Two Grand Slams
Gernika--July 13, 20, 27, semis-August 3, FINAL-AUGUST 10
Hondarribia--July 19, 26, August 2, 9, semis-August 16, FINAL-AUGUST 23.
6 teams will contest the Grand Slams. They will consist of an "A" Group and a "B" Group which will play a single round robin. The top two in each group will face off in the Semi-finals. The two winners will then play in the Final.
Three Master Series
Markina: Quarter finals--July 7; Semi-finals--July 14, FINAL--JULY 16
Lekeitio: Semi-finals--July 28; FINAL--AUGUST 4
Zumia: 1/4--September 6, 13; 1/2--September 20; FINAL--SEPTEMBER 27
There may be other Master series as well. The full schedule is still "pending."
JAWT Announcement
JAWT brochure (.pdf format,9p.)
Complete (at present) calendar (JAWT)
Ongoing results (JAWT)
JAWT Players Page
Due to the manner in which the Masters and Grand Slams will be intertwined, as well as the chronological length of the Grand Slams, the blog will cover this tour in weekly increments, mixing tournaments. The latest scores and links to match stories can be found either on the right side of any blog post, or at the Current Results page, which is also used to show current results on mobile phones (and can also be found with the "pages" on the right side of the blog).
An up to date player table is always available at the "current results" page, and a cumulative table will be presented at the bottom of each blog post.
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July 7-16--Markina Masters (complete); Gernika Grand Slam (League)
July 19-20 Hondarribia Grand Slam (League); Gernika Grand Slam (League); Mutriku Open Independent Match
July 26-28--Hondarribia Grand Slam (League); Gernika Grand Slam (League); Lekeitio Masters (Semi-finals)
August 2-4--Hondarribia Grand Slam (League); Gernika Grand Slam (Semi-Finals); Lekeitio Masters (Final and 3rd Place match)
August 9-16-- Gernika Grand Slam (Final); Hondarribia Grand Slam (League) and Semi-finals
August 20-October 28--END OF SEASON--Hondarribia Final, Zumaia Masters, Ciudad San Sebastian Open, Gernika Urriko Open
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INJURY REPORT:
August 4, 2019
Imanol Lopez: Lopez suffered an arm injury early in the 1st set of the Lekeitio Masters Final on August 4. He had to leave for treatment but returned to finish the match. All of his throws from that point forward (except for 2 or 3 soft dejadas from deep in the back) were reverses. He is scheduled to play up to 5 matches the week of August 5-10, including 2 possible finals (Gant d'Or if he wins the semi-final 1st, and the Gernika Grand Slam). How many, if any, of those matches he is able to play remains to be seen. So far this summer, after winning the 2 Championships at Fronton Mexico, he is 9-0 in the Basque Country Summer Partidos, with 2 Championships.
Addendum. Lopez missed his Semi-final Gant d'Or match on August 5.
In an interview with Jai Alai News Facebook on August 7, he said that his arm was responding to treatment "incredibly" well and that he planned to play in the Gernika Grand Slam Final on Saturday, August 10. He is going to take the other matches he is scheduled to play "a day at a time", according to the article.
July 28, 2019
Mikel Egiguren: For Egiguren the stress of having played 2 matches in 3 days (July 25 in the Cesta Punta World Tour Master 2 Final, and July 27 in the Jai Alai World Tour Gernika Grand Slam Liguilla match), along with the prospect of playing in the 1st Semi-Final of the CPWT Master 3 Tournament on July 30, led to his dropping out of the Leikeitio Masters Semi-final on July 28.
July 27, 2019
Txabi Inza: After playing twice in 3 days (July 23 and 25 in the Semi-final and Final of the CPWT Master 2 Tournament), Inza was unable to play in the 3rd Round Liguilla match of the Gernika Grand Slam. He was replaced by (Aimar) Aldazabal. I have found no information about the reason for his absence or any timetable for his return.
