2016 LPRT Atlanta Championships - Preview

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) begins its 2016-17 season today with the LPRT Atlanta Championships in Lilburn, Georgia. There will be some differences this season compared to last season. One is that Paola Longoria, the LPRT's #1 player, will not win all the events, as she isn't in Georgia this weekend. Longoria is at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro doing media work for a Mexican television station.

Another difference this season is that the LPRT has an agreement with Penn Racquetballs to use their balls in LPRT competition after several seasons of using Ektelon racquetballs. Initially, the LPRT will play with the Pro Penn Green ball, but there are plans to develop another racquetball for the LPRT.

Rhonda Rajsich is the top seed in Georgia this weekend, and Frédérique Lambert is the second seed, as LPRT #3 Maria Jose Vargas is also absent this weekend. Jessica Parrilla is 3rd seed, Sofia Rascon 4th and Alexandra Herrera 5th seed.

There are other good players in the draw, including Cristina Amaya, veteran left-hander Susana Acosta, and American junior Jordan Cooperrider, but one have to think that Rajsich and Lambert will meet in the final, which would be a toss up.

The Rounds of 32 and 16 will be played Friday with the quarterfinals and semi-finals on Saturday and final on Sunday at noon eastern. You can watch the action via the LPRT LiveStream channel.

2016 LPRT Atlanta Championships
Lilburn, Georgia - August 12-14

Round of 32

1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
16) Sharon Jackson v. 17) Maritza Franco

9) Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) T. J. Baumbaugh - BYE

13) Cecilia Pratt v. 20) Robin Whitmire
4) Sofia Rascon - BYE

3) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
14) Laura Brandt v. 19) Arrisa Hanson

11) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
6) Susana Acosta - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes - BYE

15) Jordan Cooperrider v. 18) Regina Franco
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….