De La Rosa has won 12 times[2] on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), including the 2021 US Open.[3] De La Rosa is the first Mexican player to win the US Open, and he was the second Mexican player to win an IRT Tier 1 event (after Álvaro Beltrán). Professionally, De La Rosa won three Men's Professional Year end tour Titles (in 2021, 2022, and 2023) before stepping away from Racquetball to focus on his pickleball career.
Racquetball Junior years – 2007–2011
De La Rosa represented Mexico to the IRF World Junior Championships most of his junior years. At the 2007 World Junior Championships in Cochabamba, Bolivia, De La Rosa lost in the quarterfinals of Boy's U14 Singles to the USA's Dylan Reid, 15–11, 6–14, 11–4, after beating Sebastian Franco of Colombia, 15–0, 15–4, in the Round of 16.[4] He played Boy's U14 Doubles with Missael Leija, and they lost in the semi-finals to Bolivians Carlos Keller and Jorge Luis Michel, 15–4, 15–7.[5] In his second year of 14s, De La Rosa lost in the semi-finals of Boy's U14 Singles at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Tempe, Arizona, as he was beaten by Marco Rojas of the US, 15–10, 15–11. He was runner up in Boy's U14 Doubles with Leija, as they lost in the final to Rojas and Jose Diaz, 13–15, 15–10, 11–4.[6]
In 2009, De La Rosa played Boy's U16 Singles, losing to Carlos Keller of Bolivia in the semi-finals, 13–15, 15–8, 11–8.[7] He also played Boy's U16 Singles following year in Los Angeles, where De La Rosa again lost in the semi-finals, to Jose Diaz of the US, 15–14, 15–9.[8]
De La Rosa was runner up in Boy's U18 Singles at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as he lost to Carlos Keller of Bolivia in the final, 15–9, 15–5, after defeating the USA's Nick Montalbano, 15–14, 15–13, in the semi-finals, and Canadian Samuel Murray in the quarterfinals, 15–10, 15–6.[9] He played Boy's U18 Doubles with Missael Leija, and they lost in the semi-finals to Montalbano and Joshua Hungerford, 15–12, 12–15, 11–9.[10] That was the last time he played at World Juniors.
De La Rosa represented Mexico at a senior level for the first time in 2011 at age 17, when he played at the Pan American Racquetball Championships in Managua, Nicaragua. In the quarterfinals, De La Rosa beat the player who'd given him so much trouble at World Juniors – Bolivian Carlos Keller, 15–2, 15–8. Then he defeated Canadian Vincent Gagnon in the semi-finals, 15–13, 15–4, before eking out a narrow victory over American Chris Crowther in the final, 12–15, 15–14, 11–9.[11] So, De La Rosa didn't win a World Junior Championship, but won gold in his first national team event.
Racquetball Professional career begins – 2012–2019
De La Rosa played half of the 12 events of the 2012–13 IRT season, reaching the semi-finals once, quarterfinals three times, and Round of 16 twice. The semi was at the Stockton Pro-Am, where he lost to Rocky Carson in three games, 11–8, 11–2, 11–2. Those results combined to put him 9th at the end of the season, which began a streak of top 10 season finishes that is now in its 9th season.[2] He became the third Mexican player to be in the IRT top 10 after Álvaro Beltrán and Javier Moreno.
In the 2013–14 IRT season, De La Rosa played the tour full time, entering 10 of the 11 events, and getting to a final for the first time, which happened in Davison, Michigan, where he lost to countryman Álvaro Beltrán, 11–8, 10–12, 11–8, 11–4, in what was the first final between two Mexican players in IRT history.[12] That combined with two semi-final finishes and seven quarters put him 5th at the end of the season.[2]
De La Rosa won his first IRT event in December 2014 during his second season playing full time on tour, when he defeated Álvaro Beltrán in the final of the 2014 New Jersey Open, 11–4, 11–6, 9–11, 12–10.[16] De La Rosa reached the final by beating Rocky Carson in the semi-finals, 12–10, 9–11, 11–6, 11–6. He finished 2014–15 ranked 4th.[2]
De La Rosa was in five finals in the 2015–16 season, including being a finalist at the US Open – the second Mexican player to do so after Beltran. He reached the final after an epic five game match with Rocky Carson, winning 11–9, 10–12, 8–11, 11–8, 12–10.[18] But in the final, Kane Waselenchuk defeated De La Rosa in straight games, 11–5, 11–8, 11–3. His five finals that season is a career high, but he didn't win any of them. Nonetheless, he finished 3rd, behind Waselenchuk and Carson, at the end of the season, which was also a career high.[2]
In 2016, De La Rosa won Men's Singles at the Pan American Racquetball Championships in his hometown of San Luis Potosí, where he defeated American Jake Bredenbeck in the final 15–2, 15–1.[19] En route to the final, De La Rosa defeated Colombian Sebastian Franco in the quarterfinals, 15–5, 15–5, and Fernando Rios of Ecuador in the semi-finals, 15–12, 15–7. The win was De La Rosa's 2nd Pan American Championship in Men's Singles.
