JW Johnson and CJ Klinger advanced to the quarterfinals of the Select Medical Orange County Cup on Wednesday after defeating Julian Arnold and Pat Smith in three games. The match took place in Southern California and ended with scores of 5-11, 11-8, 11-4 in favor of Johnson and Klinger.
Slow Start, Strong Finish
Julian Arnold and Pat Smith started strong, taking the first game 11-5. Julian Arnold used his powerful two-handed backhand to win key points, while also bringing loud energy to the court with his trademark “Andiamo!” shouts.
Arnold has a history of success at this event, reaching the semifinals in 2024 and winning a Major League Pickleball title in San Clemente the year before.
But after a slow start, JW Johnson and CJ Klinger bounced back. They stayed steady at the kitchen line and controlled the pace, winning the next two games 11-8 and 11-4.
Klinger Credits Calm Play
After the win, CJ Klinger spoke about facing Julian Arnold.
“I definitely know what Julian is capable of, He brings a lot of energy to the table, a lot of tricky shots, and some good hands. But JW and I stayed calm and cool, and that helped us prevail at the end of the day.”-(CJ Klinger)
Johnson and Klinger showed the same smart and steady approach that helped them win a title in Atlanta earlier this year.
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Next Match
The No. 4 seeds will next face the winner of the match between Tyson McGuffin and Noe Khlif versus Hunter Johnson and Augie Ge on Friday.
The quarterfinal will be another key test as Johnson and Klinger continue their run through the men’s doubles draw.
News in Brief: JW Johnson and CJ Klinger Advance to the Quarterfinals
JW Johnson and CJ Klinger beat Julian Arnold and Pat Smith in three games to reach the quarterfinals of the Select Medical Orange County Cup. Johnson and Klinger used calm, steady play to turn the match around after dropping the first game. They will play their next match on Friday.