Jessie Irvine and Gabriel Tardio won in the semi-finals of the Proton Australia Pickleball Open, narrowly defeating Jay Devilliers and Allyce Jones with a score of 12-11. The match was exciting, but a controversial moment during the game involved one of Tardio’s serves, leading to confusion among players and spectators.
Serve Controversy in Semi-Final
During the match, the referee called one of Tardio’s serves illegal, citing that it was served east-west instead of the expected south-north. This ruling was a surprise, as Tardio’s serve followed a southeast-to-northwest trajectory, commonly used by players to create side spin and topspin. Many, including Tardio and Irvine, were confused by the call.
Understanding the Ruling
In competitive pickleball, it’s typical for players to use diagonal serves to add unpredictability. These serves to help create challenging angles and speed, giving the player an advantage. The confusion likely came from the way the referee interpreted the southeast-to-northwest spin. The serve is often used by many top players, making the ruling seem unusual.
Tardio and Irvine’s Reaction
Despite the controversy, Tardio and Irvine remained focused and continued to dominate the match, ultimately winning 12-11.
“We kept our heads in the game, and the team chemistry really worked in our favor. Gabe’s serve is a big part of our strategy, and it’s unfortunate the call caused confusion.” – (Irvine)
Looking Ahead
With this semi-final win, Irvine and Tardio are set to advance to the finals, where they will face top opponents for the title. The ruling on Tardio’s serve will likely continue to be discussed among pickleball enthusiasts, especially regarding the interpretation of serving rules in high-level matches.
News in Brief: Jessie Irvine and Gabriel Tardio
Jessie Irvine and Gabriel Tardio beat Jay Devilliers and Allyce Jones 12-11 in the Proton Australia Pickleball Open semi-finals. A controversial call on Tardio’s serve sparked confusion, but the duo pushed through for the win. They now advance to the finals.
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