Racquetball is a racquet sport and a team sport played with a hollow rubber ball on an indoor or outdoor court. Joseph Sobek invented the modern sport of racquetball in 1950, adding a stringed racquet to paddleball in order to increase velocity and control. Unlike most racquet sports, such as tennis and badminton, there is no net to hit the ball over, and, unlike squash, no tin to hit the ball above. Also, the court's walls, floor, and ceiling are legal playing surfaces, with the exception of court-specific designated hinders being out-of-bounds. Racquetball is played between various players on a team who try to bounce the ball with the racquet onto the ground so it hits the wall, so that an opposing team’s player cannot bounce it back to the wall.
Heather Pamela McKay is an Australian retired squash player, who is considered by many to be the greatest female player in the history of the game, and possibly also Australia's greatest-ever sportswoman. She dominated the women's squash game in the 1960s and 1970s, winning 16 consecutive British Open titles from 1962 to 1977, and capturing the inaugural women's World Open title in 1976, while remaining undefeated during that period. She was also a top-level player of other sports, including field hockey and racquetball.
Sudsy Monchik, is an American racquetball player. As a five-time Pro World Champion, Monchik is one of the top 3 players in the history of the sport. Monchik was known for his power and speed, as well as his shot-making ability, especially his backhand, which many believe is the best in the game. Sudsy revolutionized the sport with his electric personality combined with his tremendous shot power from both his backhand and forehand along with his jaw dropping shot making ability. Sudsy only competed professionally for 7 seasons. Due to a back condition identified as Spondylolisthesis and broken foot known as a Jones Fracture which needed surgery, he had to retire early. There are many that believe if he had been healthy he would have shattered all the records. Sudsy only played 7 healthy seasons on the professional tour and finished the season as the #1 player in the world an astonishing 5 times. Sudsy is the true ambassador to Racquetball worldwide. Sudsy made another outstanding comeback with a win in the 2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships with partner Rocky Carson. Sudsy will now represent Team USA in San Jose, Costa Rica for the World Championships in August 2018. Sudsy's wife, Veronica Sotomayor is the most decorated racquetball player in the history of her home country of Ecuador.
The European Racquetball Championships are organized every two years by the European Racquetball Federation (ERF), since 1981, to determine the strongest national racquetball teams and individual male and female players in Europe.
The XIV Racquetball European Championship was held in Brembate (Italy) from July 28 to August 4, 2007, with six men's national teams and four women's national teams in competition. On August 1 started the individual competition.
The World Racquetball Championships is the top international racquetball competition organized by the International Racquetball Federation (IRF).
The UnitedHealthcare US Open Racquetball Championships is the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour, respectively. Beginning in 2014, the US Open added a pro doubles division. The US Open also has divisions for amateur players, and hundreds of people participate each year. Overall, there were 708 participants in 2021, and 732 participants in 2019.
The XV Racquetball European Championships were held in Nanterre, near Paris, (France) from August 3 to 9 2009, with seven men's national teams and three women's national teams in competition. On August 6 started the individual, doubles, senior and junior competitions.
The European Racquetball Tour (ERT) is composed by several racquetball tournaments in Europe. It was established in 1999 and is promoted by the European Racquetball Federation.
Germany national racquetball team represents the German Racquetball Federation in racquetball international competitions. Competes as a member of the European Racquetball Federation and International Racquetball Federation. Germany has won the European Championships 5 times in men's competition and 4 in overall's.
The Italy national racquetball team represents the Federazione Italiana Racquetball in racquetball international competitions. Is a member of the European Racquetball Federation and International Racquetball Federation.
Ben Croft is an American racquetball player. Croft's a former racquetball World Champion, winning men's doubles in 2010 with Mitch Williams. His personal best ranking on the International Racquetball Tour was 3rd at the end of the 2010–11 season. Croft has been in the top 10 every IRT season since he turned pro in 2007. He often dives to keep the ball in play, earning his nickname "Racquetball's Crash Test Dummy".
The XVIII Racquetball European Championships were held in Hamburg, (Germany) from June 24–27, 2015, with only 3 countries represented. The EURO 2015 were under the patronage of the city of Hamburg.
Michelle Key is an American racquetball player. Key is the current Pan American Champion in Mixed Doubles. She also has two medals from the Pan American Games. She earned silver in the Women's Team event in Toronto in 2015 and bronze in the Women's Team event in Santiago in 2023. Key was ranked 7th at the end of the 2014-15 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season.
The XVI Racquetball European Championships were held in Bad Tölz, near Munich, (Germany) from August 1 to 7 2011, with five countries represented. The venue was the Racquetball Club Bad Tölz e.V., with 3 regulation racquetball courts. 50 players competed in the singles, doubles, junior and senior competitions. The opening ceremony was on August 1 with the vice president of the European Racquetball Federation, Mike Mesecke, and the president of the German Racquetball Federation, Jörg Ludwig.
The XIX Racquetball European Championships were held in The Hague, (Netherlands) from September 13 to 16 2017, with four men's national teams and three women's national teams in competition. No senior or junior competitions were held in The Hague due to the lack of court time. This marks the first time since 1995 that the European Racquetball Championships were not held in one venue.
The XVII Racquetball European Championships were held in Brembate, (Italy) from July 15 -20 2013, with men's national and women's national teams in competition. In addition to the European Championships, the European Racquetball Masters and Junior Racquetball Championships were held at the same time. The venue was the Centro Communale Spotivo di Brembate, with 2 regulation racquetball court. The opening ceremony was held on July 19.
The XX Racquetball European Championships were held in Hamburg, (Germany) from September 5 to 07 2019, with four men's national teams and two women's national teams in competition. One senior and junior competition could be held as well.
Zoetermeer, Netherlands 
Mike Mesecke
Carlo Papini
