LAKEVILLE, MN - Salome Devidze is into her first final of 2024 at the Pickleball Central Indoor USA Championships.

To make it to Sunday, the former Georgian tennis pro had to overcome an opponent she’s become acutely familiar with over the last few weeks: Catherine Parenteau.

The two squared off in the quarterfinals of the Carvana Mesa Arizona Cup in February, with Devidze securing the win in three games.

Their matchup in Minnesota’s semifinals began the same way as that last match, with Parenteau taking Game 1 11-7.

Devidze then found herself down 6-9 in the second game, within just two points of missing out on the final, but she rallied to win it 11-9 and force a decider.

Game 3 of this semifinal match alone lasted longer than some of the day’s full-length matches. Much like the rest of the match, the game looked like a game of chess pitting Parenteau’s versatility and craftiness against Devidze’s counterpunching drives.

A key adjustment and commitment to getting to the kitchen more helped Devidze emerge victorious from a tightly contested Game 3 14-12. 

“I felt like any time I got pushed back, I lost the point,” she explained. “So, my whole goal was to get in as much as I could."

Her volleys and short game near the kitchen proved to be the keys that helped her reach her first final of 2024.

In that match, she’ll face another familiar opponent in Parris Todd.

Todd had an impressive comeback victory over No. 2 seed Lea Jansen in the Round of 16 where she trailed 1-9 in the third game, but she then made it to the finals without dropping another game.

The No. 15 seed took down No. 5 seed Lina Padegimaite 13-11, 11-9 in the semifinals to put a cap on Thursday’s action.