De La Rosa earned a silver medal at the 2016 Racquetball World Championships in Cali, Colombia, where he lost to Rocky Carson in the final, 15–11, 5–15, 11–5. He beat Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals, 15–6, 15–0, and then defeated Canadian Samuel Murray, 15–12, 15–7, in the semi-finals.[20]
De La Rosa won his 2nd IRT event in January 2017, when he won the 39th Annual Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.[21] He defeated Álvaro Beltrán in the final, 11–9, 11–4, 11–7, and then teamed up with Beltran to win the doubles title – with friend Beltran as his partner – by defeating Rocky Carson and Jose Diaz, 15–12, 15–14. That was one of three finals De La Rosa was in during the 2016–17 IRT season, and helped him finish 3rd again.
De La Rosa's 3rd career IRT title came in January 2018 at the LA Open in Canoga Park, California, where he defeated Jansen Allen in the quarterfinals, 15–2, 15–3, Rocky Carson in the semi-finals, 15–5, 15–7, and then got a forfeit win over Kane Waselenchuk in the final, as Waselenchuk injured his left knee during his semi-final match. He was in one other final in the 2017–18 season, but also lost four times in the Round of 16, which is the most losses he's had in the 16s. Thus, his ranking slipped a place to 4th at season's end.[2]
In 2018–19, De La Rosa was in three finals on the IRT, but failed to win any of them. He slid further down the rankings, finishing 6th at season's end.[2]
First US Open victory and becoming No. 1 on the IRT – 2020–present
In the 2019–20 IRT season, De La Rosa was in two finals, winning the 42nd Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he defeated Rocky Carson in the quarterfinals, 15–12, 15–11, Conrrado Moscoso in the semi-finals, 15–8, 15–11, and then Eduardo Portillo in the final, 15–14, 15–9.[22] He also won Men's Doubles in Sioux Falls, as he and Álvaro Beltrán defeated Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya in the final, 15–13, 10–15, 11–2.[23] Still, he finished 6th at season's end once again.[2]
Then in 2021, De La Rosa won three consecutive IRT tournaments, including 2021 US Open, which was his first US Open title. The run began with a win in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where he beat Conrrado Moscoso in the final, 15–7, 15–13, after defeating Eduardo Portillo, 15–5, 10–15, 11–2, in the semi-finals, and Andree Parrilla in the quarterfinals, 15–10, 15–10.[24] It continued with a win at the Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, where De La Rosa defeated Jake Bredenbeck in the final, 15–10, 13–15, 11–1, after defeating Samuel Murray, 15–10, 15–12, in the semi-finals.[25] Again, he and Beltran won Men's Doubles beating Parrilla and Portillo in the final, 15–8, 15–8, after wins over Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 15–12, 15–11, in the semi-finals, and Sudsy Monchik and Kane Waselenchuk, 15–14, 15–14, in the quarterfinals.[26]
Most recently, De La Rosa won the 2021 US Open in Minneapolis by defeating Carlos Keller, 15–13, 11–15, 11–3, in the final. In the semi-finals, he defeated Andree Parrilla, 6–15, 15–10, 11–5, and in the quarterfinals, Eduardo Portillo, 15–13, 15–8.[27] Also in Minneapolis, De La Rosa and Beltran won Men's Doubles, as they beat Alejandro Landa and Samuel Murray in the final, 15–11, 15–11. They defeated Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 15–12, 10–15, 11–8, in the semi-finals, and Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso in the quarterfinals, 15–14, 14–15, 11–4.[28] The US Open win and his other titles in 2021 helped De La Rosa finish the year as the IRT's No. 1 player.[2]
In 2022, De La Rosa won twice on the IRT, and that helped him finish No. 1 at season's end for a second consecutive year.[2]
In 2023, De La Rosa decided to switch from playing internationally for Mexico to the USA. So, he played the USA Racquetball national championships for the first time. At the 2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships, De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa won Men's Doubles. They defeated Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck, 12–10, 6–11, 11–7, 10–12, 11–2, in the semi-finals, and then Wayne Antone and Adam Manilla, 15-13, 11-5, 11-8, in the final.[29] In mixed doubles, he and Holly Scott reached the final with a win over Landa and Michelle Key, 14-12, 11-3, 11-9, but then lost to Adam Manilla and Erika Manilla, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9.[30]
