At the Select Medical Orange County Cup in San Clemente, the #36 seeded team of Ting Chien Wei and Yufei Long made an unexpected and impressive run in women’s doubles. Representing Asia through the UPA Trailblazers program, the duo defeated higher-ranked teams before falling in the quarterfinals.
A Strong Start for the Trailblazers
Ting Chien Wei and Yufei Long opened the tournament with a quick and confident win in the Round of 64. Their next match, however, was against a top team—Lacy Schneemann and Jorja Johnson, the #4 seeds. The game was tight and intense, but the underdogs came out on top.
The match ended 12-10, 8-11, 11-5 in favor of Ting Chien Wei and Yufei Long. This upset moved them into the Round of 16, where they scored another strong win to reach the quarterfinals.
A Promising Run Ends in the Quarters
The run for the UPA Trailblazers ended in the quarterfinals. They lost to the experienced team of Mari Humberg and Meghan Dizon. Still, their performance left a big mark on the tournament.
The UPA Trailblazers program aims to grow pickleball across Asia, a region known for strong racquet sport players. Ting Chien Wei and Yufei Long’s success shows that this effort is starting to work.
Looking Ahead
Their results at the San Clemente event prove that Ting Chien Wei and Yufei Long are players to watch. As they continue to gain experience on the PPA Tour, fans can expect to see more deep runs from this talented duo.
With the support of the UPA Trailblazers, they may inspire more players from Asia to join the pro scene and challenge the top teams.
News in Brief: Ting Chien Wei and Yufei Long Pickleball
Ting Chien Wei and Yufei Long, seeded #36, made a surprise run to the quarterfinals at the Select Medical Orange County Cup. Backed by the UPA Trailblazers program, they upset Lacy Schneemann and Jorja Johnson before falling to Mari Humberg and Meghan Dizon. Their performance signals a bright future.
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