Rafael Lenhard Upsets Ben Johns: On Tuesday at the Select Medical Orange County Cup at Life Time Rancho San Clemente, Rafael Lenhard shocked the crowd by defeating No. 4 seed Ben Johns in the Round of 64. The match ended with controversy, as a no-call by the referee on match point allowed Lenhard to secure a major victory.
Match Point Sparks Confusion
Rafael Lenhard, seeded No. 61, won the match 11-6, 14-12 on Grandstand Court. The ending raised eyebrows. On Lenhard’s third match point, Ben Johns hit a volley that looked like it might have bounced twice. Lenhard returned the shot, and no call was made by the referee. The point continued, and Lenhard won it, ending the match. Ben Johns looked upset by the missed call, but the result stood.
“I clearly got my paddle under the ball. That was my perspective, but things are so quick in the moment. The ref didn’t call it, so the point went on.”-(Rafael Lenhard)
A Big Step Forward
This victory came just one day after Rafael Lenhard beat Hsieh Chen-An in the final round of men’s singles qualifying—also on Grandstand Court.
In the second game against Ben Johns, Rafael Lenhard trailed 2-9 but came back to win 14-12. The win marked a high point in his pickleball career. Originally from Porto Alegre, Brazil, Rafael Lenhard played college tennis at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. He has now turned his focus to pickleball full-time.
“I thought [pickleball] was a second chance for me to live out my dream and be a pro athlete, and for the last year and a half, I’ve been working super hard every day on and off the court. It’s paying off, finally.”-(Rafael Lenhard)
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What Comes Next
Rafael Lenhard now moves into the Round of 32. He will face either Zane Navratil or Tyler Loong on Wednesday. Ben Johns, one of pickleball’s top players, will now look ahead to upcoming tournaments. The no-call may stir more discussion about officiating in pickleball, especially during close moments at major events.
News in Brief: Rafael Lenhard Upsets Ben Johns
Rafael Lenhard upset No. 4 seed Ben Johns in the Round of 64 on Tuesday at Life Time Rancho San Clemente. The win ended in controversy after a no-call on match point. Lenhard, who is now a full-time pickleball pro, will play either Zane Navratil or Tyler Loong next.
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