Blaine Hovenier and John Cincola pulled off a thrilling comeback win on Friday at the 2025 PPA Tour: Veolia North Carolina Open, edging out the No. 14 seeds to earn a spot in the men’s doubles Round of 16.
Big Rally Seals Victory Over Higher-Seeded Opponents
In a tense three-game match, the No. 22 seeds Blaine Hovenier and John Cincola defeated Rafa Hewett and Hunter Johnson, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7.
After dropping the opening game and falling behind 3-6 in the deciding third game, Hovenier and Cincola surged back with an impressive run, scoring eight of the match’s last nine points to complete the comeback in just under an hour.
High-Stakes Clash Awaits in Next Round
With momentum on their side, Hovenier and Cincola now advance to face the winners of a match between No. 2 seeds Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio or No. 34 seeds Juan Benitez and Adam Harvey. A win in the next round would send them to the tournament quarterfinals.
Tournament Atmosphere Builds in Cary
The Veolia North Carolina Open, held at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, North Carolina, continues to deliver excitement as underdogs battle top seeds. The event runs from April 1 to April 6, 2025, and features amateur and professional divisions.
With live streaming available and thrilling matches unfolding, fans are getting a front-row seat to one of the season’s most dynamic tournaments.
Impact and Outlook
Hovenier and Cincola’s dramatic rally shows their resilience and places them as a team to watch in the later rounds. Their next match could pit them against one of the tour’s most dominant duos—Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio—making their journey even more compelling.
The duo’s late-game push could inspire further surprises as the tournament enters its final days.
News in Brief: Blaine Hovenier and John Cincola
Blaine Hovenier and John Cincola upset No. 14 seeds Rafa Hewett and Hunter Johnson 10-12, 11-9, 11-7 on Friday at the Veolia North Carolina Open. They move on to face either No. 2 seeds Ben Johns/Gabe Tardio or No. 34 seeds Juan Benitez/Adam Harvey.