Kaitlyn Christian Pickleball Championship Run: Kaitlyn Christian battled past Brooke Buckner in the final match of the day at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Thursday, winning 11-4, 5-11, 11-3. The victory snapped a five-match losing streak against the No. 3 seed and secured Christian a spot in the women’s singles final.
Breaking Through Against Buckner
Christian explained how much the win meant after repeated losses to Buckner in past meetings.
“I’ve lost to Brooke so many times. She really brings the power onto the court. She’s an amazing competitor, and I just really wanted to bring it to her today,”
Kaitlyn Christian said of the performance.
“It’s very different conditions indoors. The ball travels a lot faster, so it really came down to who could smack the ball harder, and I found a way to pull it out.”
Preparing for the Final
Christian will now face Kate Fahey on Championship Sunday. This will be their third match of the 2025 season. Both players have claimed one win each this year, though Fahey won their most recent encounter at the Mesa Cup 11-5, 11-3. Overall, Fahey leads the head-to-head series 5-2.
Bronze Medal Match
Meanwhile, Layne Sleeth and Brooke Buckner will compete for the bronze medal on Sunday. For Sleeth, this represents a chance to claim her first-ever medal on the PPA Tour.
Looking Ahead
Christian’s win sets up a highly anticipated final against Fahey. With their rivalry split in 2025 and Fahey holding the historical advantage, Sunday’s match promises to be competitive. Both players will look to carry momentum into one of the season’s biggest stages.
News in Brief: Kaitlyn Christian Pickleball Championship Run
Kaitlyn Christian defeated Brooke Buckner 11-4, 5-11, 11-3 at the Walgreens Open in Las Vegas to reach the women’s singles final. She will face Kate Fahey on Championship Sunday in their third meeting of 2025. Layne Sleeth and Buckner will compete for bronze, with Sleeth seeking her first PPA medal.