Duong Downs the World No. 1
17-year-old Quang Duong may have stepped out on Championship Court as the underdog, but he walked away with one of the most coveted victories in the sport: defeating World No. 1 and reigning PPA Masters champion, Ben Johns. The pair had met on three prior occasions, but Duong had yet to find his winning form against the decorated tour veteran. This time, wielding the Vanguard Power Air Invikta, Duong played an aggressive game with massive drives and spin, leading to his 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 victory. He moves into his maiden Masters quarterfinals, where he will face off against Team Selkirk's Pablo Tellez, opens in a new tab.
Competing as a Selkirk Emerging Pro
Duong competes as a member of the Selkirk "Emerging Pros Program", an initiative designed to support up-and-coming athletes transition onto the professional pickleball tour. Introduced in 2023, the program provides athletes with the equipment and financial support needed to compete in tournaments at the highest level.
At the start of the program, Duong was the youngest signed Emerging Pro. As the Emerging Pros Program passes its eight-month mark, the roster now boasts a much wider array of athletes, with the youngest being 15 years old.
The Quarterfinals Await
Heading into day three of The Masters, Team Selkirk remains a dominant force with the highest appearance rate in men's and women's singles. In both draws, half of the quarterfinalists use a Selkirk paddle.
Be sure to tune in on PickleballTV to see who will advance to the Saturday semifinals!
