2007 US OPEN - WPRO Final
November 18th, 2007 by Adam Katz
This one was billed as Rhonda’s Athleticism versus Cheryl’s Focus and this one definitely lived up to all the hype.
Cheryl came out strong shooting extremely well and Rhonda seemed to come out a little slower, but her great athletic talent kept her right there with her. Both players traded side outs early in the first game trading serves at 1-1 and 2-2 for several serves. Rhonda then started to click and built her lead to 5-2 before Cheryl could regain the all important serve. However, once back in the service box Rhonda would go on the run that would get her to the brink of the first game. Cheryl would fight back to 6, but would go no further as Rhonda closed out the first game and gave a quick fist pump.
In the second game, Rhonda started to catch fire as she jumped to a 4-1 lead. Cheryl is a true champion and she wasn’t about to give this one away, so it surprised nobody in the house when she closed the score to 4-5. Rhonda could sense the momentum changing and as she stepped into the service box, she took a quick, deep breath to get ready for the moment. It certainly worked as she went on a run to 9-4 playing her usual aggressive style. Cheryl as able to add one more point before the end, but Rhonda looked to be on a mission and she finished the second game 11-5 for the 2 game lead.
The third game would prove to be a great test of both players’ nerves. Rhonda was clearly fired up and was looking to go for the kill and the sweep. As such, she sprinted to a 3-0 lead. Cheryl came into the service box and hit one of the best drive serves to the right side that I’ve seen in a while and totally sent Rhonda the wrong way. That brought big momentum back to Cheryl, and she used it to tie the game at 3. They would then go point for point right up to the pivotal moment of the match. Rhonda serving 7-6, good rally, Rhonda set up on the side wall glass both p layers playing very close. Rhonda hit Cheryl on her backswing and continued to hit a very close pinch shot. The referee called the shot good instead of calling the avoidable. Also, something happened to Rhonda at that moment. I cannot tell you exactly what that was, she either hit Cheryl’s body, Cheryl’s racquet, the side wall, or her own racquet with her nose. Any way you look at it, she was seriously bloodied and needed an injury timeout. When all was said and done Cheryl was serving and Rhonda was not happy. Cheryl used that to her advantage and strung together some very tough shots to grab the third game 11-8.
The crowd was starting the sense that this one might go five, but Rhonda had other ideas. Cheryl did manage to take a 2-0 lead, but Rhonda wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away that easily. She came into the box and built her own 4-2 lead. Both ladies could somehow feel that this game probably meant the title and Cheryl used that knowledge to come back for a 7-4 lead. Once again, Rhonda refused to give in. The crowd could clearly see that she was hurting, but she just kept plugging away, and with her amazing athletic ability to make impossible shots seem routine, she built her lead to match point. Cheryl refused to give in, as always, and came back one last time to 9-10, but serving for match for the third time, Rhonda finally ended things with a well placed backhand down the left side out of Cheryl’s reach. Cheryl was only able to look at the shot and nod knowing that the match was over. 11-9 to the 12th Choice Hotels US OPEN Racquetball Champion and now 2 time winner Rhonda Rajsich.
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