2007 Canadian National Racquetball Championships begin Monday

The Canadian National Racquetball Championships begin Monday at the Regina Court and Fitness Club in Regina. The doubles competitions run Monday and Tuesday with singles competitions beginning on Wednesday and continuing until Saturday. All of the 2006 champions are back to defend their titles.

Mike Green of Burlington, Ont. is the top seed in men's singles and will be seeking his fifth singles title. Green will also be playing for his fifth doubles title. Green and Brian Istace of Calgary are the defending champions in men's doubles.

However, Green and Istace will certainly be challenged by the 2007 Pan American Championship doubles team of Vincent Gagnon (Longueuil, Que.) and François Viens (Montreal), who are seeded second.

The other intriguting team in men's doubles is Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, Ont.) and Ryan Smith (Burlington, Ont.), as Osborne is returning to the place he won his National Championship in singles two years ago after sitting out last year and Smith is the two time 18 and under Junior Canadian Champion, who has risen to number 5 in the Canadian rankings.

In women's play, Christie Van Hees of Calgary is the top seed and favorite to defend her national title in singles. Van Hees, who won the 2006 World Championship and the 2006 US Open title, will face her biggest challenge from Jennifer Saunders of Winnipeg, the second seed and two time national champion.

In women's doubles, Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître of Longueuil, Que. will be trying to extend their record string of national titles to five this year. Their biggest competition may come from the new team of Denise Haynes of Clare, N.S. and Frédérique T. Lambert of Montreal, who are both current Junior Champions.

Haynes and Lambert are playing together for the first time, but they are up and coming players. Hayes won the 18 and under girls title at last month's Canadian Junior National Championships, and took Saunders to a tie-breaker at the National Team Selection event in Montreal in February.

Lambert won both 14 and under and 16 and under girls titles at this year's Junior Nationals, and is the 10th ranked women's player in Canada.

Overall, one hundred and fifty one players will be competing in 25 singles and doubles divisions at the Regina Court and Fitness Club in Regina. Competition begins Monday and runs through Saturday.

Les championnats canadiens de racquetball a commencé