July 26, 2019
Diego Beaskoetxea: Beaskoetxea was unable to play in his Hondarribia League match with Minvielle v Erik (Mendizabal)-Ekhi on June 26. According to the JAWT story (the same story for all matches), he decided to skip the June 26 Hondarribia Grand Slam League match in order to be more physically fit for the Gernika Grand Slam League match on July 27. He was replaced by Ludovic Laduche. Beaskoetxea did play (and win) his League 3 Gernika match on July 27.
July 20, 2019
Nicolas Etxeto: Etxeto suffered an abdominal injury ("un pinchazo en la cintura") in warm-ups for his Round 2 Liguilla match in the Gernika Grand Slam. He played through it for one set but then could go no further. Etxeto returned to action on July 28 for his Lekeitio Masters Semi-final, partnering with Egiguren in a hard fought loss to (Jon) Zulaika-Lopez.
July 13, 2019
(Unai) Lekerika: Lekerika suffered a "cintura" (waist) injury in his July 13 opening Liguilla Group A match in the Gernika Grand Slam competition. He was unable to play in his Markina Masters semi-final match with Arbe v Erik (Mendizabal)-Irastorza on July 14. He was replaced by Ekhi. Lekerika returned to action, partnering with Goikoetxea on July 27 in their Gernika Grand Slam Liguilla match.
July 7, 2019
Jean Olharan: Olharan missed his Quarter final match in the Master Series Markina, still feeling the effects of the shoulder injury he played through at Fronton Mexico in the Moises Cosio Gomez Copa Premier League Final on June 30. Olharan returned to action on July 31 for a his Quarter-final of the Cesta Punta World Tour Gant d'Or Tourmanent in Biarritz.
Ludovic Laduche: Laduche (who suffered a severe tendon injury in the April 26, 2019 FFPB (Federation Francais de Pelote Basque) Pro-Am Final. He missed the entire Fronton Mexico season and returned as a substitute for Olharan in the Master Series Markina on July 7. For more on Laduche's injury, including full match video of the match he was injured in, check the NEWS AND INJURY ARCHIVE OF THIS BLOG. Inujuries are listed under obituaries and news items, in reverse chronological order. Modalities are mixed together.
Matches are played in sets, two to 15. Tie breaker to 5. 5 pasas (over serves) are allowed. After that an over serve is a fault. Any under serve is an immediate fault (Error corrected August 3, 2019).
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The key development last week (see above) was an arm injury suffered by zaguero (back) Imanol Lopez early in the 1st set of the Lekeitio Masters Final (see below) on August 4. Lopez returned and finished the match but he was clearly limited.
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The key development last week (see above) was an arm injury suffered by zaguero (back) Imanol Lopez early in the 1st set of the Lekeitio Masters Final (see below) on August 4. Lopez returned and finished the match but he was clearly limited.
Grand Slam Gerrnika Semi-finals; Hondarribia Liguilla Matches, Lekeitio Masters Final and 3rd Place Match
This is a 6 team competition with 3 teams in Group A and 3 in Group B. There will be a single round robin in each group with the winners playing in a final.
The teams:
Group A: Goikoetxea-(Unai) Lekerika; Erik (Mendizabal)-Etxeto; Hormatxea-Ibon (Aldazabal)
Group B: Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Lopez; (Xabier) Barandika-Ekhi; Egiguren-Inza
Feature article on Diego Beaskoetxea's retiement from Jai Alai in the US and return to the Basque Country (Deia)
August 3
August 3
Both August 3 semi-final matches are available on demand at EITB. The Diego-Lopez v Barandika-Ekhi is the first match. Goikoetxea-Lekerika v Hormaetxea-Ibon is the second match. NOTE: PLEASE BE PATIENT WHEN ACCESSING EITB FULL MATCH VIDEOS. IF THEY DON'T COME IN AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE, LOOK FOR AN ARROW AT THE TOP LEFT OF THE SCREEN AND CLICK ON IT. OR, IT MIGHT SHOW UP AS AN ICON ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. CLICK ON THE ICON FARTHEST TO THE LEFT. IF ALL ELSE FAILS TRY
EITB On Demand
"Buscar" (upper right corner) "zesta punta" (without the quotes). May be easier to access, but you still might have to tweak as above. Your patience will be well rewarded.
