The Best of Racquetball Returns to Minneapolis

(ATR) More than 750 of the world’s top professional and amateur racquetball playersfrom 23 different countrieswillreturn toMinneapolisthis October for theworld’s largest and most prestigious racquetball tournament.

The UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championships will be heldfrom October 3rd through 7th.

The tournament will be contested atthreeLife Time Fitnessvenues throughout the Minneapolis metro area, and at the University of Minnesota Recreation Center, with all professional matches taking place at theLife Time Fitness –Target Center.

Since moving to the Twin Cities in 2010, the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championships has brought an estimated $8 million inannualeconomic impact to the area. Each year,over2,500 spectators join the 750+ players, representing 21 different countries, for the week-long celebration of racquetball.

With ball speeds reaching 180 miles per hour, racquetball is truly the world’s fastest sport! A stunning all-glass portable courthighlights a racquetball stadium constructedin theLife Time Fitness – Target Centerfacility, just underneath the basketball court used by the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolvesand WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.

The UnitedHealthcare US OPEN is racquetball’s original "Grand Slam" event andthis yearboasts$63,000 in prize money,the largest totalpurse in the sport. In addition to the marquee professional divisions, theUnitedHealthcareUS OPEN Racquetball Championships offers more than 80 USA Racquetball (USAR) sanctionedamateurdivisions separated by age and skill.

Defending his championship in the Men’s Professional Division will be13-time US OPEN Champion Kane Waselenchuk (Edmonton, Canada).

From January 2009 to September 2013, Waselenchukwon a professional racquetball record 137 matches in a row.TheNew York Times has profiled Kane andhis dominance of the men’s professional tour (Article link:http://nyti.ms/2aig6lG).

PaolaLongoria (San Luis Potosí, Mexico) is an eight-time and defending champion in the Women’s Professional Division. Longoria was the youngest player in the history of the sport to win a US OPEN with her first title in 2009.

Longoria is arecipient of Mexico’s National Sports Award and Forbes Magazine has named her as one of the 50 most influential women in Mexico.

For a preview of the racquetball action the US OPEN brings to Minneapolis, please visit the tournament’s official website atwww.UnitedHealthcareUSOPEN.com

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