LIVE BLOG: The latest results and news from Thursday at the Daytona Beach Open presented by ROAR Organic
It’s Singles Thursday at the Daytona Beach Open presented by ROAR Organic, the first tournament where players can earn rankings points for the 2025 PPA season.
Catch all the broadcast coverage from Pictona on Pickleballtv and the PPA YouTube.
Stay tuned to this live blog throughout the day for the latest news, and click here to view live scores.
2:00 p.m. CT: H. Jansen takes out defending champ Devidze in three-game battle
Helena Jansen ended No. 3 seed Salome Devidze's title defense bid at Pictona with a thrilling 8-11, 11-7, 12-10 triumph.
The No. 14 seed fell behind 6-9 in the deciding game and even faced match point at 8-10, but she found her best in match's tightest moments and stole the win to surge into the quarterfinals.
She will next face No. 28 seed Lauren Hidalgo-Smith, with both players looking to make their first career PPA semifinal.
1:45 p.m. CT: Christian, Brascia to square off in semifinals in rematch from San Clemente
No. 2 seed Kaitlyn Christian and No. 4 seed Mary Brascia became the first players to book their spots in the women's singles semifinals.
Christian did so with an 11-4, 11-3 victory over No. 26 seed Mya Bui, who came through this morning's qualifying draw.
Brascia followed suit by overcoming a tough test from No. 12 seed Madalina Grigoriu, as she came away with an 11-7, 11-9 triumph.
These results set up a rematch of an Erne Pool contest from the CIBC PPA Tour Finals earlier this month, which Christian won 11-0, 11-2.
12:30 p.m. CT: Ford, Loyd set semifinal clash
No. 21 seed Zane Ford and No. 2 seed Michael Loyd earned the final two spots in the men's singles semifinals with impressive victories early Thursday afternoon.
Ford dominated No. 4 seed Rafa Hewett by an 11-2, 11-6 score line, excelling in both baseline and kitchen line exchanges. This win catapults the 20-year-old into his first career PPA semifinal, just a few weeks removed from making the quarters in Milwaukee.
He took a moment to reflect on all the work he's put in to get to this point.
"It just comes down to all the hours I've been putting in on and off the court physically, and really learning every time I step on the court," he shared. "Trusting my shots is the main thing—believing that I can do this and going out there and fighting as hard as I can."
Ford's semifinal opponent will be Michael Loyd, who advanced with an 11-7, 11-9 triumph over No. 26 seed Alexander Crum. It looked like Crum would force a third game when he earned a 9-4 lead in the second, but Loyd scored the match's final seven points to close it out and move one win closer to making his second career Championship Sunday appearance.
In the other semifinal, top seed Federico Staksrud will take on No. 10 seed Mohaned Alhouni.
11:45 a.m. CT: Mh. Alhouni finds groove, defeats Harvey to make first career PPA semifinal
Mohaned Alhouni is into his first career PPA semifinal after an 11-8, 11-5 victory over No. 13 seed Adam Harvey.
Harvey was looking to make his second straight semifinal after earning bronze in Milwaukee, but the lefty Alhouni expertly used his length to win a majority of the rallies at the kitchen line and secure the win in two games.
Now just one win away from his first career Championship Sunday appearance, Alhouni will turn his attention to No. 1 seed Federico Staksrud, who awaits him in the semifinals.
11:15 a.m. CT: Crum outlasts Alhouni in three games to make first PPA quarterfinal
Alexander Crum—who came through Wednesday's qualifying draw—booked the final spot in the men's singles quarterfinals with an 11-8, 10-12, 11-7 victory over No. 11 seed Mota Alhouni.
Crum has notched impressive wins over Pablo Tellez, Marshall Brown, and Cason Campbell in 2024, but this marks his first venture beyond the Round of 16 at a PPA tournament.
The No. 26 seed will look to continue his run when he takes on No. 2 seed Michael Loyd with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
10:40 a.m. CT: Ford powers past Goldin, advances to quarters
Zane Ford is into the men's singles quarterfinals after an impressive 11-6, 11-4 victory over No. 5 seed Grayson Goldin.
Ford has been on the up-and-up over the past few months, most recently making a quarterfinal run in Milwaukee where he pushed top-seeded Federico Staksrud to three games.
The 20-year-old with virtually unmatched power on his drives will look to make his first career PPA semifinal when he faces off against No. 4 seed Rafa Hewett next.
9:45 a.m. CT: Chrysostom catches fire late, downs Shick in three games
At Pictona in 2023, Collin Shick came through the qualifying draw and a memorable run to Championship Sunday.
This year, he lost in the first round to a player looking to do the same thing: Jordan Chrysostom.
Chrysostom, a 24-year-old out of Bowie, MD won three qualifying matches on Wednesday to earn a chance to face Shick in Thursday’s opening round. After his 4-11, 11-9, 11-6 victory over the No. 3 seed, it's clear that he's not taking the opportunity for granted.
The two switched sides in the third game with Shick leading 6-5, but Chrysostom caught fire at just the right time; after earning a side out, he scored six consecutive points on his serve with impressive passing shots off of both wings to close out the triumph.
The No. 29 seed will take on No. 13 seed Adam Harvey next with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
8:30 a.m. CT: Harvey advances to Round of 16 after Smith withdraws
No. 13 seed Adam Harvey is into the men's singles Round of 16 after Spencer Smith withdrew ahead of their match.
Harvey earned his first PPA Tour medal at last month's Veolia Milwaukee Open, coming away with the bronze medal after securing wins over Dylan Frazier, Blaine Hovenier, Rafa Hewett, and Pablo Tellez.
He will look to carry that momentum with him into Central Florida, where he'll next face either No. 3 seed Collin Shick or qualifier Jordan Chrysostom.
Previewing Thursday's action
Check out the following video to see what I'll be watching for on Thursday:
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