Highlights are also available (EITB) (these should come in automatically)
Semi-Finals
Group A
Preview article (Jai Alai World Tour)
Promotional Preview video (Berde Produkzioak Koop Youtube)
Match article for both matches (Noticias de Gipuzkoa)
Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Lopez 2
Feature article that discusses the use of live microphones so fans can hear players during the match (Deia)
Match article for both matches (Gernika Jai Alai press release via Jai Alai News Facebook)
Match article for both matches (Gernika Jai Alai press release via Jai Alai News Facebook)
Hormaetxea-Ibon (Aldazabal) 0
(15-6, 15-14) (30-20)
Selected Linescore (Gernika Jai Alai Press Release) (winners of the match always listed 1st)
Set 1
4-0; 10-2; 15-6
Set 2
3-0; 11-11; 12-12; 13-13; 13-14; 15-14
No scoring was provided for this match.
This match ended as expected, but was much more difficult for the winners than anyone anticipated. Diego played a great match, employing long chic-chacs and chulas to great advantage, as well as 2 walls and cortadas when available. Even at 38, he is a great player who covers large areas when necessary, and, on his day, is as precise a shot maker as anyone in Cesta Punta. He has a court intelligence that is very rare, and also a temperament that is always cool. He plays with great poise, and never panics. Some of this is the product of 15 years playing Quineila "pools" at Dania Jai Alai in Florida. It is a grinding variation, 7 games a week, every week. With different partners all the time. All of the other players save Ekhi have much experience in the Quiniela variation. It is very good preparation, as in Quiniela, a drop in concentration for even a second can send a player to the bench for the rest of the game.
Lopez was Lopez. He seems to be cutting down on his back court offense, and has become a catching machine. He seems to catch every pelota he gets to, and makes good, reliable throws. He is also incredibly durable.
And yet still... this victory might have not been. After a dominating first set, D-L were set on the back foot by H-I in the second set. Hormaetxea is acrobatic, quick, has every shot in the book, and is not afraid to take on the server and kill the point quickly. The serve is never a way to start a point when he receives, it is an "opportunity." This strategy involves some risk and he did lose some points. But he is very dynamic. Ibon is a throwing machine. His 190 mph exhibition throw at Dania in November 2017, a new world record according to Guinness does not, of course, translate into that kind of speed in competition, but he was ripping everything in site, forcing Diego into a number of difficult rebotes. His catching is a little behind his throwing ability. Many opponents are thankful for that, because they know when he does catch the ball they are in for a long day.
As the linescore shows, the 2nd set was as even as could be, with H-I taking the lead and Hormaetxea serving for a tie breaker. Inexplicably, he faulted (under serve), an immediate shot in the arm to D-L. They quickly and efficiently capitalized on the gift and, as a result, moved on to the finals.
No scoring was provided for this match.
This match ended as expected, but was much more difficult for the winners than anyone anticipated. Diego played a great match, employing long chic-chacs and chulas to great advantage, as well as 2 walls and cortadas when available. Even at 38, he is a great player who covers large areas when necessary, and, on his day, is as precise a shot maker as anyone in Cesta Punta. He has a court intelligence that is very rare, and also a temperament that is always cool. He plays with great poise, and never panics. Some of this is the product of 15 years playing Quineila "pools" at Dania Jai Alai in Florida. It is a grinding variation, 7 games a week, every week. With different partners all the time. All of the other players save Ekhi have much experience in the Quiniela variation. It is very good preparation, as in Quiniela, a drop in concentration for even a second can send a player to the bench for the rest of the game.
Lopez was Lopez. He seems to be cutting down on his back court offense, and has become a catching machine. He seems to catch every pelota he gets to, and makes good, reliable throws. He is also incredibly durable.
