LIVE BLOG: The latest news and updates from the Veolia North Carolina Open
It's Mixed Doubles Day at the Veolia North Carolina Open, with action taking place at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, NC.
Broadcast coverage is available on Pickleballtv at 11am ET.
You can also stream courts on the Pickleballtv app, which is available for download in the Apple and Android app stores.
Click here to see the draws for each event.
Stay tuned for live updates throughout the day.
7:00pm EDT: Mixed doubles semifinal matchups set
Here are the two semifinal matchups in mixed doubles that will be played on Saturday at Cary Tennis Park:
- No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns v. No. 4 Anna Bright/Federico Staksrud
- No. 2 Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson v. No. 10 Meghan Dizon/Andrei Daescu
6:55pm EDT: Dizon, Daescu avenge Red Rock defeat, rout Parenteau Alshon in straight games
Meghan Dizon/Andrei Daescu claimed the final spot in the mixed doubles semifinals with an 11-7, 11-1 rout of No. 3 seeds Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon.
It was a familiar matchups for both teams, since they had played each other just one week ago in the quarterfinals of the Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open.
Parenteau/Alshon dominated that encounter to the tune of an 11-1, 11-5 victory.
Things could not have been more different Thursday evening, as Dizon/Daescu practically sprinted to a straight-game victory.
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“We knew we didn’t play our best,” Daescu said of last week’s contest. “We, of course, made some adjustments, but I really have to give props to Meghan. She played an amazing match. She played well the whole day, but especially in this last one. I’m super happy to turn the tables on them and to take their spot in the semifinals.
No. 2 seeds Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson await the tandem on Semifinal Saturday.
5:00pm EDT: Bright, Staksrud avoid collapse, defeat Irvine, Tardio to make semis
Anna Bright/Federico Staksrud are into the mixed doubles semifinals in their first tournament together after an 11-3, 8-11, 11-5 victory over No. 7 seeds Jessie Irvine/Gabe Tardio.
The No. 4 seeds appeared to be on the brink of closing out the match when they got up 8-2 in the second game after dominating the first, but Irvine/Tardio went on to score the next nine points to storm back and send the contest a decider.
In Game 3, Bright/Staksrud again found the form that they started the match with and came away with a comfortable win to book their spot in Semifinal Saturday.
Staksrud says the key to regaining momentum in Game 3 was energy.
“I think they started a little slow, and we took advantage of that. Honestly, even at 11-3, 8-2, I knew something was weird because even though we were up big, we didn’t have really good energy,” he explained. “I’m just glad that we picked it up in the third game.”
Bright, who missed last week’s Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open to travel to Vietnam and China to participate in the JOOLA Pickleball Legends Tour, spoke about the challenges of returning to the US to compete right away.
“I think I played pretty well, all things considered, but I’m feeling very tired, a little jittery, and a little weak,” she admitted. “I’m just glad that Fed and I were able to get through it today, and I’m sure that every day will be a little better for me.”
Bright/Staksrud will face top seeds Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns in the semifinals.
4:05pm EST: Dizon, Daescu move past Pisnik, Johns to make quarters
Meghan Dizon/Andrei Daescu claimed the final spot in the mixed doubles quarterfinals with an 11-7, 11-3 victory over No. 8 seeds Tina Pisnik/Collin Johns.
They will face No. 3 seeds Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon for the chance to compete on Semifinal Saturday.
Here's an update on Thursday's other quarterfinal matchups:
- No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns def. No. 12 Jackie Kawamoto/Dylan Frazier
- No. 4 Anna Bright/Federico Staksrud v. No. 7 Jessie Irvine/Gabe Tardio
- No. 2 Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson v. No. 11 Kate Fahey/Hayden Patriquin
2:10pm EST: Fahey, Patriquin outlast Rohrabacher, Bar in three-game epic
Kate Fahey/Hayden Patriquin defeated No. 6 seeds Rachel Rohrabacher/Dekel Bar 11-3, 6-11, 12-10 in one of the best matches of the day so far at Cary Tennis Park.
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In a match pitting St. Louis Shock teammates against members of the DC Pickleball Team, Fahey/Patriquin came out strong and comfortably took the opening game.
But Rohrabacher/Bar responded and evened the match with an impressive performance in Game 2 to force a decider.
