Dominate in Round 32 at Orange County Cup: Wednesday at the Select Medical Orange County Cup, presented by FitVine Wines, saw higher-seeded players and teams assert their dominance in the Round of 32. Out of 80 professional matches, higher-seeded participants claimed victory in 66, achieving an impressive 83% win rate. This marked a significant increase from Tuesday’s 71% success rate for higher seeds, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.
Mixed Doubles Highlights
In the mixed doubles category, the trend of higher-seeded dominance was even more pronounced. Higher-seeded teams triumphed in 15 of the 16 matches, resulting in a remarkable 94% win rate. The sole exception was the match where 18th-seeded Lacy Schneemann and Pablo Tellez upset the 9th-seeded duo of Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright in a thrilling contest, winning 13-11, 11-9.
Schneemann and Tellez’s victory over Kovalova and Wright was a standout moment of the day. Their win against the well-respected and seasoned players demonstrated their grit and determination. Schneemann and Tellez now look ahead to a challenging Round of 16 matchup against the 5th-seeded team of Lea Jansen and Riley Newman on Thursday. This upcoming match promises to be another exciting battle, as Jansen and Newman have shown consistent strength throughout the tournament.
Round of 32 Standings
| Matchup | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 |
| Benjamin Johns / Anna Leigh Waters vs Dominique Schaefer / Wesley Burrows | 11-3 | 11-6 | 0-0 |
| Maggie Brascia / Julian Arnold vs Collin Johns / Alix Truong | 11-5 | 11-8 | 0-0 |
| Rachel Rohrabacher / Federico Staksrud vs Ivan Jakovljevic / Pierina Imparato | 11-7 | 11-4 | 0-0 |
| Meghan Dizon / Travis Rettenmaier vs Allyce Jones / Zane Navratil | 11-0 | 11-5 | 0-0 |
| Jorja Johnson / James Johnson vs Wyatt Stone / Irina Tereschenko | 11-0 | 11-3 | 0-0 |
| Jay Devilliers / Callie Smith vs Connor Garnett / Kaitlyn Christian | 11-2 | 11-5 | 0-0 |
| Jessie Irvine / Tyler Loong vs Angela Walker / Daniel De La Rosa | 11-6 | 11-8 | 0-0 |
| Parris Todd / Tyson McGuffin vs Patrick Smith / Chao Yi Wang | 11-2 | 11-4 | 0-0 |
| Anna Bright / James Ignatowich vs Rafa Hewett / Mari Humberg | 5-11 | 11-2 | 11-7 |
| Hayden Patriquin / Vivian Glozman vs Collin Shick / Brooke Buckner | 11-5 | 11-2 | 0-0 |
| Lea Jansen / Riley Newman vs Milan Rane / Eric Oncins | 11-1 | 11-4 | 0-0 |
| Matt Wright / Lucy Kovalova vs Lacy Schneemann / Pablo Tellez | 11-13 | 9-11 | 0-0 |
| Dekel Bar / Tina Pisnik vs Quang Duong / Allison Phillips | 3-11 | 11-5 | 11-3 |
| Hunter Johnson / Marietta Wright vs Lauren Stratman / Mohaned Alhouni | 11-5 | 11-7 | 0-0 |
| Christian Alshon / Catherine Parenteau vs Rob Cassidy / Michelle Esquivel | 12-10 | 11-7 | 0-0 |
| Hurricane Tyra Black / Dylan Frazier vs Mary Brascia / Augustus Ge | 11-1 | 11-7 | 0-0 |
Professional and Amateur Talent
The strong showing by higher seeds reflects the rigorous preparation and high level of play expected at this premier event on the PPA Tour. With both professional and amateur pickleball competitions taking place, the Select Medical Orange County Cup has been a showcase of top-tier talent and fierce competition.
Upcoming Rounds and Matchups
As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to more captivating matches and potential upsets. The high stakes and intense rivalries ensure that each game is packed with excitement and skill, making the Orange County Cup a must-watch event for pickleball enthusiasts.
The success of higher-seeded players and teams so far sets the stage for intriguing matchups in the upcoming rounds. With the tournament heating up, the anticipation for who will emerge victorious continues to build, promising an unforgettable week of pickleball action in San Clemente, California.
News in Brief: Dominate in Round 32 at Orange County Cup
Wednesday at the Select Medical Orange County Cup, presented by FitVine Wines, saw higher-seeded players dominate the Round of 32. Out of 80 professional matches, higher seeds won 66, achieving an 83% win rate, a notable increase from Tuesday’s 71%.
In mixed doubles, higher-seeded teams triumphed in 15 of 16 matches (94% win rate). The exception was 18th-seeded Lacy Schneemann and Pablo Tellez, who upset 9th-seeded Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright, 13-11, 11-9. Schneemann and Tellez now face the 5th-seeded team of Lea Jansen and Riley Newman in the Round of 16.
Our Readers Quiereies:
Ques: How old is Matt Wright in pickleball?
Ans: Matt Wright is 47 years old. He lives and works as an attorney in Wichita, Kansas, and stands at 6’2″, which is considered quite tall for the sport.
Ques: Did Lucy Kovalova play tennis?
Ans: Yes, Lucy Kovalova played tennis. She is originally from Slovakia, where she was a member of the Junior National tennis team. She came to the United States to play collegiate tennis for Wichita State University in Kansas.
Ques: Who is the sponsor of Lucy Kovalova?
Ans: Lucy Kovalova is sponsored by Onix Pickleball, Select Medical, Guaranteed Rate, and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour.
