Kaitlyn Christian and Somer Dalla-Bona will battle for the women’s singles title at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open on Sunday at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Christian, the top seed, aims for her second PPA gold, while No. 12 seed Dalla-Bona seeks her fifth career singles title.
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Christian’s Path to the Final
Christian, a former top-40 WTA doubles player, continued her impressive transition to pickleball, reaching Championship Sunday for the third straight PPA tournament.
The 2019 Australian Open doubles third-rounder faced a tough quarterfinal test against No. 14 seed Roos van Reek. After losing the first game, she rebounded for an 8-11, 11-4, 11-9 victory.
She then dominated 17-year-old Nicola Schoeman, the first overall pick in the 2025 MLP Australia draft, winning 11-3, 11-2. Competing internationally for the first time, Christian expressed excitement about playing in Melbourne.
“It’s very fun playing internationally for the first time. Melbourne is one of my favorite cities, so it’s just been a joy getting to meet some of the Aussie players.” – (Christian)
Dalla-Bona’s Strong Run
Dalla-Bona breezed through her side of the draw, defeating Danni-Elle Townsend and Jessie Irvine in straight games before facing former Northern Crocs teammate Andie Dikosavljevic in the semifinals. She secured a commanding 11-0, 11-6 win and acknowledged the difficulty of competing against a close friend.
“It’s always tough going out against a friend, but we both played well, and I think it was a good match today.” – (Dalla-Bona)
Looking Ahead
Christian and Dalla-Bona will now face off for the title in what promises to be an exciting final. Christian seeks to continue her rapid rise in pickleball, while Dalla-Bona looks to add another singles championship to her resume.
News in Brief: Kaitlyn Christian and Somer Dalla-Bona
Kaitlyn Christian and Somer Dalla-Bona will compete for the Proton Australia Pickleball Open women’s singles title. Christian, a former WTA player, has reached her third straight PPA final, while Dalla-Bona is aiming for her fifth career singles title. Their matchup takes place Sunday in Melbourne.
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