De La Rosa won the 2023 USA Racquetball National Singles Championship, defeating Adam Manilla in the final, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, and Alejandro Landa, 11–9, 11–9, 11–3, in the semi-finals.[31] The win qualified him to play for the USA at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Thus, De La Rosa made his Team USA debut at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where he played singles, doubles and in the team event. In Men's Singles, he lost to Mexican Eduardo Portillo, 10-12, 13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 14-12, in the quarterfinals. He played Men's Doubles with Alejandro Landa, and they lost to Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray, 4-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4, in the quarterfinals.[32] But in the Men's Team event, the USA defeated Ecuador in the quarterfinals, and then lost to Bolivia in the semi-finals, with De La Rosa and Landa winning the doubles match against Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10, 11-13, 11-4, but Moscoso defeated De La Rosa, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, in the deciding singles match.[33]
In 2023, De La Rosa won three times on the IRT, and that helped him finish No. 1 at season's end for the third year running.[2]
Professional Pickleball Career
De La Rosa began competing professionally in Pickleball in 2021, and quickly began to attract attention in the industry. He signed a 3-year contract exclusively with the PPA in July 2024, and has been competing in Major League Pickleball since January 2023.[34] His MLP career includes stints in 2023 with the Austin Pickleballers and the Dallas Pickleball Club, and he was drafted by the Brooklyn Aces for the 2024 season.[35] He owns two MLP titles: Advil Targeted Relief MLP Mid-Season Tournament (July 2024) and MLP San Clemente (June 2023).
Racquetball Career summary
De La Rosa has been in 31 IRT finals, winning 12 times over 111 tournaments (as of December 12, 2023).[2] His IRT wins are highlighted by the 2021 US Open Championship.
Rocky Carson is an American professional racquetball player. Carson has won a record 5 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Men's Singles, and 2 Pan American Games gold medals in singles. He was the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in 2007-08 & 2017–18. Carson has also played outdoor racquetball, and in 2008, he became the first man to win Men's Singles at the World Outdoor Championship, as well as the indoor IRF World Championship, and US Open. Carson has won 27 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) titles and has been ranked in the top 10 for a record 23 seasons.
Jack Huczek is a retired American racquetball player. Huczek was a 3 time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men's Singles, and he was the #1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) player at the end of the 2006–2007 season. Huczek announced his retirement on May 24, 2011.
Álvaro Beltrán, is a Mexican professional racquetball player. Beltrán is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men's Doubles with Daniel De La Rosa, winning the title in 2022 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He was the second man to win both Men's Singles and Men's Doubles at the Racquetball World Championships. His six world titles tie him for 3rd most in IRF history. Beltran has been a top 10 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) for 18 seasons.
Jose Rojas is a professional racquetball player. Rojas's highest ranking is #3 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), which he was at the end of the 2011–12 season. At the end of the 2014–15 season, Rojas was #6, which was his sixth time in the IRT top 10 at season's end. Rojas has represented the USA several times in international competition, and been a gold medalist three times.
Sebastian Franco is a Colombian racquetball player. Franco is a former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men's Doubles, winning the title in 2014 with Alejandro Herrera. In 2018, Franco became the first South American to win a tournament on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), when he won the March Madness event in San Antonio. He finished the IRT's Top 10 four straight seasons – from 2015–16 to 2018–19 – with a career high ranking of 6th in 2017–18.
Alejandro Landa is a Mexican-born American retired racquetball player. Landa is a former World Champion in Men's Singles, winning the title in Guatemala City in December 2021 while playing for the USA. Previously, he'd represented Mexico internationally, winning gold in Men's Singles and Doubles at the 2017 Pan American Championships. Landa also won four titles on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
Samuel Murray is a Canadian racquetball player. He is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men's Doubles, winning the title with Coby Iwaasa in 2024. Previously, Murray was the 2022 Pan American Champion in Men's Doubles. He has won twice on the International Racquetball Tour, and is only the second Canadian to win on the IRT, and been ranked as high as #3. He is the current Canadian Champion in Men's Singles, winning the title for a sixth time in 2024.
