Hustlers improve to 3-0 in D.C. with win over Shock
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The MLP New York event isn’t until September, but the New York Hustlers seem to be right at home in Washington, D.C.
The team featuring Jack Sock, Jackie Kawamoto, Lea Jansen, and C.J. Klinger remained unbeaten in the nation’s capital with a victory over the St. Louis Shock Saturday morning.
Kawamoto and Jansen started off strong in women’s doubles, handing Anna Bright and Kate Fahey their first loss as a partnership in MLP.
The teenage tandem of Hayden Patriquin and Gabriel Tardio then responded in suit for the Shock and earned the men’s doubles point to tie things up going into mixed doubles.
New York’s mixed doubles partnerships have changed from what they were last month in Atlanta. Sock now plays with Jansen, while Klinger and Kawamoto partner up.
Sock says the change allows for more synergy of game styles.
“I don’t play the most conventional pickleball at times, and I think having Lea on my side driving a little more allows me to crash and be aggressive,” he explained to Pickleball TV’s Michelle McMahon. “We both have the length to cause chaos and can play big against teams. Jackie and C.J. are just so consistent and can really annoy some teams in making so many balls, so we like the mix we have.”
That move had paid dividends for the Hustlers in D.C., and it continued to do so as the team won both of the mixed doubles matches to secure the victory in regulation and earn three standings points.
New York will next face the D.C. Pickleball Team Saturday afternoon, while St. Louis will be off until Sunday.
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