Mumbai Pickle Power Wins in World Pickleball League: The inaugural day of the World Pickleball League was a spectacle to remember, held at the iconic Brabourne Stadium on Friday. With an atmosphere brimming with excitement, the stage was set for an extraordinary opening, and it delivered beyond expectations.
The league kicked off with a bang, featuring a thrilling Maharashtra derby between Mumbai Pickle Power and Pune United. With the league’s fast-paced 15-minute-per-match format, fans were guaranteed nerve-wracking and exciting moments throughout, and the first tie delivered exactly that!
The Mumbai Pickle Power get the show on the road with victory over Pune United in match #1 of the World Pickleball League.#Pickleball #worldpickleballleague pic.twitter.com/NeLOdXPWVx
— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) January 24, 2025
Grand Opener: Maharashtra Derby
The event was graced by Gaurav Natekar, Co-Founder of the World Pickleball League, along with his wife. Joining them were Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh, co-owners of Pune United, who brought star power to boost their team’s morale.
The tie commenced with an exciting matchup as both teams fielded their top players, Brandon Lane for Mumbai Pickle Power and Mateusz Matysik for Pune United. However, the support of the star power didn’t matter much as Mumbai Pickle Power’s Brandon Lane completely outclassed Mateusz in every department of the opening clash as the sun set the tone.
Although Mateusz did have some flashes of brilliance, it was not enough to defeat the USA powerhouse. Brandon won the first match of the inaugural day’s first tie by an 18-9 margin, which gave Mumbai the upper hand.
Women’s Doubles Showdown
The momentum of the clash continued in the second match, which was the women’s doubles. Representing Mumbai Pickle Power were Glauka Lane and Katie Morris, who faced off against Talia Saunders and Brooke Revuelta from Pune United. It was another magnificent performance by the Mumbai duo, who secured the win and gave their team a 2-0 lead early on.
However, sports is an unpredictable arena where no team can ever be ruled out. Just as it seemed like Mumbai Pickle Power might dominate the first tie, Louis Laville and Vanshik Kapadia stepped up for Pune United in the men’s doubles against Kim Eung Gwon and Mayur Patil.
Men’s Doubles Success for Pune
Though bruised, Pune United ensured they remained in the tie after an exceptional performance in the men’s doubles. Their gameplay saw them clinch victory in the third match by a 12-5 margin, narrowing the score to 2-1.
Women’s Singles Drama
The highlight of the tie was the women’s singles, where Mihae Kwon of Mumbai Pickle Power went head-to-head with Brooke Revuelta of Pune United. At one point, Mihae seemed too hot to handle for Brooke, but as mentioned before, you can’t rule anyone out in sports, and this match was no exception.
Brooke made an astounding comeback against Mihae Kwon, ensuring her team stayed in the tie after a gripping game of pickleball that ended 15-15, keeping the score 2-1 with just the final game remaining.
Mixed Doubles Conclusion
The final game, a mixed doubles showdown, featured Pune United’s Talia Saunders and William Sobek taking on the real-life couple Glauka Lane and Brandon Lane from Mumbai Pickle Power. When the tide seemed unpredictable, the Lanes ensured they outmaneuvered their opponents, winning the final match 16-9 and clinching the tie by a 3-1 margin.
This brought an exciting conclusion to the first tie, with Mumbai Pickle Power emerging victorious. The win sets a strong tone for the league as teams compete for the title in the coming matches.
News in Breif: Mumbai Pickle Power Wins in World Pickleball League
The inaugural day of the World Pickleball League saw Mumbai Pickle Power win over Pune United 3-1 at Brabourne Stadium. Brandon Lane starred in men’s singles, while the Lanes secured victory in mixed doubles.
Pune United managed a win in men’s doubles, but Mumbai’s strong performance set an exciting tone for the league’s upcoming matches.
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