Natalia Mendez was the upset winner in the quarterfinals of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) draw at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, as she defeated the 4th seed Samantha Salas, 15-14, 15-12, in the quarterfinals of pro singles.
Near the end of both games in the Mendez Salas match there was some controversy. In game one, Mendez was serving at 14-14, and on the ensuing rally Salas held up as Mendez seemed to be hindering her shot. Salas thought it was a penalty hinder, or avoidable, but the referee called a non-penalty hinder, so Mendez maintained the serve. She won the game on the next rally.
Salas led for much of game two, but Mendez caught up at 12-12, and then got three points to end the match in two games. But on the last rally, which had some great gets by both players, including a dive by Salas, Mendez hit the ball from a front court position, and Salas thought it skipped. However, the referee called it good. It wasn’t clear whether the shot skipped or not, and the match commentators suggested the referee couldn’t see the shot clearly, which means the shot is assumed to be good.
Thus, Salas was hard done by near the end of both games.
The higher seeds won the other quarterfinals. Top seed Alexandra Herrera beat 8th seed Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-9, and will play Mendez in the semi-finals Saturday.
On the bottom of the draw, 3rd seed Maria Jose Vargas defeated 11th seed Nancy Enriquez, 15-10, 15-8, and will play 10th seed Gabriela Martinez who was a winner over 15th seed Brenda Laime, 15-3, 15-7.
The LPRT semi-finals will be Saturday 9:15 AM and then 12:15 PM with the final Sunday at 11:15 AM. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.
World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Alexandra Herrera d. 8) Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-9
5) Natalia Mendez d. 4) Samantha Salas, 15-14, 15-12
3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 11) Nancy Enriquez, 15-10, 15-8
10) Gabriela Martinez d. 15) Brenda Laime, 15-3, 15-7
LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Alexandra Herrera v. 5) Natalia Mendez - 12:15 PM
3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Gabriela Martinez - 9:15 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
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