Underdogs Shake Up Select Medical Orange County Cup: Round of 16 matches in all five pro events continue Thursday at the Select Medical Orange County Cup presented by Reign Storm. Held in San Clemente, California, the tournament features exciting showdowns in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles as top players and rising stars battle for quarterfinal spots.
UPA Asia Trailblazers Aim for Another Upset
Yufei Long and Ting Chieh Wei made headlines on Wednesday after upsetting the No. 4 seeds Jorja Johnson and Lacy Schneemann in women’s doubles. Both players are part of the first class of the UPA Asia Trailblazers Program and will next face No. 14 seeds Alix Truong and Andrea Koop.
In singles action, Yufei Long plays against No. 3 seed Kaitlyn Christian, while Ting Chieh Wei faces top seed Anna Leigh Waters. Both singles matches are highly anticipated as the Trailblazers look to continue their strong runs.
Qualifiers Thrive in Men’s Doubles
Two men’s doubles teams from the qualifying rounds are still alive. Jonathan Truong and Sammy Lee advanced with an 11-9, 11-4 win over No. 9 seeds Roscoe Bellamy and Matt Wright. They face No. 6 seeds James Ignatowich and Collin Johns on Thursday.
Riley Inn and Luke Williams, who lost in the final round of qualifying, moved into the draw as Lucky Losers due to Dekel Bar’s withdrawal. They beat Ross Whittaker and Mota Alhouni 11-4, 11-5. Their next match is against No. 12 seeds Tyler Loong and Spencer Smith.
Upsets Shake Up Men’s Singles Bracket
James Ignatowich and Rafael Lenhard both advanced to the final 16 after winning three-game matches on Wednesday. James Ignatowich, seeded No. 46, beat No. 10 seed Zane Ford despite dropping the first game. He will now meet No. 5 seed Jaume Martinez Vich.
Rafael Lenhard pulled off another strong win after his earlier upset over Ben Johns. He defeated No. 37 seed Zane Navratil 11-4, 10-12, 11-3 and will next play No. 13 seed Noe Khlif.
Match to Watch: Smith and Jones vs. Wang and Buckner
One of Thursday’s top women’s doubles matches features No. 5 seeds Callie Smith and Allyce Jones against No. 11 seeds Zoey Wang and Brooke Buckner. This pairing highlights players from Team Utah (Smith and Jones) against Team Las Vegas Night Owls (Wang and Buckner).
Smith and Jones have a strong history of consistent performances, while Wang and Buckner bring powerful shots and have nearly defeated top teams in the past. This match could go to three games and is one to watch closely.
A Day Packed With Action and Upsets
Thursday’s schedule is full of tight matchups, exciting upsets, and standout performances from both seasoned pros and rising stars. With every match counting toward the quarterfinals, players will be under pressure to bring their best in San Clemente.
News in Brief: Underdogs Shake Up Select Medical Orange County Cup
Thursday at the Orange County Cup brings big matchups, including Yufei Long and Ting Chieh Wei chasing more upsets and qualifiers like Jonathan Truong and Rafael Lenhard trying to extend surprise runs. Top teams and pros battle for quarterfinal spots across singles, doubles, and mixed events in San Clemente, California.
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