2022 LPRT Boston Open - Preview

The 2022 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Boston Open begins Friday in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and there are 24 players in the draw, including 19 of the top 20 LPRT players. So, the field is stacked! Leading the field, of course, is Mexican Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, but she’s not the most recent winner on tour. Rather LPRT #2 Alexandra Herrera of Mexico is, as Herrera got the better of Longoria two weeks ago in the Vero Beach Open final.

The win was Herrera’s first career LPRT title, and she also won doubles with fellow Mexican Montserrat Mejia, defeating Longoria and Maria Renee Rodriguez in the final. Such a strong field of players will make it difficult for Herrera to get back to back wins, but it might be even more difficult on the doubles side, as Samantha Salas - Longoria’s usual doubles partner - is in Boston, and they are the top seeds with Herrera and Mejia 2nd seeds. If Herrera does win back to back singles titles, she would be the first women to do so - not named Longoria - since October 2010, when Rhonda Rajsich won the US Open after winning in Cali, Colombia in September.

A strong field means there will be fun matches right from the get go. American Erika Manilla takes on current World Junior Champion Micaela Meneses from Bolivia in the Round of 32 with the winner facing 4th seed Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala. Also in the 32s, two veteran players Cristina Amaya of Colombia and Mexico’s Nancy Enriquez playoff with the winner going up against 3rd seed Maria Jose Vargas.

The 16/17 match will be 16th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala versus 17th seed American Hollie Scott with Longoria awaiting the winner. Herrera will play an American in the 16s, as two USA players - 15th seed Kelani Lawrence and 18th seed Sheryl Lotts - play each other in the 32s.

Perhaps more concerning for Herrera is that Brenda Laime of Mexico is the 10th seed, so could play the 2nd seed in the quarterfinals. That could be a concern as Laime has twice been an upset winner over 2nd seeded players this season, and one of those wins was over Herrera at the US Open. But Laime will need to beat 23rd seed Annie Roberts of the USA in the 32s and then 7th seed Mejia in the 16s to get a chance at Herrera this weekend. However, the other time Laime upset a 2nd seed this season she beat Mejia. Perhaps the stars will align for Laime in Massachusetts.

The Round of 32 begins Friday morning with the Round of 16 to follow in the afternoon. The quarterfinals will be 10 and 11 AM Saturday morning with the semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM, and the final on Sunday at noon. The doubles begin Friday afternoon with the 16s, and then the quarters will be Friday evening with the semis Saturday evening and final at 1 PM Sunday. All times Eastern. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

LPRT Boston Open
March 4-6, 2022 - Marlborough, Massachusetts

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Hollie Scott v. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez - Noon

9) Rhonda Rajsich v. 24) Camila Rivero - Noon
8) Samantha Salas - BYE

5) Natalia Mendez - BYE
12) Valeria Centellas v. 21) Daniela Rico - 10 AM

13) Erika Manilla d. 20) Micaela Meneses - 10 AM
4) Gabriela Martinez - BYE

3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Nancy Enriquez v. 19) Cristina Amaya - 10 AM

11) Carla Muñoz v. 22) Jenny Daza - 11 AM
6) Angelica Barrios - BYE

7) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
10) Brenda Laime v. 23) Annie Roberts - 11 AM

15) Kelani Lawrence v. 18) Sheryl Lotts - 11 AM
2) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

LPRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Micaela Meneses & Carla Muñoz v. 9) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 1 PM

5) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas v. 12) Camila Rivero & Annie Roberts - Noon
4) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 11) Cristina Amaya & Jenny Daza - 1 PM

7) Brenda Laime & Erika Manilla v. 10) Nancy Enriquez & Daniela Rico - 1 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….