The 2023-24 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) begins today with the LPRT KWM Gutterman World Singles and Doubles Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. There are 33 players in the draw, led by LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia, who dethroned Paola Longoria last season. Longoria is also in Colorado as the #2 seed, which is the first time she’s been in that position since 2011. Rounding out the top four are Alexandra Herrera at #3 and Erika Manilla at #4.
This event happens at an odd time of the year for racquetball, as it’s in the summer period that is traditionally the off season. Thus, there’s some question as to whether all the players are match fit this weekend, so it might be an opportunity for an unexpected player to win. That is what happened two years ago, when Gabriela Martinez, seeded 10th, won the event, defeating Herrera in the final, and Maria Jose Vargas in the semi-finals (note: Longoria wasn’t at that event).
The LPRT is coming off a season which saw four different winners: Mejia, Longoria, Herrera and Martinez. Will one of them capture the winner’s circle this weekend or will it be another player? Vargas, perhaps, who has five wins in her career but none since 2019? Or Brenda Laime, who was in more finals last year than anyone but Mejia and Longoria?
Last season was one of the most competitive and exciting ever, and the quality of the LPRT players means that this could be just as good, and potentially better. That’s a high bar, and we are excited to see if the standard that was set that season can be met, or surpassed.
It all kicks off in Colorado today.
You can watch the action live from Colorado via the LPRT YouTube channel. Play begins Thursday with the Round of 64 (one match) and Round of 32, and continues through to the final on Sunday at 11:15 AM. All times Mountain.
KWM Gutterman LPRT World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
Highlands Ranch, Colorado - August 8-13, 2023
Round of 64 - Thursday
1) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
32) Erica Williams v. 33) Victoria Rodriguez - 11:35 AM
17) Nancy Enriquez - BYE
16) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
9) Natalia Mendez - BYE
24) Shane Diaz - BYE
25) Khyathi Velpuri - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Brenda Laime - BYE
28) Adriana Riveros - BYE
21) Martina Katz - BYE
12) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
13) Cristina Amaya - BYE
20) Lexi York - BYE
29) Maria José Muñoz - BYE
4) Erika Manilla - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
30) Chanis Leon - BYE
19) Stephanie Synhorst - BYE
14) Hollie Scott - BYE
11) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
22) Maricruz Ortiz - BYE
27) Veronica Sotomayor - BYE
6) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
7) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
26) Estephania Perez Picon - BYE
23) Naomi Ros - BYE
10) Samantha Salas - BYE
15) Maria Paz Riquelme - BYE
18) Sunshine Arterburn - BYE
31) Ana Sarmiento - BYE
2) Paola Longoria - BYE
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Montserrat Mejia v. 32) Erica Williams or 33) Victoria Rodriguez - 6:35 PM
16) Sheryl Lotts v. 17) Nancy Enriquez - 5:25 PM
9) Natalia Mendez v. 24) Shane Diaz - 12:45 PM
8) Carla Muñoz v. 25) Khyathi Velpuri - 5:25 PM
5) Brenda Laime v. 28) Adriana Riveros - 4:15 PM
12) Kelani Lawrence v. 21) Martina Katz - 6:35 PM
13) Cristina Amaya v. 20) Lexi York - 11:35 AM
4) Erika Manilla v. 29) Maria José Muñoz - 5:25 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 30) Chanis Leon - 6:35 PM
14) Hollie Scott v. 19) Stephanie Synhorst - 4:15 PM
11) Gabriela Martinez v. 22) Maricruz Ortiz - 4:15 PM
6) Maria Jose Vargas v. 27) Veronica Sotomayor - 6:35 PM
7) Jessica Parrilla v. 26) Estephania Perez Picon - 5:25 PM
10) Samantha Salas v. 23) Naomi Ros - 12:45 PM
15) Maria Paz Riquelme d. 18) Sunshine Arterburn, forfeit
2) Paola Longoria v. 31) Ana Sarmiento - 5:25 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
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