Riley Newman and Hayden Patriquin’s Strategic Victory: Riley Newman and Hayden Patriquin, the No. 7 seed in the men’s doubles bracket, pulled off an impressive comeback to knock out No. 2 seeds Dylan Frazier and JW Johnson in the quarterfinals at the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships. After dropping the first game 6-11 and trailing 8-2 in the second, the duo rebounded to win 11-8, 11-3, advancing to the semifinals with a resounding victory in three games.
Strategic Play and Mental Toughness
Patriquin, reflecting on the strategy that led to their success, mentioned their focus on controlling the middle of the court. “I definitely wanted to pinch the middle,” said Patriquin. “JW doesn’t like when you pinch the middle and try to take the rolls and just cross court. If one’s high enough, take it. And rolling those cross-court shots throws them off balance. That’s what we wanted to do, we wanted to grind them down.” Their patient, grinding play ultimately wore down Frazier and Johnson, securing a spot in the next round.
A Comeback for the Ages
Despite the tough first game and a slow start in game two, Newman and Patriquin found their rhythm at just the right time. Newman explained their approach, noting that they had to adjust their pace: “I was speeding up too soon in game one. But in game two we tried to slow down a little bit.” Their tactical shift helped them seize control of the match, putting them on the path to victory.
Semifinal Clash with Wright and Staksrud
Newman and Patriquin will now face No. 3 seeded Matt Wright and Federico Staksrud in a highly anticipated semifinal clash. Both pairs have shown strong form throughout the tournament, setting up what promises to be a thrilling matchup as they vie for a spot in the final.
News in Brief: Riley Newman and Hayden Patriquin’s Strategic Victory
Riley Newman and Hayden Patriquin, the No. 7 seed, upset No. 2 seeds Dylan Frazier and JW Johnson in a three-game thriller (6-11, 11-8, 11-3) to advance to the semifinals at the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships. They will face No. 3 seeds Matt Wright and Federico Staksrud on Saturday.
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