And yet still... this victory might have not been. After a dominating first set, D-L were set on the back foot by H-I in the second set. Hormaetxea is acrobatic, quick, has every shot in the book, and is not afraid to take on the server and kill the point quickly. The serve is never a way to start a point when he receives, it is an "opportunity." This strategy involves some risk and he did lose some points. But he is very dynamic. Ibon is a throwing machine. His 190 mph exhibition throw at Dania in November 2017, a new world record according to Guinness does not, of course, translate into that kind of speed in competition, but he was ripping everything in site, forcing Diego into a number of difficult rebotes. His catching is a little behind his throwing ability. Many opponents are thankful for that, because they know when he does catch the ball they are in for a long day.
As the linescore shows, the 2nd set was as even as could be, with H-I taking the lead and Hormaetxea serving for a tie breaker. Inexplicably, he faulted (under serve), an immediate shot in the arm to D-L. They quickly and efficiently capitalized on the gift and, as a result, moved on to the finals.
Goikoetxea-(Unai) Lekerika 2
Barandika-Ekhi 1
Condensed linescore (EITB) (match winners always listed first)
Set 1
0-2; 4-2; 4-3; 5-3; 5-4; 8-4; 8-5; 10-5; 10-8; 12-8; 12-9; 13-9; (3 straight Barandika winners and then 1 Ekhi winner) 13-13; 15-13
Set 2
0-2; 1-2; 1-3; 3-3; 3-4; 4-4; 4-5; 7-5; 7-10; 10-10; 10-11; 12-11; (2 Ekhi and 2 Barandika winners send the match to a tie breaker) 12-15
Tie breaker
0-1; 2-1; 2-2; 3-2; 3-3; 4-3; 4-4 (Goikoetxea and Barandika trade almost identical outside cortada winners); 5-4
94 balls in play in the tie breaker, 518! for the match. 5 points with over 20 balls in play. Longest point: Set 1 10-6--10-7, 29 bip, won by a Barandika two wall.
No scoring was provided for this match
This was supposed to be a walk-over for G-L, but they didn't reckon on Xabier Barandika playing the match of his career. He foreshadowed the kind of match he was going to have in the first set, when he scored 3 straight points with 2 two walls sandwiched around a dejada to equalize the score at 13. G-L won that set on a Goiko "special", a chula, this one a low backhand rocket, as opposed to the high and deep ones he used to tremendous advantage in Mexico City. Then Ekhi, a back with almost unlimited potential, and a confident one at that, attempted to equalize with a long two wall. It hit below the line, an audacious attempt at perhaps the wrong time, but the type of throw that makes a fan take notice.
The 2nd set went even better for B-E. With Barandika leading the way (+8 -1) for the set, and the team scoring the last 4 points of the set (E +: outside pass where he had a little luck with the angle coming from hitting the corner directly; B+: two wall; E +: chic-chac, and B+: rebote left pass) to win 15-12, everyone was ready for a tie break. No one was ready for the tie break that happened.
Tie break (server; number of balls in play; score, winners listed first; Player; +=winner, -=error; type of throw (to the best of my ability to describe it)
Tie breaker in its entirety (Gernika Jai Alai Youtube)
G=Goikoetxea; L=Lekerika; B=Barandika; I=Ibon
B; 5; 0-1; L-; dropped catch
B; 2; 1-1; G+; chic chac (Goikoetxea intercepts the serve and kills the point)
G; 3; 2-1 G+; high two wall rebote
G; 10; 2-2; E+; outside pass; (again, as in the last set--see above), Ekhi hits the corner directly
B: 26; 3-2; G+; chic chac
G: 8; 3-3; E+; left wall
B: 20: 4-3; G+; cortada to the outside, an extremely risky shot, he doesn't go outside often, few fronts do, but he executed it to perfection
G: 4: 4-4; B+; cortada to the outside, (an almost exact replica of Goikoetxea's shot, the crowd goes wild)
B: 16: 5-4; B-; missed rebote. (An unfortunate way to end a great personal and team match. The crowd gives all the players a long standing ovation.)