Coby Iwaasa is a Canadian racquetball player. He is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men's Doubles, winning the title with Samuel Murray in 2024. Previously, Iwaasa and Murray won the 2022 Pan American Championships Men's Doubles title, and he won two silver medals at the Racquetball at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.
Gabriela Martinez is a Guatemalan racquetball player. Martinez is the current Pan American Games Champion in women's doubles. She is a former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in the women's singles, winning the title at the 2018 World Championships. Martinez has competed on the Guatemala National Team at international tournaments since 2012, garnering many medals across her career.
Conrrado Moscoso is a Bolivian racquetball player. He is a former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men's Singles World Champion, which he won at the 2022 Racquetball World Championships in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Moscoso is the first Bolivian and first South American man to win an IRF World Championship in singles. Moscoso is also the current two time Pan American Champion in Men's Singles as well as the Pan American Champion in Mixed Doubles. He also won gold in Men's Singles at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, as well as helping Bolivia to successfully defend the Men's Team gold medal they first won at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, which was the first gold medal won by Bolivia in any sport at the Pan American Games. Moscoso has also won multiple times on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), including the 2022 US Open, and been in the IRT top 10 for four seasons beginning in 2019–20.
Carlos Keller is a Bolivian racquetball player. Keller was on the Bolivian Men's Team that won back to back gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2019 and 2023. Their first gold medal at the 2019 games in Lima, Peru was Bolivia's first racquetball gold medal at the Pan Am Games, and they successfully defended that gold at the 2023 Games in Santiago, Chile. He was also part of the Bolivian men's team that won gold at the 2022 Pan American Racquetball Championships, which was Keller's third gold medal at Pan Am Championships to go with his two Men's Singles titles, won in 2018 and 2019.
Mario Mercado is a Bolivian-born Colombian racquetball player. He has won several medals for Colombia, highlighted by a silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Games in the men's team event. He has also won on the International Racquetball Tour.
Rodrigo Montoya is a Mexican racquetball player. He is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in both the Men's Team competition and Mixed Doubles, winning those titles at the 2022 Championships in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. That was his 4th IRF World Championship, as he won the 2018 Men's Singles in Costa Rica and the 2021 Men's Doubles with Javier Mar in Guatemala City, so Montoya is the first player to win singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Worlds. He is also the current Pan American Games champion in Men's Doubles with Mar, winning the title at the 2023 Pan Am Games in Santiago. Montoya is also the current Pan American Champion in Men's Singles and the Men's Team event, winning those titles at the 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City.
Andree Parrilla is a Mexican racquetball player. He has won 3 major singles titles and 6 doubles titles on the International Racquetball Tour, and represented Mexico at international competitions.
Andrés Acuña is a Costa Rican racquetball player. He is the current World Games champion in racquetball, winning gold at the 2022 World Games, in Birmingham, Alabama. Acuña is also the current Pan American Champion in Men's Doubles, winning the title in Guatemala City in 2024. He was runner up at the 2021 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) 2021 World Championships in Men's Singles in Guatemala.
Jake Bredenbeck is an American racquetball player. Bredenbeck is a four time USA Racquetball (USAR) National Champion: three times in Men's Singles and once in Men's Doubles. He's also won on the International Racquetball Tour, and represented the USA internationally.
Erika Manilla is an American racquetball player. Manilla is the current Pan American Games Champion in Mixed Doubles, winning gold with her brother Adam at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She also won doubles at the 2022 US Open Racquetball Championships with Natalia Mendez, and has won six USA Racquetball (USAR) National titles.
Eduardo Portillo is a Mexican racquetball player, who has represented Mexico at the Pan American Games and the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, as well as competing on the International Racquetball Tour. He's the current Central American and Caribbean Games champion in Men's Singles and Mixed Doubles (with Paola Longoria, winning the titles in 2023.
Javier Mar is a Mexican racquetball player. Mar is the current two time Pan American Games champion in Men's Doubles with Rodrigo Montoya, first winning gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and then again at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. He's a former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men's Doubles with Montoya, winning that title in 2021. Mar has also won doubles titles on the International Racquetball Tour.
Adam Manilla is an American racquetball player. He is the current Pan American Games champion in Mixed Doubles winning the title in Santiago, Chile, with his sister Erika Manilla in 2023. He also helped the USA win the Men's Team title at the 2024 Racquetball World Championships in San Antonio, Texas. A left-handed player, Manilla has also won doubles titles on the International Racquetball Tour.
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