Longoria & Salas win semi-finals at 2020 LPRT Boston Open

Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), defeated Adriana Riveros, 15-4, 15-1, in the semi-finals of the 2020 Boston Open in Marlborough, Massachusetts Saturday to advance to Sunday’s final. Riveros, the 13th seed, was a surprise semi-finalist, but her glass slipper was broken by Longoria, who will play in her 8th LPRT final in as many events this season. She’s won seven of those finals.

Samantha Salas, LPRT #3, will be Longoria's opponent in Sunday's final, as she came back to defeat LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas, 13-15, 15-14, 11-3, in the other semi-final, which was a crazy match. Salas led 10-1 in game one, but lost it, 15-13. Vargas was up 14-11 in game two, but failed to convert her two match point opportunities, as Salas came back to win 15-14.

Then, as often seems to happen after two close games, the tie-breaker wasn’t close. Salas got up 6-2 and then 9-4, when Vargas made an appeal without any appeals left, which meant she was assessed a technical, making the score 9-3. Salas hit forehand winners on the next two rallies to end it, 11-3.

Afterwards, Salas said it’s “always a battle against Maria,” and she was “really happy” to win, after playing well in the match. Salas has been working on her backhand technique with her coach Jim Winterton, and it’s “paying off,” as she’s into her first final this season.

In the doubles semi-finals, Longoria and Salas teamed up to beat Jessica Parrilla and Erin Rivera, 15-2, 15-3. They’ll face Vargas and Natalia Mendez, who were winners over Kelani Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts, 15-5, 15-11.

You can watch the Boston Open finals live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click “LPRT Live” at the top of the page) on Sunday. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final at 1. All times eastern.

2020 LPRT Boston Open, March 6-8, 2020
Marlborough, Massachusetts

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 13) Adriana Riveros, 15-4, 15-1
3) Samantha Salas d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 13-15, 15-14, 11-3

Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Samantha Salas - Noon

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 5) Jessica Parrilla & Erin Rivera, 15-2, 15-3
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Kelani Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts, 15-5, 15-11

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….