Longoria crushes Manilla in LPRT Round of 16 at 2021 Arizona Open

Paola Longoria - the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) - gave her latest demonstration of excellence at the expense of Erika Manilla, who Longoria crushed in the Round of 16 Friday, winning 15-0, 15-1. Manilla, who had been on an excellent run of form reaching her first US Open semi-final last month, didn’t score in the match until Longoria had 9 (nine!) points in game two. While Manilla did make too many unforced errors in the match, it was Longoria who really showed the younger player what she is capable of. It was as if Longoria was saying “get off my court!” Longoria will face her old foe in the quarterfinals Saturday, as Rhonda Rajsich, the 9th seed, upset the 8th seed Valeria Centellas, 15-11, 15-11, 11-0 (sic). Rajsich’s win was the only upset in the 16s, but Kelani Lawrence was close to knocking off 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, but the left handed Mexican came back to defeat Lawrence, 9-15, 15-11, 11-9.

The LPRT quarterfinals will be Saturday morning at 10 and 11 AM with the semi-finals at 3 and 4 PM and 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.

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 12-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Erika Manilla, 15-0, 15-1
9) Rhonda Rajsich d. 8) Valeria Centellas, 15-11, 15-11, 11-0 [sic]

5) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Carla Muñoz, 15-8, 15-11
4) Gabriela Martinez d, 13) Cristina Amaya, 15-11, 15-6

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 14) Kelani Lawrence, 9-15, 15-11, 11-9
6) Angelica Barrios d. 11) Brenda Laime, 15-3, 15-7

7) Jessica Parrilla d. 10) Nancy Enriquez, 15-6, 15-13
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 15) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-10, 15-2

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Rhonda Rajsich - 11 PM
4) Gabriela Martinez v. 5) Natalia Mendez - 11 PM

3) Alexandra Herrera v. 6) Angelica Barrios - 10 PM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 7) Jessica Parrilla - 10 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….