Thursday’s men’s doubles action was nothing short of exhilarating, as the duos of Riley Newman and Rafa Hewett, alongside Andrei Daescu and Gabe Tardio, won in gripping three-game battles that kept fans on the edge of their seats at PPA Virginia Beach Cup.
A Showdown to Remember
In one of the most electrifying matches of the season, Newman and Hewett faced off against the No. 6 seeds James Ignatowich and Christian Alshon, coming away with a hard-fought victory by scores of 11-7, 3-11, 13-11. This thrilling encounter unfolded on Humana Championship Court, showcasing high-level play and resilience from both teams.
Despite Newman and Hewett having extensive professional experience, this was their first time competing together in a PPA tournament, adding an intriguing dynamic to their performance. Hewett expressed the importance of this moment, saying,
“I just wanted to make balls and let Riley get big. I’ve been waiting five years for this, so I didn’t want to mess it up.” – (hewett)
Next Stop: Semifinals
The No. 9 seeds now look ahead to face the No. 32 seeds Casey Diamond and Max Freeman on Friday, with a coveted spot in the semifinals on the line. Their determination and strategic play will be crucial as they aim for continued success in this competitive PPA Tournament.
A Close Call for Daescu and Tardio
Shortly before Newman and Hewett’s match concluded, Daescu and Tardio were engaged in their own thrilling encounter, battling to a victory over No. 17 seeds DJ Young and Eric Oncins with a scoreline of 8-11, 11-5, 11-9. The No. 5 seeds jumped out to a commanding 4-0 lead in the deciding game but had to dig deep to hold off their opponents and clinch the win.
Daescu and Tardio, who have already claimed two PPA titles this year, will face the formidable No. 2 seeds JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier in the quarterfinals, setting the stage for another exciting showdown.
News in Brief: Riley Newman and Rafa Hewett
In thrilling men’s doubles matches at the Stratusphere Gin PPA Virginia Beach Cup, Riley Newman and Rafa Hewett won over No. 6 seeds James Ignatowich and Christian Alshon with scores of 11-7, 3-11, 13-11, marking their first tournament together. They will face No. 32 seeds Casey Diamond and Max Freeman in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Andrei Daescu and Gabe Tardio secured a hard-fought victory against No. 17 seeds DJ Young and Eric Oncins, winning 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, and will compete against No. 2 seeds JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier in the next round.
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