Phoenix Flames Pickleball Victory: Phoenix Flames earned a 3-1 team win over the Carolina Hogs on Sunday, July 28, during the final day of the Advil Targeted Relief Major League Pickleball Dallas event. The match was held at Pickler Universe in Carrollton, Texas, across Championship Court and Grandstand Court. Phoenix used strong performances in the doubles and mixed events to secure the win, needing no DreamBreaker to seal the deal.
The Carolina Hogs opened with a win in women’s doubles but were unable to keep up as Phoenix Flames stormed back with victories in the next three matches.
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Hogs Start Strong with Women’s Doubles Win
The Carolina Hogs took an early 1-0 lead with a convincing performance by Liz Truluck and Danna Funaro. They beat Jessie Irvine and Alex Walker of the Phoenix Flames 11-4. The win gave Carolina early momentum and put pressure on Phoenix to respond quickly.
Phoenix Responds with Three Straight Wins
In the men’s doubles, Phoenix Flames turned the match around. Jack Sock and Tyson McGuffin combined to beat Brandon French and Ivan Jakovljevic 11-6, tying the match 1-1.
Phoenix took the lead in the first mixed doubles game, where Tyson McGuffin and Jessie Irvine easily defeated Danna Funaro and Ivan Jakovljevic 11-3.
The final match saw Jack Sock and Alex Walker of Phoenix take on Brandon French and Liz Truluck. Sock and Walker played with control and consistency, winning the game 11-6 to seal the overall 3-1 victory for the Flames.
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| MATCH | Carolina Hogs | VS | Phoenix Flames | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Doubles | Liz Truluck / Danna Funaro | VS | Jessie Irvine / Alex Walker | 11-4 |
| Men’s Doubles | Brandon French / Ivan Jakovljevic | VS | Jack Sock / Tyson McGuffin | 6-11 |
| Mixed Doubles 1 | Danna Funaro / Ivan Jakovljevic | VS | Tyson McGuffin / Jessie Irvine | 3-11 |
| Mixed Doubles 2 | Brandon French / Liz Truluck | VS | Jack Sock / Alex Walker | 6-11 |
| Dreambreaker | Danna Funaro / Ivan Jakovljevic / Brandon French / Liz Truluck | VS | Tyson McGuffin / Jessie Irvine / Jack Sock / Alex Walker | 0 – 0 |
Dreambreaker Not Needed
With Phoenix Flames winning three out of four matches, the Dreambreaker round was not played. Each of Phoenix’s wins was by a wide margin, showing the team’s strength and unity in pressure moments.
What This Means Going Forward
The Phoenix Flames improved their record and showed strong team chemistry. Their success across all divisions—men’s, women’s, and mixed—makes them a team to watch as they head into the next event in Salt Lake City.
The Carolina Hogs showed bright spots, especially in the women’s doubles match, but will need more consistent results in future matchups to stay competitive.
News in Brief: Phoenix Flames Pickleball Victory
Phoenix Flames defeated the Carolina Hogs 3-1 on Sunday at MLP Dallas. The Hogs won the first match, but Phoenix swept the next three. The DreamBreaker round was not required. Strong play by Jack Sock, Tyson McGuffin, Jessie Irvine, and Alex Walker led Phoenix to a confident win.
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