A Preview "Who's Who" of men pros at the Choice 7th U.S. OPEN Racquetball Championships

The only thing that would have made last year's event any better would have been if Sudsy were in the draw (he broke his foot two days before the event and was out for the season). Well, this year he's back and says he's 100%. This -- coupled with the incredible new talent that has emerged on tour in Jack Huczek and Kane Waselenchuk, the ever present vitality of tour veterans Cliff Swain and Jason Mannino, and John Ellis' personal quest to win his first U.S. OPEN title -- this year's draw has the potential to offer the deepest talent pool of top players the sport has ever seen.

Historically, there has almost always been a single, dominating player on the tour -- like Marty Hogan, Mike Yellen, Cliff Swain, and Sudsy Monchik (who have captured the year end #1 ranking a combined 21 times!). For the first time in the U.S. OPEN's seven- year history, I believe that there are six players with a legitimate shot at the title, rather than the two or three that have truly had a good chance in years past. So here are my picks, along with a few "long shots" that I feel could break into the semis.

Waselenchuk & Swain

Huczek & Mannino

Ellis

Monchik & Locker (background) All Photos: Vicki Hughes

Cliff Swain "Cliffy" [Odds: 2-1] Last year Swain did what no other player has ever done -- won a sixth year end #1 ranking - and been dubbed the "greatest player of all time." And while some insist on questioning the feat (since Monchik was not touring last season), among real students of the pro game, this conjecture is quite ignorant. The truth is that, at the height of his career (back in the early 90's), Swain quit racquetball to pursue a short-lived career as a professional tennis player. That move cost Cliff two years of finishing #1 on the pro scene at a time when nobody could even score five points on him, if he really wanted to play hard. So in actuality, Swain has been the best player in the world for eight (8) different years -- and all he did last year, at the age of 35, was outlast the deepest talent pool in the history of the sport, winning a U.S. OPEN title along the way. So when do we consider raising Swain's odds? Not this year! At this point in his career I believe winning titles like this are all that really matter to him. Look for this ferocious defending champ to come prepared to seek a third crown. It won't be easy for him, but he has as good a chance to win this event as anyone else in the field.

Jason Mannino "Jay" [2-1] Other than Cliff and Sudsy, Jason Mannino is the only other player in the draw to have tasted victory at the U.S. OPEN. He won it in 1999 and can use that experience to his advantage. Further, he is the only player on tour that "has Sudsy's number" and is currently playing the best racquetball of his career. At age 27 he is in his prime, has gained extensive insights from world-renowned coach Fran Davis, and is 100% focused on winning and finishing #1 at the end of this season. If someone does manage to beat Mannino in Memphis it will be a battle to the death. A bet against Jason Mannino is a bad one.

Jack Huczek [3-1] No young player since Sudsy Monchik has stormed onto the pro tour with as much impact as this phenom. He was actually in excellent position to win last year, but was thwarted by Jason Mannino in a thrilling five-game quarterfinal. Huczek should have won their tiebreaker (Jason was cramping badly and losing) but after a questionable "injury" time-out, a refreshed Mannino managed to come back and win the match. At 18, Huczek brings a level of physical fitness and discipline to the tour that has never been seen before; he can play an entire tournament without sweating! In an event like this, with tough match after tough match, Jack's physical conditioning is even more of an advantage. Also in his favor is the relatively slow front wall on the portable court, which makes it impossible to simply serve someone off the court. Rallies will have to be won to win matches, and this game style plays right into Jack's hands. He is ready to win his first U.S. OPEN.

Kane Waselenchuk [7-2] This southpaw is probably the most talented player on tour right now. He has all the tools: incredibly explosive foot-speed, unbelievable hands, power to burn, plus he's in excellent shape and can run forever. Anyone on tour will concede that he's dangerous since he is capable of playing on a level that could trounce even the best. Kane's biggest problem is the lack of consistency on tour. The difference between him playing well and playing poorly is quite substantial. However, the U.S. OPEN always brings out the best in the tours' elite and if this proves to be the case again this year, Kane's best will be very difficult to beat.

John Ellis "Ellie" [4-1] Although Ellis has been one of the best players on tour for many years he has yet to win a U.S. OPEN title. As I see it, his biggest problem is maintaining his power and focus throughout every match, and then throughout the entire tournament. After watching last year's final on ESPN it became very obvious that he was not hitting the ball nearly as hard and crisp at the end of the match as he had been at the beginning. I have seen this happen to him before, so even though I would love to see Ellie win his first U.S. OPEN title, I don't feel that the odds are in his favor, particularly with this talent pool. With that said, I am sure he realizes that with every passing year the potential for victory will decrease. Look for Ellis to bring 110% to Memphis in November.

Sudsy Monchik "The Kid" [4-1] First of all, "The Kid" is not a kid anymore. He is 27 years old, married with two children, has finished #1 in five different years, and has suffered numerous injuries over the course of an eight year pro career. This player is a bookmakers nightmare! On the one hand, he is perhaps the most devastating player to ever play the game, with never-seen-before power from both sides of the court. Heading into last season, he had just finished the previous season ranked #1 and was ready to lay claim to #6 when the unfortunate accident happened that broke his foot and took him out of the running. On the other hand, (at the time of this writing) he hasn't won a tournament for over 18 months. He attended one stop at the end of last season and looked dismal; he's suffered an injury that pro athletes in other sports have never been able to truly recover from. Another burning question is "does he have the fire to get back to the top?" At his peak, things came so easy for him that poor shot selection and a somewhat reckless game style did not seem to hurt him. Now those same flaws can be used against him, and most believe it will no longer be easy for him to win on tour, given its new depth. If he puts in the effort to prepare and is ready to dig deep, he can become the first player to win the U.S. OPEN for a fourth time. Get to his matches early or you may not get a seat. All eyes will be on Sudsy in Memphis!

Winning the 2002 Choice Hotels U.S. OPEN is one thing, but for most in the draw (usually around 100 players) a round of 32, 16, or even quarterfinal finish would be a huge accomplishment. With prize money checks offered through the round of 32, it's very common to see incredible matches in very early rounds. For a true racquetball fan, the first day of the U.S. OPEN is racquetball heaven -- with great matches going on simultaneously, all day, on five different courts. It's enough to overload the senses! Get there early and bring a seat cushion (12 hours a day on the bleacher seats can make you sore) -- the men's pro draw at the 2002 Choice Hotels U.S. OPEN will not disappoint!