Altaf Merchant and Steve Deakin: Owensboro’s Altaf Merchant added another title to his impressive list of achievements, this time at the 2024 Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships in Dallas, Texas. Competing against roughly 3,500 players, Merchant made his mark once again in professional pickleball.
Victory in Senior Pro Doubles
Partnering with Canadian pickleball star Steve Deakin, Altaf Merchant clinched the Senior Pro Doubles title at the world championships.
The duo won over Dave Weinbach, who often teams up with Merchant in U.S. events, and Patrick Cote in a decisive two-set victory. The final score was 11-9, 11-6, solidifying Merchant’s place at the top of his division.
Reflections from the Champion
“It was great to win the world championships since I have won multiple U.S. Open and national titles. This was the first time they held a world championship. Owensboro has such a fantastic pickleball community and I am pumped to bring home a world championship to the city.” – (Altaf Merchant)
Merchant’s victories are far from a fluke. He’s already proven himself as one of the most formidable players in his age group, with a 59-0 record last year. That performance included a gold medal at the USA National Championships, showing his dominance on the court.
Continued Success in 2024
Earlier this year, Merchant and his wife, Ashley, turned heads at the Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida. The couple brought home an impressive haul, securing a pair of gold medals and three silver medals.
Altaf won his gold in the Senior Pro Doubles division, while Ashley captured a gold in the Mixed Age 35-39 division with her partner. The husband-and-wife duo’s success at the U.S. Open further solidified their status as forces in the sport.
News in Brief: Altaf Merchant and Steve Deakin
Altaf Merchant of Owensboro won the Senior Pro Doubles title at the 2024 Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships in Dallas, Texas, with partner Steve Deakin. The pair defeated Dave Weinbach and Patrick Cote, 11-9, 11-6.
This victory adds to Merchant’s list of achievements, which includes an undefeated 59-0 record in 2023 and multiple national titles. Earlier this year, Merchant and his wife, Ashley, earned gold and silver medals at the Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida.
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