking tomahawk kills and fly kills to cut the deficit to three. McCrory was able to weather the storm, regaining control and closing out the match.
“I was trying to keep Ashley out of the front court because she’s dangerous there,” stated McCrory, who arrived in Tucson more than a week ago to train on the courts and visit the Grand Canyon.
Semifinals
Casey def Esser 15-1, 15-2
McCrory def Ruiz 15-1, 15-8
Final (Sunday): Casey vs. McCrory 10:30 am PST
SR48
SR48 #1 David Fink was pushed in the upper bracket semifinal in a rematch of last year’s Memorial upper bracket semifinal against California’s Alex Garcia. “Alex had a great power and two-wall serve and that was giving me a lot of problems,” Fink would later say.
Kyle English earned his first victory against SR48 #2 Kyle English in the bottom bracket semifinal after losing three matches to Mehilos last spring. The trimmed and fitter English was able to retrieve more balls and have more stamina to become just the fourth different SR48 finalist since 2018.
“Go to the gym and carry around a thirty-five pound dumbbell then put it down, that’s what it’s like losing the weight,” stated English. “Bill is such a tough player with tons of experience. Our matches are always close.”
Semifinals
Fink vs. Garcia 15-5, 15-8
English def Mehilos 15-9, 15-12
Final (Sunday): Fink vs. English 9:45 am PST
Memorial Presentation
The Memorial tradition of honoring those who we have lost continued in between the R48 Men’s semifinals, with the WPH paying tribute to Charles Wicker and Dr. Jim Westerman, two of the most beloved figures in Tucson handball over the past four decades. Charles and Dr. Westerman made profound impacts on the Tucson handball community and the WPH was honored to celebrate the great memories and contributions both men made to the sport.
2023 Tucson Memorial Broadcast Schedule on ESPN: Sunday, November 5, 10 am-1:30 pm PST
Follow the draws and results from the 2023 Race 4 Eight Tucson Memorial HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer