2024 LPRT Boston Open - Preview

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is back in action this weekend at the LPRT Boston Open in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Play begins Friday, and there are 20 players in the field, including 12 of the top 14 players, led by LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia, #2 Maria Jose Vargas, who’s won three tournaments this season, and former #1 Paola Longoria in the #3 spot.

But perhaps the most interesting player in the draw is former LPRT #2 Fredérique Lambert, who hasn’t played an LPRT event since the 2019 US Open. Thus, the current Canadian champion is the lowest seed in the draw, which is likely unfortunate for Maria Paz Riquelme, who’ll face Lambert in the Round of 32, and LPRT #4 Brenda Laime, who’ll play the winner of that match in the Round of 16.

Lambert’s participation is likely due in part to play doubles with Juliette Parent, who is Canada’s #2 player, and that partnership may be one that could happen at this year’s International Racquetball Federation (IRF)World Championships in San Antonio. They will play Naomi Ros and Lexi York in the first round of doubles with the winner to face top seeds Alexandra Herrera and Mejia. In singles, Parent will face Stephanie Synhorst in the 32s with the winner going up against Vargas in the Round of 16.

Some of the interesting early round matches will be the 8/9 match between 8th seed Carla Muñoz and 9th seed Kelani Lawrence, as well as the 7/10 match between 7th seed Angelica Barrios and 10th seed Natalia Mendez. Also, the Mexican showdown between Alexandra Herrera and Jessica Parrilla and the battle of LPRT veterans between Samantha Salas and Cristina Amaya should be good.

The doubles draw has some interesting matches also. Fourth seeds Kelani Lawrence and Jessica Parrilla versus 5th seeds Angelica Barrios and Brenda Laime in the quarterfinals should be a gooder, and there could be a showdown between Argentina’s Mendez and Vargas and Mexico’s Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the semi-finals, although they both have to win a match to make that happen.

Play begins Friday morning at 9 AM with the singles Round of 32 followed by the Round of 16 Friday afternoon from 1 PM. The doubles Round of 16 begins at 11 AM Friday with the quarterfinals at 5 and 6 PM. The finals will be Sunday at 11 AM (singles) and noon (doubles). You can watch the action live from Massechusetts via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Eastern.

2024 LPRT Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts - March 1-3, 2024

Singles Round of 32 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
16) Naomi Ros v. 17) Khyathi Velpuri - 10 AM

9) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

13) Maria Paz Riquelme v. 20) Frédérique Lambert - 9 AM
4) Brenda Laime - BYE

3) Paola Longoria - BYE
14) Lexi York v. 19) Michelle Key - 9 AM

11) Cristina Amaya - BYE
6) Samantha Salas - BYE

7) Angelica Barrios - BYE
10) Natalia Mendez - BYE

15) Stephanie Synhorst v. 18) Juliette Parent - 10 AM
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Singles Round of 16 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia v. 16) Naomi Ros or 17) Khyathi Velpuri - 4 PM
8) Carla Muñoz v. 9) Kelani Lawrence - 4 PM

5) Alexandra Herrera v. 12) Jessica Parrilla - 1 PM
4) Brenda Laime v. 13) Maria Paz Riquelme or 20) Frédérique Lambert - 1 PM

3) Paola Longoria v. 14) Lexi York or 19) Michelle Key - 2 PM
6) Samantha Salas v. 11) Cristina Amaya - 2 PM

7) Angelica Barrios v. 10) Natalia Mendez - 3 PM
2) Maria José Vargas v. 15) Stephanie Synhorst or 18) Juliette Parent - 3 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Naomi Ros & Lexi York v. 9) Frédérique Lambert & Juliette Parent - 11 AM

5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - BYE

7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz - BYE
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 8) Naomi Ros & Lexi York or 9) Frédérique Lambert & Juliette Parent - 6 PM
4) Kelani Lawrence & Jessica Parrilla v. 5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - 6 PM

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - 5 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….