Last 3 points, including the 2 cortadas (Gernika Jai Alai Youtube--note the clarity of the audio of the players)
Note the 3-2 and 4-3 points. 46 balls in play. And you could almost tell they were going to end as G-L points. Goikoetxea, almost by force of will alone, won them. But not without the help (in these points and throughout the match) of Lekerika, who, though he did drop a few, made some great saves, including 1 breathtaking wall climb in the 1st set.
Finally, one very interesting aspect of the match was the "miking" of all the players. They wore miniature, unobtrusive microphones so that viewers (and attendees who used special earphones) could hear the communication on the floor. This innovation provided a fascinating look inside the match.
Final Liguilla Table
No scoring was provided for this match
This was supposed to be a walk-over for G-L, but they didn't reckon on Xabier Barandika playing the match of his career. He foreshadowed the kind of match he was going to have in the first set, when he scored 3 straight points with 2 two walls sandwiched around a dejada to equalize the score at 13. G-L won that set on a Goiko "special", a chula, this one a low backhand rocket, as opposed to the high and deep ones he used to tremendous advantage in Mexico City. Then Ekhi, a back with almost unlimited potential, and a confident one at that, attempted to equalize with a long two wall. It hit below the line, an audacious attempt at perhaps the wrong time, but the type of throw that makes a fan take notice.
The 2nd set went even better for B-E. With Barandika leading the way (+8 -1) for the set, and the team scoring the last 4 points of the set (E +: outside pass where he had a little luck with the angle coming from hitting the corner directly; B+: two wall; E +: chic-chac, and B+: rebote left pass) to win 15-12, everyone was ready for a tie break. No one was ready for the tie break that happened.
Tie break (server; number of balls in play; score, winners listed first; Player; +=winner, -=error; type of throw (to the best of my ability to describe it)
Tie breaker in its entirety (Gernika Jai Alai Youtube)
G=Goikoetxea; L=Lekerika; B=Barandika; I=Ibon
B; 5; 0-1; L-; dropped catch
B; 2; 1-1; G+; chic chac (Goikoetxea intercepts the serve and kills the point)
G; 3; 2-1 G+; high two wall rebote
G; 10; 2-2; E+; outside pass; (again, as in the last set--see above), Ekhi hits the corner directly
B: 26; 3-2; G+; chic chac
G: 8; 3-3; E+; left wall
B: 20: 4-3; G+; cortada to the outside, an extremely risky shot, he doesn't go outside often, few fronts do, but he executed it to perfection
G: 4: 4-4; B+; cortada to the outside, (an almost exact replica of Goikoetxea's shot, the crowd goes wild)
B: 16: 5-4; B-; missed rebote. (An unfortunate way to end a great personal and team match. The crowd gives all the players a long standing ovation.)
Last 3 points, including the 2 cortadas (Gernika Jai Alai Youtube--note the clarity of the audio of the players)
Note the 3-2 and 4-3 points. 46 balls in play. And you could almost tell they were going to end as G-L points. Goikoetxea, almost by force of will alone, won them. But not without the help (in these points and throughout the match) of Lekerika, who, though he did drop a few, made some great saves, including 1 breathtaking wall climb in the 1st set.
Finally, one very interesting aspect of the match was the "miking" of all the players. They wore miniature, unobtrusive microphones so that viewers (and attendees who used special earphones) could hear the communication on the floor. This innovation provided a fascinating look inside the match.
