The New York Hustlers defeated the Carolina Pickleball Club to kick off the action at Hertz MLP New York City, thanks in large part to two wins from Jackie Kawamoto.

Kawamoto triumphed in women’s doubles with Lea Jansen and mixed doubles with CJ Klinger, while Ben Johns earned two wins for Carolina to force a DreamBreaker.

In that deciding contest, Kawamoto and Klinger were the standout performers for New York; Kawamoto went 6-2 in two rotations against Jessie Irvine, while Klinger went 9-1 in three rotations against Brooke Buckner.

Those results helped New York take the win, 21-18.

“We have such a strong team and a lot of versatility,” Kawamoto said. “For me, I’m just known as kind of a steady player, so that’s what I try and focus on: making a lot of balls to help my teammates and then holding my own in the DreamBreaker.”

Jack Sock, who the Hustlers took sixth overall in April’s draft, is back in The Big Apple for the first time since competing at the 2023 US Open, where he closed out his pro tennis career. 

“It’s my first time being in New York outside of playing the Open, so it’s a little strange being here and not playing that tournament, but I’m having a blast playing and have an awesome team to hang out with and compete with,” shared the four-time Grand Slam champion.

The Hustlers will be back in action later Thursday afternoon against the Utah Black Diamonds at approximately 4pm ET.