ESCAZÚ, COSTA RICA — The international racquetball spotlight turns to Central America this week as Costa Rica officially hosts the opening stop of the new International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the prestigious Costa Rica Open IRT 600 will take place from Wednesday through Saturday at the Costa Rica Country Club in Escazú.
Star-Studded International Lineup
The 2026 edition features a prominent roster of players ranked among the very best in the world. Costa Rica’s marquee star will be Andrés Acuña, currently ranked No. 3 in the world and seeded first in the tournament. Playing on home soil, Acuña will look to leverage home-court advantage to fight for the title in front of an enthusiastic local crowd.
However, the road to the championship will be tough, with top international competition in attendance:
- 🇲🇽 Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) – World No. 5
- 🇧🇴 Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) – World No. 6
- 🇲🇽 Andree Parrilla (Mexico) – World No. 8
- 🇲🇽 Javier Mar (Mexico) – World No. 10
“Playing at home as the top seed brings immense pride. The level of talent this year is extraordinary, and we are ready to give it our all on the court.”
A Packed Week of Competition Across All Divisions
Beyond the marquee IRT professional tournament, the week will feature parallel divisions bringing together approximately 80 national and international athletes:
- IRT Pro & Open: Elite world-ranked players and open competitors
- Élite A & Élite B: High-level amateur and competitive talent
- Senior +45: Veteran competitors
- Femenino Open & Junior 14: Women’s open and youth divisions
- Junior 14: Youth development division
Riding High After Historic Medal Sweep
The Costa Rica Open arrives at a peak moment for national racquetball, coming right on the heels of a landmark performance by the Costa Rican delegation at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.
In Santo Domingo, Costa Rica captured an impressive total of seven medals:
- 🥇 1 Gold
- 🥈 1 Silver
- 🥉 5 Bronze
Years of quiet, consistent dedication behind the scenes have propelled Costa Rican racquetball into the international spotlight, making this week’s IRT season opener a celebration of the sport’s tremendous growth in the region.