Final Liguilla Table
Group A
Goikoetxea-(Unai) Lekerika (2-0; 3.3-1)
Hormaetxea-Ibon (Aldazabal) (1-1; 1-2)
Erik (Mendizabal)-Etxeto (0-2; 1-2.3)
Final Group B Table
Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Lopez (2-0; 3.3-1)
(Xabier) Barandika-Ekhi (1-1; 3-1.3)
Egiguren-Inza (0-2; 0-4)
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Cumulative record of JAWT players
August 2
Liguilla 3
Group A Round 3 Table
Goikoetxea-Ibon (Aldazabal) (2-0; 4-0)
Erik (Mendizabal)-Ekhi (1-1; 2-2)
Diego (Beaskoetxea)-Minvielle (0-2) (0-4)
Goikoetxea-Ibon and Erik-Ekhi advance to the semi-finals
August 2
Goikoetxea-Ibon (Aldazabal) 2 Erik (Mendizabal)-Ekhi 0
(15-11; 15-11) (30-22) (Jai Alive Facebook)
Group B Round 3 Table
Egiguren-Lopez (1-0; 2-0)
Olha-Etxeto (1-1; 2-2)
Zulaika-T. Basque (0-1; 0-2)
Olha-Etxeto 2 Zulaika-T. Basque 0
(15-14, 15-8) (30-22) (Jai Alive Facebook)
Unfortunately, we have no video and precious little press coverage of these matches. The group A semi-finalists are set: Goikoetxea-Ibon (Aldazabal) (#1) and Erik-Ekhi (#2). Group B is wide open and the final match this coming weekend will determine the semi-finalists.
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August 4
FINAL
Full match videos for both matches (EITB--3rd place match starts at 0:00; Final starts at 1:00:24). (See instructions above under video for Gernika Grand Slam video)
(Jon) Zulaika-Lopez 2 Erik (Mendizabal)-Ibon (Aldazabal) 1
(15-14, 3-15, 5-1) (23-30)
Condensed linescore (EITB) (match winners always listed first)
Set 1
0-1; 4-1; 4-2; 5-2; 5-3; 6-3; 6-4; 7-4; 7-6; 9-6; 9-7; 11-7; 11-12; 12-12; 12-13; 13-13; 14-13; 14-14; 15-14
5 equal scores. At 14-14, Erik threw an almost perfect two wall winner, which barely hit the chapa and bounced straight up from it. Talk about a game of millimeters. Lopez suffered his injury early and went off for treatment. When he came back, he played, except for a few long dejadas, exclusively backhand throws.
Set 2
0-5; 1-5; 1-8; 2-8; 2-12; 3-12; 3-15
The match article hinted at the fact that, after going down early, L-Z basically conceded the 2nd set, putting all their hopes into the tie breaker. Lopez let a few back wall shots go that he would usually go after, and Zulaika couldn't get to them for rebotes. He also uncharacteristically made 4 errors.
Tie breaker
3-0; 3-1; (a 48 ball point, the longest I have seen in Cesta Punta, during which Lopez made 5 outstanding saves, including one that he caught between his legs--Ibon made an outstanding save as well) 4-1; 5-1
The 3-1--4-1 point in its entirety (Youtube of a fan who edited it from the match video).
The 3-1--4-1 point in its entirety (Youtube of a fan who edited it from the match video).
Arm injury and all, Lopez scored 2 winners with a long dejada that tipped the top of Erik's cesta as he leapt to catch it, and a hard back hand left wall shot that eluded both of his opponents.
Scoring (EITB)
Set 1
Zulaika +7 -2; Lopez +0 -0
Erik +10 -3; Ibon + 2 -5
Balls in play: 265: Zulaika 68; Lopez 65; Erik 71; Ibon 61
Time of the set: approximately 46 minutes
Set 2:
Erik +4 -0; Ibon +5 -1
Zulaika +2 -0; Lopez +0 -4
(scoring adds to 13-3). My scoring had Zulaika +2 -2 which addes to 15-3).
Balls in play 96: Erik 13; Ibon 27; Zulaika 17; Lopez 25
Time of the set: about 23 minutes.
Set 3 (EITB) provided no scoring, but the decisions were pretty easy.
My scoring
Zulaika +1 -1; Lopez +2 -0
Erik +0 -0; Ibon +0 -2
Balls in play: 73
For the Match:
EITB (1st two sets)
Zulaika +9 -2; Lopez +0 -4
Erik +14 -3; Ibon +7 -6
Score adds to 18-27). Actual score was 18-29. My scoring had Zulaika at +9 -4, which adds to the correct score.
Scores for the match: (my scoring)
Zulaika +10 -5; Lopez +2 -4
Erik: +14 -3; Ibon +7 -8
(Score adds to 23-30)
Balls in play: 434
Did not get total time, as EITB didn't provide it.
