Contenders to Dethrone Rhonda Rajsich at the US Open

Article by the US OPEN Media Staff.

As a four-time overall and two-time defending US OPEN Champion, Rhonda Rajsich is the undoubted favorite this week in Minneapolis. She claimed the year-end No. 1 ranking for the 2010-11 Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season and started the current season with an opening tournament victory in Dallas. However, the contenders to dethrone Rhonda sit much closer than those to King Kane.

Seeded No. 2 is the 2008 US OPEN Champion Paola Longoria. She is the youngest US OPEN winner in the record books and has formed a friendly rivaly with Rhonda as the two have swapped the top two places in the rankings the past few years. Longoria is looking to get back on top of the WPRO, and would there be a better place to do so than at the US OPEN?

Mexico’s Samantha Salas has been moving up through the WPRO rankings to her current position of No. 3. At the WPRO season opener in Dallas, she reached her first career final before falling to Rajsich in four games. Samantha’s experience as the sport’s top level has increased, including a Doubles Championship at the 2010 IRF World Championships. Will that added experience lend to a run deep in the draw here at the Target Center?

Former US OPEN Champions Cheryl Gudinas (2002 & 2004) and Kerri Wachtel (2001) are also in the draw and won’t let the new younger generation advance without putting up a fight. Wachtel reached a final in Seattle last year and the semifinals in New Orleans. Gudinas made the semifinals in six of the last seven events she has played in. Cheryl also reached the final of the National Singles Championships in May.

Please attribute this article to the US OPEN Media Staff.