Longoria & Vargas in LPRT final at 2021 Arizona Open

The #1 and #2 players on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will meet in the final of the Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday, when #1 Paola Longoria faces off with #2 Maria Jose Vargas. It’s the second consecutive final featuring these two players, as they battled in the US Open final last month, with Longoria winning in two straight games.

Vargas will be trying to change that outcome Sunday, but if she is to do it, she’ll have to not hit the ball to Longoria. Vargas did that often at the US Open, and so did 4th seed Gabriela Martinez, who Longoria beat in Saturday’s semi-final, 15-6, 15-5. Hitting the ball to your opponent is not a winning strategy, especially when that opponent is the #1 player in the world.

Vargas should feel encouraged by her performance in the semis on Saturday, as she played very well against 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, winning 15-10, 15-6. If she can carry that good performance into Sunday’s final, then she’ll have a chance.

The LPRT final will be Sunday at 11:15 AM Mountain time. 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 - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-14, 15-9
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-12

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 6) Angelica Barrios, 15-12, 15-12
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 7) Jessica Parrilla, 12-15, 15-14, 11-4

LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Gabriela Martinez, 15-6, 15-5
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 15-10, 15-6

LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Maria Jose Vargas - 11:15 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….