The third last event of the 2023-24 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season begins Thursday, in San Antonio, Texas, with the LPRT Battle at the Alamo. Twenty seven players are in the field including 19 of the top 21 players, led by LPRT’s new #1 Maria Jose Vargas. Vargas became #1 after last month’s Boston Open, when Paola Longoria defeated former #1 Montserrat Mejia in the final.
Vargas lost to Longoria in the semi-finals in Boston, but has won three of the five events this season with Longoria winning the other two. Thus, the new order is Vargas at #1, Longoria #2, and Mejia at #3, although you can throw a blanket over them, as there is fewer than 50 ranking points between #1 and #3.
Three of the first round matches of most interest are 11th seed Natalia Mendez versus 22nd seed Michelle Key, which is a battle between two players who were at the Pan American Championships in Guatemala last month, 10th seed Cristina Amaya faces former #2 Frédérique Lambert, and the 16/17 match is usually good, and this time features two US players that are doubles partners in Lexi York and Naomi Ros.
The good turnout for this week’s event could be partly due to the fact that San Anontio will host the International Racquetball Federation (IRF)World Championships in August. Players have a chance to play on the courts that will be used for Worlds.
In doubles, Lambert is playing with Gabriela Martinez, and they are seeded 9th, so will play Ros and York first, and if they win, then top seeds Alexandra Herrera and Mejia. It will be interesting to see how Lambert and Martinez - who haven’t played together and generally both play the left side - fare against Herrera and Mejia, if they get past Ros and York, who took home the silver medal in Women’s Doubles from the Pan Am Championships last month.
Play begins Thursday morning at 9 AM with the singles Round of 32 followed by the Round of 16 Thursday afternoon, as they are going to play the final on Saturday. The doubles Round of 16 begins at 11:50 AM Friday with the quarterfinals at 5:15 and 6:20 PM Friday. The finals will be Saturday at 5:15 PM (singles) and 6:20 (doubles). You can watch the action live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Central.
2024 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 25-28, 2024
Singles Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Maria José Vargas - BYE
16) Lexi York v. 17) Naomi Ros - Noon
9) Carla Muñoz v. 24) Yanna Salazar - Noon
8) Kelani Lawrence v. 25) Annie Roberts - Noon
5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Angelica Barrios v. v. 21) Khyathi Velpuri - 9 AM
13) Jessica Parrilla v. 20) Chanis Leon - 9 AM
4) Brenda Laime - BYE
3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Hollie Scott v. 19) Sunshine Arterburn - 10 AM
11) Natalia Mendez v. 22) Michelle Key - 10 AM
6) Gabriela Martinez v. 27) Fatima Sanchez Garcia - 11 AM
7) Samantha Salas v. 26) Kelly Mortensen - 10 AM
10) Cristina Amaya v. 23) Frédérique Lambert - 11 AM
15) Maria Paz Riquelme v. 18) Stephanie Synhorst - 11 AM
2) Paola Longoria - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Naomi Ros & Lexi York v. 9) Frédérique Lambert & Gabriela Martinez - 11:50 AM
5) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE
3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme v. 11) Yurisleidis Allue & Chanis Leon - 11:50 AM
7) Michelle Key & Carla Muñoz v. 10) Ana Laura Flores & Jessica Parrilla - 11:50 AM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
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