2016 United Healthcare US Open - LPRT Singles Round of 32

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Round of 32 has begun at the 2016 United Healthcare US Open, and already there are upsets. More than one. In fact, more than two. Natalia Mendez has the biggest win, as she ousted 4th seed Alexandra Herrera in four games, 7-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-6. Mendez will play another upset winner in the Round of 16 in 20th seed Cecilia Pratt, who defeated 13th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8.

Mendez or Pratt will be a US Open quarterfinalist.

After winning a five game match late last night the luck ran out for Janel Tisinger, who fell in straight games to 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4. Parrilla plays 21st seed Jessica Maldonado, who upset 12th seed Adrienne Haynes, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7.

And there have been wins from two junior players. Guatemalan junior Gabriela Martinez, the 19th seed, defeated 14th seed Veronica Sotomayor, who was a semi-finalist here last year, 11-0, 12-10, 11-7, and American junior Jordan Cooperrider, seeded 22nd, beat 11th seed Adriana Riveros, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4. In the 16s, Martinez faces either 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich or Eleni Guzman, and Cooperrider will play either 6th seed Samantha Salas or Jenny Daza.

Dramatic comeback by 10th seed Michelle Key, who dropped the first two games against 23rd seed Sharon Jackson, and was down 10-7 in the fifth. But she managed to pull it out, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, fighting off four match points along the way. An ace drive serve to the left got Key to 11-10, and on the next rally she hit a shot that wrapped around the court into the back left corner. Jackson swung at it, but failed to make contact, giving Key the match.

The LPRT Round of 32 continues Thursday with the Round of 16 to follow Thursday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals on Saturday, and the LPRT final of the 2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open will be Sunday at 10 AM at the Life Time Athletic Target Center club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2016 UnitedHealthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 5-9, 2016

LPRT Singles Round of 32 - Thursday

1 Paola Longoria d. Youngock Lee, 11-3, 11-0, 11-1
16 Monserrat Mejia d. 17 Carolina Rivera, 11-2, 11-1, 11-8

9 Susana Acosta d. 24 Laura Brandt, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2
8 Carla Muñoz d. Hollie Scott, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10

5 Jessica Parrilla d. Janel Tisinger, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4
21 Jessica Maldonado d. 12 Adrianne Haynes, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7

20 Cecilia Pratt d. 13 Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8
Natalia Mendez d. 4 Alexandra Herrera, 7-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-6

3 Rhonda Rajsich d. Eleni Guzman, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7
19 Gabriela Martinez d. 14 Veronica Sotomayor, 11-0, 12-10, 11-7

22 Jordan Cooperrider d. 11 Adriana Riveros, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4
6 Samantha Salas d. Jenny Daza, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7

7 Cristina Amaya d. Maritza Franco, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3
10 Michelle Key d. 23 Sharon Jackson, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10

15 Sheryl Lotts d. 18 Da’monique Davis, 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6
2 Frédérique Lambert d. Erika Manilla, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7

LPRT Singles Round of 32 - Thursday

1 Paola Longoria v. 16 Monserrat Mejia
8 Carla Muñoz v. 9 Susana Acosta

5 Jessica Parrilla v. 21 Jessica Maldonado
20 Cecilia Pratt v. Natalia Mendez

3 Rhonda Rajsich v. 19 Gabriela Martinez
6 Samantha Salas v. 22 Jordan Cooperrider

7 Cristina Amaya v. 10 Michelle Key
2 Frédérique Lambert v. 15 Sheryl Lotts

Follow the bouncing ball….