PPA Australia Pickleball Open - Day 1 Wrap Up

There were upsets and surprise packages in the draw, with some ripping matches giving the fans a spectacle.

Match Highlights

1: Semi-Final Somer Dalla-Bona vs Andie Dikosavljevic 11-0/11-6

Both players entered this match with impressive wins against formidable opponents. Dalla-Bona began her round of 16 with a straight-sets victory over fellow Australian Dani-Elle Townsend. She then faced a tough challenge in the third seed, American Jessie Irvine, a top-5 player in all three women's pro pickleball divisions. Dalla-Bona remarkably defeated Irvine 11-7, 11-2.

Dikosavljevic also started in the round of 16, overcoming Selina Turulja 4-11, 11-5, 11-4. Her path to the semi-final included a hard-fought three-set win against the second seed, Ekaterina Biakina (7-11, 11-5, 11-7).

In this all-Australian semi-final clash of "giant killers," Dalla-Bona dominated the first set 11-0. Dikosavljevic rallied in the second set, tying the score at 6-6, but Dalla-Bona ultimately prevailed, securing her place in the final with an 11-6 win.

Dalla-Bona will now face the number one seed, Kaitlyn Christian, in what promises to be a thrilling match.

2: Quarter Final Gabriel Tardio vs Vuk Velickovic 9-11/11-4/11-7

Seeded fourth in the tournament, Tardio began his campaign in the round of 32. Despite a rocky start, dropping the first set 11-0 to Queensland's Robbie Lee, he recovered impressively, defeating Lee and Dan Clark to advance to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Vuk Velickovic, a relatively unknown Australian based in the US, became the tournament's surprise package. His athletic prowess propelled him to stunning victories, defeating Junior Boys Singles #1 Lachie Donnally, American seeded 11th Clemens Graute and most impressively, Australian Men’s Singles #1 Tom Evans in straight sets.

The quarterfinal match between Tardio and Velickovic was a tense affair from the outset. Close calls and skillful shots led to a nail-biting 9-10 score with Tardio serving. Lucky for Velickovic, he gained the serve and then the point sealing the first game. 

In the second game, Tardio turned it up a notch, bursting out with an impressive 8-0 lead deep into the game. Although Velickovic managed to close the gap somewhat, Tardio's strong start proved decisive, as he claimed the second game 11-4.

Velickovic began the third game promisingly, winning the first point. However, Tardio once again elevated his game, reeling off six consecutive points. Velickovic continued to fight, narrowing the score to 8-6. Ultimately, Tardio's experience under pressure proved to be the difference, as he secured an 11-7 victory to win the match. Not a bad effort from the 50th seed Australian!

Tardio faced second-seeded Quang Duong of Vietnam in the semifinal and was able to get the victory, sending Tardio to the final.

Other Results

• Tyson McGuffin showed his class throughout the day, securing his spot in the final with victories over Oliver Casey (11-2, 11-3), youngster Lucas Pascoe (11-9, 11-0), and Mitch Hargreaves (11-2, 11-10), Australia's fifth-ranked male singles player. His toughest match came in the semi-final against Vietnam's Phuc Huynh, who pushed McGuffin hard. However, Huynh ultimately fell short, with McGuffin winning 11-9, 11-7.
  
  

• As the top seed, Kaitlyn Christian lived up to expectations in Melbourne. She began her day with a convincing win against the sixth seed, Japan's Rika Fujiwara (11-5, 11-8), in the round of 16. Next, she faced Roos Van Reek, who managed to take a set off Christian but couldn't secure the win (8-11, 11-4, 11-9). In the semi-final, Christian played against 16-year-old Nicola Schoeman, the sixth-ranked Australian women's singles player. Despite gaining valuable experience, Schoeman was defeated 11-3, 11-2.

50+ Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0 To 4.0)

Gold: RebeKah Green, Nathanael Green

Silver: Kim Leong, Tim Mazaraki

Bronze: Gay Worlley, Jan Teng

60+ Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5 & above)

Gold: Jenny Ware, Martin Simpkins 

Silver: Donna Jay, Marty Bertuleit 

Bronze: Belinda Ingram Greg Tobin

Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (50 And Above)

Gold: Mandy Corbett Shayne Nijssen-Smith 

Silver: Rosa Morris David Lurie 

Bronze: Kate Applegate Tony Field

$1,000 Money Ball 

Gold: Simon Pilt

Silver: Oliver Dobson Atikul Amattayakul 

Bronze: Aaron Johnson Robbie Manzano