Team Selkirk is making some big moves at the Atlanta Pickleball Championship today, notching victories over top seeds in different divisions.
Sparta Pro Rafa Lenhard takes down Ford
Sparta Pro Rafa Lenhard was dealt a tough draw, facing recent Sacramento PPA runner-up Zane Ford in the Round of 32. While Lenhard has beaten Ford before, it had been a couple of months since their bronze medal matchup in Daytona.
Lenhard played with determination, forcing a third game after dropping the first 6-11 and taking the second 11-9. In the deciding game, Lenhard trailed 6-9 before coming up with a couple of big plays to even the score and ultimately take the match. He now moves on to face the tricky JW Johnson in the round of 16.
Kiora continues her streak
Kiora Kunimoto put on another great performance, taking down tour veteran Lina Padegimaite in their first meeting. Padegimaite took an early 5-2 lead in game one, but Kunimoto battled back to tie it at 8-8 before going on a run to close it out. Game two started similarly, with Padegimaite jumping out to a 6-1 lead that grew to 8-3 before Kunimoto turned it on, tying it again at 8-8 and ultimately taking the game and match in a high-pressure finish, 13-11.
Kunimoto will now face rising singles talent Liz Truluck again in the Round of 16 and leads the head-to-head 1-0.
Tama moves on in all three events
Tama Shimabukuro started his day with an impressive win over fellow Hawai‘i friend and No. 13 seed Jaume Martinez-Vich on Championship Court. Shimabukuro not only played a solid game but also managed to pull off some highlight-reel-worthy shots against the veteran. With an 11-5, 11-9 win over Martinez-Vich, Shimabukuro sets up another rematch with No. 2 seed Federico Staksrud.
In doubles, Shimabukuro teamed up with Dennehy to earn a straight-games win over the young duo of Cailyn Campbell and Will MacKinnon. The pair displayed strong on-court chemistry, blending power with strategic play to control the match. They now move on to face Hayden Patriquin and Anna Bright, where they will look to pull off a major upset.
Tune in
Tune into Pickleball TV tomorrow to catch the round of 16 in Atlanta!