In that that third game, they had a 7-2 lead and a match point at 10-5 before Fahey/Patriquin turned the tide and used a seven-point run to steal the win.
They will face either No. 2 seeds Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson or No. 17 seeds Alix Truong/Jack Sock in the quarterfinals.
1:40pm EST: Pisnik and Johns, Dizon and Daescu set Round of 16 clash
The pairings of Tina Pisnik/Collin Johns and Meghan Dizon/Andrei Daescu advanced to the final 16 with three-game victories early Thursday afternoon.
Pisnik/Johns—the No. 8 seeds this week—did so with an 8-11, 11-2, 11-5 victory over No. 30 seeds Kaitlyn Christian/Blaine Hovenier.
Not to be outdone, Dizon/Daescu defeated No. 18 seeds Zoey Wang/Pablo Tellez by an 11-2, 2-11, 11-6 score line.
The two teams will next face off against each other with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
12:35pm EST: Late run lifts Parenteau, Alshon over Padegimaite, Zavratil
Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon survived an early test against Lina Padegimaite/Zane Navratil, coming away with an 11-7, 7-11, 11-5 victory over the No. 26 seeds.
Padegimaite/Navratil earned a 5-3 advantage in the deciding game, but Parenteau/Alshon went on to score the match's final eight points to secure the victory and advance to the Round of 16.
They will next face either No. 14 seeds Vivienne David/Hunter Johnson or Maggie Brascia/Noe Khlif.
11:45am EST: Bar, Rohrabacher avenge Cape Coral loss, defeat Radzikowska, Emmrich
Rachel Rohrabacher/Dekel Bar are into the mixed doubles Round of 16 after an 11-6, 13-11 victory over No. 29 seeds Ewa Radzikowska/Martin Emmrich.
The No. 6 seeds fell when these teams met last month in Cape Coral, but they avenged that loss with a straight-game triumph on Thursday in North Carolina.
Radzikowska/Emmrich had a chance to send the match to a decider at 11-10 in Game 2, but Bar/Rohrabacher held their nerve, got the serve back, and closed out the encounter a few moments later.
They will next face No. 11 seeds Kate Fahey/Hayden Patriquin with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
11:00am EST: David, Johnson survive upset bid from Bouchard, Benitez
Vivienne David/Hunter Johnson narrowly escaped their first match of the day against No. 50 seeds Genie Bouchard/Juan Benitez, coming away with an 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 victory.
The No. 14 seeds looked to be in serious danger of falling when they trailed 5-9 in the deciding game, but they went on to score the match's final six points to come away with the triumph after just over 50 minutes on court.
They will next face No. 21 seeds Maggie Brascia/Noe Khlif with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line.
10:55am EST: Klinger, Humberg cruise past Tuionetoa/Ignatowich in straight games
Mari Humberg/CJ Klinger became the first team to advance to the Round of 16 in North Carolina, doing so with an impressive 11-4, 11-6 victory over No. 5 seeds Etta Tuionetoa/James Ignatowich.
The No. 31 seeds will next face either Jackie Kawamoto/Dylan Frazier or Liz Truluck/Zane Ford with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
10:05am EST: Late run lifts Truluck, Ford over Brascia, Ge in three games
Liz Truluck/Zane Ford are into the mixed doubles Round of 32 after a 14-12, 3-11, 11-9 victory over No. 22 seeds Mary Brascia/Augie Ge.
The No. 47 seeds were down 2-8 in the deciding game, but they went on to score nine of the match's final ten points to steal the win in thrilling fashion.
Both Truluck and Ford are coming off strong singles performances in North Carolina, with Truluck falling in the Round of 16 and Ford advancing to Saturday's semifinal round.
No. 12 seeds Jackie Kawamoto/Dylan Frazier await the tandem in the next round.
9:40am EST: Parker, Y. Johnson stun Black, Freeman in straight games
Samantha Parker/Yates Johnson scored the first upset of the day at Cary Tennis Park with an 11-5, 11-7 victory over No. 15 seeds Tyra Black/Max Freeman.
The No. 49 seeds will look to keep their run going in the Round of 32, where they'll face either Alix Truong/Jack Sock or Christine Trifunovic/Chuck Taylor.
Broadcast schedule released
Here is the broadcast schedule for this week's tournament:
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