This was Z-L's 3rd consecutive Lekeitio Masters Txapelketa. But it may have come at a high price. Lopez is scheduled to play in a Semi-final Gant d'Or match Monday, August 5. If he plays and wins, he would be scheduled for the Final on August 7. On August 8, he is scheduled to play in the first Semi-final of Master 4 of the St. Jean de Luz Cesta Punta World Tour competition. On August 9, he is scheduled to play a League round robin match in the Hondarribia Grand Slam. And on August 10 he is scheduled to play in the Gernika Grand Slam Final. That is 5 matches next week. The initgial Jai Alai News Facebook match article for this match seemed to indicate that due to his arm injury, he might have to miss some or all of these matches. A later article contained an interview in which he said his arm was feeling much better after treatment and was planning to play in the Gernika Final. Both articles are linked to above (match article and interview that is linked to in the injury portion of the post).
As an aside, Zulaika took a hard hit to his left side on the left wall in the 1st set and seemed to be in some discomfort for a while, but he continued and played an excellent match from that point.
As far as Lopez is concerned, this match was all you need to know about him. Playing most of it with one hand hand "tied behind his back," he found a way. He became a catcher and threw exclusively backhand, except for 2 long looping dejada winners...winners. It was an amazing performance by an amazing player and was, by the way, Lopez' 14th consecutive victory, going back to June 9 in Mexcio City. He is only the 2nd player in any modality that I am aware of who has won that many in a row in 2019.
As an aside, Zulaika took a hard hit to his left side on the left wall in the 1st set and seemed to be in some discomfort for a while, but he continued and played an excellent match from that point.
As far as Lopez is concerned, this match was all you need to know about him. Playing most of it with one hand hand "tied behind his back," he found a way. He became a catcher and threw exclusively backhand, except for 2 long looping dejada winners...winners. It was an amazing performance by an amazing player and was, by the way, Lopez' 14th consecutive victory, going back to June 9 in Mexcio City. He is only the 2nd player in any modality that I am aware of who has won that many in a row in 2019.
3RD PLACE MATCH
Egiguren-Minvielle (substituting for Barandika-Lekerika) 2
Hormaetxea-(Aimar) Aldazabal 0
(15-10, 15-11) (30-21) Note: Match article below has scores incorrectly noted as 15-12, 15-11.
Scoring (for the match--EITB)
Egiguren +13 -5; Minvielle +4 -4
Hormaetxea +11 -6; Aldazabal +1 -7
Balls in play: 292: Egiguren 82; Minvielle 68; Hormaetxea 73; Aldazabal 69
Time of the match: 57:33
Match article for both matches (Jai Alai News Facebook)
Rankings explanation (see #8 and #9)
Key: Player, match w-l, set w-l (5 pt. tie breaker worth .3) Tournaments won. Current through August 4, 2019
MM-Markina Masters; LM-Lekeitio Masters
Delanteros (front)
Diego (Beaskoetxea); 3-1; 5.3--3
(Jon) Zulaika; 3-1; 4.3--4 LM
Goikoetxea; 5-2; 9.6--5.3
Erik (Mendizabal); 4-4; 9.3--6.6 MM
Egiguren; 2-2; 4--4
Olha; 1-1; 2--2
(Jokin) Arbe; 1-1; 2--2
Hormaetxea; 3-5; 5.3--10.3
(Xabier) Barandika; 1-4; 5--5.9
Laduche; 0-2; 0--4
Zagueros (back)
Lopez; 6-0; 9.9--3 LM
Irastorza; 2-0; 4--0; MM
(Unai) Lekerika; 4-1; 7.6--3.3
Ibon (Aldazabal) 4-4; 8.3--7.6
(Aimar) Aldazabal; 3-5; 6.3--10.3
Ekhi; 2-4; 6--6.6
Etxeto; 1-2; 3--2.3
Minvielle; 1-2; 2--4
T. Basque; 0-1; 0--2
Inza; 0-2; 0--4
Salegi; 0-2; 0--4
