Saturday, March 4, 2023

Barrios & Mejia reach the final at 2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open

There was only one upset in singles play Saturday at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2023 Frontline Boston Open in Marlbrough, Massachusetts, but it was a seismic one as LPRT #1 Paola Longoria lost to 8th seed Angelica Barrios, 7-15, 15-13, 11-7. It’s Barrios’s first win over Longoria, who lost prior to the semi-finals for the second tournament in a row. The last time Longoria lost prior to the semis at all was in the 2007-08 season. That’s she’s done so in consecutive events is shocking.

In the breaker, Longoria led for most of the early game, and then they were tied at 5-5 and 7-7. But Barrios won the next four points to win 11-7. She won five rallies with backhand winners, including the last two points, which were both three shot rallies.

Barrios followed up the win over Longoria with a win over Maria Jose Vargas, 15-14, 7-15, 11-6. In that breaker, Barrios led wire to wire. She got to match point with a drive serve ace to the left side, and then won it on her first match point with a forehand winner.

Montserrat Mejia, who is looking for her 4th consecutive LPRT title, will face Barrios in the final Sunday, as she defeated 3rd seed Erika Manilla, 15-7, 15-9, in what was a battle of doubles partners.

Manilla and Mejia won their doubles semi-final match against Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-3, and will face top seeds Longoria and Samantha Salas, who beat Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 15-5, 15-8.

You can watch the finals live from Massachusetts via the LPRT YouTube channel. On Sunday, the singles final is at noon and doubles final at 1 PM. All times Eastern.

2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts, March 3-5, 2023

Quarterfinals - Saturday

8) Angelica Barrios d. 1) Paola Longoria, 7-15, 15-13, 11-7
12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 13) Valeria Centellas, 15-0, 15-9

3) Erika Manilla d. 11) Hollie Scott, 15-6, 15-6
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 10) Samantha Salas, 15-8, 15-2

Semi-finals - Saturday

8) Angelica Barrios d. 12) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-14, 7-15, 11-6
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 3) Erika Manilla, 15-7, 15-9

Final - Sunday

2) Montserrat Mejia v. 8) Angelica Barrios - Noon

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 15-5, 15-8
3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-3

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

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