Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 7/16/22
The WPH held the first Icebreaker event of 2022 at Tucson’s Clark Park with a star-studded field that included four of the Race 4 Eight’s top six stars in the small ball singles and a strong contingent of big ball stars. Scorching temperatures necessitated a 6 am start for the Icebreaker competitors, as Tucson’s Clark Park opened its gates shortly after sunrise for Saturday’s play.
Men’s Small Ball Singles
Top-seeded Lucho Cordova was dominant en route to Sunday’s semifinals, convincingly defeating JAB (Bike) and Max Langmack. “I’ve been playing mostly Fronton (2-Wall) in Juarez,” stated Lucho. “I’m on one of the 15 a league Fronton teams in Juarez.”
San Fran’s Erik Torres made an Icebreaker breakthrough, surviving game point in both games against multiple-time Icebreaker semifinalist and R48 #5 Leo Canales, Jr.
Multiple-time Icebreaker finalist Shorty Ruiz overwhelmed SoCal’s former Icebreaker champion Dylan Hernandez in two games, keeping DHern off balance with power hop serves and fist ceilings.
R48 #6 Sam Esser authored the largest upset of the day, dropping game one against R48 #3 Danos Cordova and dominating the second and third games with a dazzling array of fly kills and power drives.
Quarterfinals
Lucho def Langmack 15-10, 15-2
Torres def Canales, Jr. 16-14, 16-14
Shorty def D. Hernandez 15-4, 15-9
Esser def Danos 2-15, 15-2, 15-6
Semifinals (Sunday)
Lucho vs. Torres
Shorty vs. Esser
Men’s Big Ball Singles
Top-seeded Brian Medina faced match point in his opening round match against Pasadena’s Eddie Flores and rallied from one game down in his quarterfinal match against Phoenix’s Alberto Tabares.
Shorty Ruiz and Lucho Cordova remained undefeated on the day, as both advanced to the big ball semifinals after advancing to the small ball semifinals two hours prior. Lucho defeated his small ball semifinal opponent Erik Torres in three games under the blazing desert sun, while Shorty overcame L.A.’s Christian Lopez in three games. “I was just tired in that third game,” stated Lopez, who served two balls out at crucial moments in the tiebreaker against Ruiz.
Second-seeded Alberto Pizano was the only big ball semifinalist to not drop a game en route to Sunday’s final four, dispatching Jonathan Castellanos and Danos Cordova.
Quarterfinals
Medina def Tabares 14-15, 15-7, 15-8
Shorty def C. Lopez 15-10, 11-15, 15-10
Lucho def Torres 9-15, 15-12, 15-8
Pizano def Danos 15-12, 15-9
Semifinals (Sunday)
Medina vs. Shorty
Lucho vs. Pizano
Sunday’s action promises to be sizzling, and not just because of the 100+ degree temperatures.
2020/21 Icebreaker Fun Facts HERE
Follow all of the results HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer