The 2023 PickleballSuperstore.com APP Philadelphia Open saw all kinds of weather over its five-day duration last week. We also saw some amazing pickleball. Here are some of the highlights.
Soccer Vs. Pickleball
The event kicked off on Wednesday with an impromptu and fun match between the APP’s Shelby Bates and Jack Elliot, a devoted pickleball enthusiast and defender for the Philadelphia Union soccer team.
theapp.global reported how Susannah Barr and Megan Fudge took the spotlight in the spirit of Women’s Equality Day on Saturday. Their victory at the APP Sunmed St. Louis Open marked an ideal precursor to this significant occasion, embodying the spirit of female empowerment.
Andrei Daescu of Romania, alongside his mixed doubles partner Susannah Barr, secured a berth in the Championship Sunday of the mixed doubles event.
Here’s our own Jane Hollon‘s exclusive recap of the event:
A Rematch Opportunity
Notably, Daescu and his men’s doubles partner, Rob Nunnery, earned another coveted spot on Championship Sunday. This established a rematch opportunity for the gold medal against C.J. Klinger and Andre Mick, following their clash at the APP Sunmed St. Louis Open just two weeks prior, where Klinger and Mick emerged victorious from the winner’s bracket final.
In a remarkable contrast, the dynamics shifted this time as Daescu and Nunnery took sweet revenge, winning gold.
This gold medal was their third one as a pair, and it was Daescu’s eighth already this year!
Jack Foster Reaches His First Final
Salome Devidze (Georgia) triumphed over first-time finalist Christa Gecheva (Bulgaria/England) in the women’s pro singles category. This victory secured Devidze’s fourth singles gold medal of the year, an impressive feat following her silver win in St. Louis.
We had a notable landmark when Jack Foster achieved his inaugural appearance in the finals, giving Yates Johnson a close-run match that extended into a tiebreak. Ultimately, Johnson clinched victory, 15-7, securing his third men’s singles gold of the year.
The mixed doubles final showcased a striking scenario, with three out of the four contenders ending the day as gold medalists in one competition or another. Andrei Daescu commenced his Championship Sunday partnering with Susannah Barr, competing against Rob Nunnery and Vivian Glozman.
Eight Golds For Daescu This Year
Adding to their gold medal haul, Barr and Daescu secured their fourth mixed doubles championship of 2023, in addition to their previous triumph in St. Louis.
Parris Todd and Simone Jardim, the top-seeded women’s pro doubles pair, made a winning return to Championship Sunday, particularly notable since Jardim had missed the APP Sunmed St. Louis Open.
They triumphed over St. Louis bronze medalists Mari Humberg and Allison Harris, securing their eighth women’s doubles title this year.
The collaboration of Daescu and Nunnery continued to bear fruit, and they clinched their third gold medal together, marking Daescu’s eighth gold of the year.
The pickleball excitement persists as we eagerly anticipate the upcoming event in Chicago next week!
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