Paola Longoria defeated Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-0, 9-11, 11-2, to win the 2017 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland Sunday. Longoria beat Lambert again in the LPRT doubles final, when she teamed up with Alexandra Herrera to defeat Lambert and Jessica Parrilla, 15-13, 15-6.
In the singles final, each game had one of the players taking a 5-0 lead. In game one, Longoria got up by that margin, and then Lambert scored two points to make it 5-2. Lambert didn’t score again until the start of game three.
But in game three, Lambert took the early lead at 7-0. It was easy to imagine that there was going to be a long match now, especially when Lambert got to ten at 10-5. Then Longoria came back to 10-9, and it was easy to imagine she’d end it in three. However, Lambert was able to close out game three on her third game point, which was a drive serve ace to the left side.
Game four reverted to the pattern of games one and two, as Longoria went up 8-0, and pushed on to win decisively, 11-2, as Lambert skipped a backhand serve return on match point.
The first game of the doubles final was close, and Lambert and Parrilla actually led 9-8. But Longoria and Herrera got the next six points, reaching game point at 14-9. Lambert got her side the serve back with a backhand pinch shot, and she and Parrilla ran four points to get within one at 14-13.
A marginal avoidable call on Lambert ended that run. But Longoria and Herrera didn’t score off it, as Lambert and Parrilla in turn hit winners on the next two rallies. But they couldn’t score with the back, which gave Longoria and Herrera a chance to end the game, and the left-handed Herrera did so with a forehand pinch shot, 15-13.
In game two, Longoria and Herrera jumped out to a 5-1 lead, and Lambert and Parrilla were never closer than that, as Longoria and Herrera went on to win it, 15-6, and take the match in two straight games.
The 2017-18 LPRT season will continue in January with the Sweet Caroline Open in Greenville, South Carolina, January 26-28. If you missed any of this weekend’s action, you can see it via the LPRT YouTube channel.
2017 Christmas Classic
Laurel, Maryland - December 8-10, 2017
LPRT Singles - Final
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-0, 9-11, 11-2
LPRT Doubles - Final
1) Paola Longoria & Alexandra Herrera d. 3) Jessica Parrilla & Frédérique Lambert, 15-13, 15-6
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, December 10, 2017
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