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Sudsy Monchik's Coming Up the Mountain One Step at a Time

Weeks before the 2001 US Open, Sudsy Monchik broke his foot and had to withdraw from the tournament. Over the following months he went through surgery, casting, more surgery and rehab. A year later Sudsy entered the 2002 US Open Championships. Not having played on the IRT tour for a year, he entered the tournament unranked and had to "come up the mountain one step at a time".

Perhaps the greatest comeback in the history of the sport, these matches are now available for the first time since the 2002 US Open, documenting Sudsy Monchik's climb back up the IRT mountain with wins over Derek Robinson in the Rd of 16, Jason Mannino in the Quarterfinals, Jack Huczek in the Semifinal and a stellar performance winning his 4th US Open Title over Cliff Swain.

 

Cliff Swain's Road to the Final

On the other side of the draw, there was Cliff Swain. Both Swain and Monchik now had 5 Pro Titles. Monchik was on the cusp of an unprecedented 6th when he broke his foot in Sept 2001. Swain had persevered that season and won the Pro Championship ... the first 6-Time Pro Champion. Swain was now after his 7th Pro Title ... he was a top favorite and defending champion but his ranking had slipped to #2 behind Jason Mannino. Plus he was feeling pressure from the young guns, Jack Huczek and Kane Waselenchuk, having lost to Kane for the first time in the previous prostop. Swain had not even made a final this season, while Monchik had won Denver. Nonetheless, the US Open is where Cliff Swain played his best. To date, Cliff had won 2 US Open Titles while Sudsy Monchik had won 3. The grandest stage was set for yet another great showdown between 2 of the greatest players in history.
FORMAT

Get the 4 DVD Package for $75 and save 25%

Rd 16s vs Derek Robinson (US-29)
Qtr vs Jason Mannino (US-27)
SF vs Jack Huczek (US-31)
Final vs Cliff Swain (US-41)

FORMAT

 

Get the 4 DVD Package for $75 and save 25%

Rd 16s vs Ruben Gonzalez (US-25)
Qtr vs Alvaro Beltran (US-30)
SF vs Kane Waselenchuk (US-34)
Final vs Sudsy Monchik (US-41)

Many fans originally purchased the epic quarterfinal match between Sudsy and Jason Mannino. Now you can purchase the other 3 matches for $58 and still save 20%. Included in this pacakge are US-29, US-33 and US-41.

 
Get the 3 DVD Package for $60 and save almost 20%  

Other 2002 US Open Packages
FORMAT

THE COMPLETE SUDSY-CLIFF PACKAGE

INTRO PRICED @ $100
SAVE almost 30%

7 DVDs:

  • US-29
  • US-27
  • US-31
  • US-25
  • US-30
  • US-34
  • US-41
FORMAT

SWAIN SERIES minus the Final

for those who already have the final as part of the SUDSY SERIES

INTRO PRICED @ $50 (almost 30% off)

3 DVDs:

  • US-25
  • US-30
  • US-34

 

2002 Choice Hotels U.S. Open Racquetball Championships
Memphis, TN

Men's Round of 16
Cliff Swain vs Ruben Gonzalez

Cat# US-25
Ruben Gonzalez is a living legend and always gets pumped up to play another living legend, Cliff Swain ... one of the greatest players of all time. They last met in North Carolina where Ruben took a game and gave Cliff all he could handle. Ruben, at age 50, is still at it on the main court ... pushing Cliff to go all out if he wants to advance to the next round.

3 game match
$18.00 (65 mins)

Men's Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk vs Javier Moreno

Cat# US-26
3 game match
$12.00 (43 mins)



Men's Quarterfinal
Jason Mannino vs Sudsy Monchik

Cat# US-27
One of the greatest exhibitions of high-level racquetball ever witnessed let alone filmed. Jason is in total control for the first part of game 1 ... but where's Sudsy? He finally shows up at the end of the game and makes some seemingly impossible gets and shots that only he can!!! Unbelievable!

Game 2 starts off where the first game left off. Jason wins Game 3 but then it's all Sudsy ... it's Sudsy's Magic Show.

Great commentary by Dan Llacera and Shawn Royster.
$30.00 (110 mins)
Format

4 Game Match

Men's Round of 16
Jason Mannino vs Jason Thoerner

Cat# US-28


 

 



3 game match
$22.00 (81 mins)
Men's Round of 16
Sudsy Monchik vs Derek Robinson

Cat# US-29
Sudsy Monchik is on the comeback trail coming up the mountain one round at a time. In the Round of 16s, he meets up with a mountain of a player in Derek Robinson.

Sudsy accepts his first test and he and Derek are in for a BANG-BANG type of match. Derek plays him point for point, but in the end, Sudsy gets the job done.

3 game match
$19.00 (69 mins)
Men's Quarterfinal
Cliff Swain vs Alvaro Beltran

Cat# US-30
Alvaro Beltran has beated Cliff Swain in their previous two meetings, but this is the US Open. Today Swain comes out dominating in Game 1 until Beltran settles down and gets going. Game 2 opens with both players scraping for tough points early until a chest high backhand rollout and couple aces pulls Swain away slowly and take it.

3 game match
$20.00 (73 mins)

Men's Quarterfinal
John Ellis vs Jack Huczek

Cat# US-31

4 game match
$35.00 (134 mins)

Men's Quarterfinal
Kane Waselenchuk vs Rocky Carson

Cat# US-32

NEW DVD

One of the great marathon matches of the tournament. Kane Waselenchuk is shooting from everywhere while Rocky Carson is getting most everything and also making great shots.

4 game match

$30.00 (136 mins)

DVD ONLY
Men's Semifinal
Sudsy Monchik vs Jack Huczek

Cat# US-33
Jack Huczek is playing a great tournament and has made it to the semifinals of the US Open for the first time. But the "sheriff " is back in town .. and his foot healed ... has he lost the edge ... can he keep up with the fit Huczek?

Color and play-by-play by Shawn Royster and Dan Llacera as well as pre-game interviews with both players.

4 game match
$28.00 (102 mins)
Format

Men's Semifinal
Cliff Swain vs Kane Waselenchuk

Cat# US-34
Great battle by these 2 lefties. Kane Waselenchuk just beat Cliff Swain for the first time 2 weeks ago at the Halloween Classic Pro-Am in Chicago. One of the matches everyone wants to see.

Great color and play-by-play by Shawn "Puffy" Royster and Dan Llacera. Pre-game interview with Kane & Cliff.

3 game match
$28.00 (102 mins)
Format
Men's Final
Cliff Swain vs Sudsy Monchik

Cat# US-41
Racquetball's two greatest players meet at high noon on the sports biggest stage, the US Open Championships.

Great color and play-by-play by Adam Karp.

3 game match
$26.00 (90 mins)
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