Another Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) tournament and another upset win for Erika Manilla. This time the American defeated Guatemalan Gabriela Martinez, 15-13, 14-15, 11-8, in the Round of 16 at the 2022 LPRT Boston Open in Marlborough, Massachusetts on Friday. Although Martinez had a big lead in game two at 8-1, Manilla came back and had three chances to win it in two straight games, but couldn’t, as Martinez forced a tie-breaker. In the breaker, Manilla went up early, leading 10-2 and although Martinez came back to make it close, it was really just a matter of time before Manilla finished the game, winning when Martinez skipped a forehand serve return off a drive serve to the right side on what was Manilla’s 8th match point, and 5th in game three.
Manilla will play 5th Natalia Mendez next in the quarterfinals on Saturday, as Mendez came back from a game down to defeat her fellow Argentine player 12th seed Valeria Centellas, 10-15, 15-12, 11-7.
Cristina Amaya, the 19th seed, almost had a bigger upset than Manilla, as she had a chance to win against 3rd seed Maria Jose Vargas. But it was the Argentine player who prevailed over the Colombian, holding on to win in three games, 15-14, 14-15, 11-6. In the quarterfinals, Vargas will play 6th Angelica Barrios of Bolivia, as Barrios defeated 11th seed Carla Muñoz of Chile, 15-10, 15-13.
Paola Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, had some difficulty in her match with 17th seed Hollie Scott, but did win in two games, 15-12, 15-11. Scott was up in game one, 8-3 and 11-5, but she couldn’t close it out, as Longoria came back and tied it at 12-12. In doing so, Longoria used half lob serves, mostly to the left side - Scott’s backhand. Also, notable Scott didn’t take a timeout until Longoria led 14-12.
In game two, the were close early, and tied at 8-8. But again it was Longoria who made the push from there. In this case, she did so with some good drive serves to put Scott under pressure. Scott did fight off two match points at 14-11, but couldn’t score herself. And again she didn’t call any timeouts. Odd.
Longoria will play her long time doubles partner Samantha Salas, as the 8th seeded Salas beat 9th seed Rhonda Rajsich, 15-8, 15-6, in a battle of two veterans players.
LPRT #2 Alexandra Herrera of Mexico defeated 15th seeded American Kelani Lawrence, 15-10, 15-10, and will take on her doubles partner 7th seed Montserrat Mejia, who beat 10th seed Brenda Laime, 15-8, 15-1, in what was an all Mexican showdown. Thus, there will be no Laime upset of a 2nd seed this weekend, which has happened twice before this season.
In the doubles quarterfinals, 6th seeds Lawrence and Scott upset the 3rd seeds Mendez and Vargas, 15-13, 15-12, Friday night. They’ll play 2nd seeds Herrera and Mejia, who had to come back from a game down to get past 7th seeds Brenda Laime and Manilla, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5.
On the top of the draw, #1 seeds Longoria and Salas beat 9th seeds Sheryl Lotts and Rajsich, 15-12, 15-4. Lotts and Rajsich had a chance late in game one, as they were tied at 12-12 and serving. But they couldn’t score, and when Longoria and Salas got back in the service box, they finished out the game.
In the semi-finals Saturday, Longoria and Salas will play 4th seeds Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, who had to come from a game back to defeat 5th seeds Angelica Barrios and Valeria Centellas, 10-15, 15-7, 11-5.
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 semi-finals will be Saturday evening at 6 and 7 PM 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 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Hollie Scott, 15-12, 15-11
8) Samantha Salas d. 9) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-8, 15-6
5) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Valeria Centellas, 10-15, 15-12, 11-7
13) Erika Manilla d. 4) Gabriela Martinez, 15-13, 14-15, 11-8
3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 19) Cristina Amaya, 15-14, 14-15, 11-6
6) Angelica Barrios d. 11) Carla Muñoz, 15-10, 15-13
7) Montserrat Mejia d. 10) Brenda Laime, 15-8, 15-1
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 15) Kelani Lawrence, 15-10, 15-10
LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Samantha Salas - 11 AM
5) Natalia Mendez v. 13) Erika Manilla - 11 AM
3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Angelica Barrios - 10 AM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 7) Montserrat Mejia - 10 AM
LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 9) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-12, 15-4
4) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 5) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas, 10-15, 15-7, 11-5
6) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 15-12
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Brenda Laime & Erika Manilla, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5
LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
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