Live updates from PPA Bristol Open: Singles
BRISTOL, TN - It's Singles Thursday at the IHG Hotels and Resorts Open presented by Deep Eddy Vodka, and I've got all the latest from the men's and women's draws.
Check back here throughout the day, as this article will be modified as results come in.
You can watch the action for yourself on PickleballTV (starting at 10am CST) and the PPA YouTube.
Wang takes out MLP teammate Castillo to make first PPA semifinal
Chao Yi Wang will compete in a PPA semifinal for the first time in her career after outlasting No. 8 seed Judit Castillo 11-7, 3-11, 11-6 in the quarters.
The players switched sides in Game 3 with Castillo leading 6-4, but Wang scored the match’s next seven points to clinch the victory.
The No. 14 seed is having quite the run in Bristol, where she has earned wins over Castillo and No. 3 seed Lea Jansen.
Wang has been having success getting to the net and taking time away from her opponents.
“I try to get to the net because I like to hit volleys and put my opponents under pressure,” she explained.
This particular match pit two Major League Pickleball teammates against each other; both Wang and Castillo compete at the Challenger level for the Las Vegas Night Owls.
Wang says that the extra familiarity with her opponent helped her find her best when it mattered.
“[Judit] has given me a lot of confidence through MLP, and I think that’s one of the reasons why I played well against her," she mentioned.
With the win, Wang is one victory away from making her first Championship Sunday appearance. She’ll next take on No. 6 seed Kaitlyn Christian in the semifinals.
Buckner ousts Parenteau in two games
Brooke Buckner is into the women's singles semifinals after an 11-7, 11-8 victory over No. 2 seed Catherine Parenteau.
The hot streak continues for Buckner, who is fresh off of her second title of the year in Kansas City.
No. 4 seed Salome Devidze—who dispatched Ava Ignatowich in two games in their quarterfinal bout—stands in between Buckner and her second consecutive Championship Sunday appearance.
Christian, Wang book spots in quarters with three-game wins
Kaitlyn Christian and Chao Yi Wang fought their way to the women’s singles quarterfinals with three-game victories.
Christian overcame a slow start to defeat No. 20 seed Anna Bright 2-11, 11-8, 12-10.
She saw three match points at 10-7 evaporate before Bright tied things up at 10-10 in Game 3, but a key timeout helped the former tennis pro reset and find her best form in the final few points to close out the match.
“I told myself to just keep playing my game and being aggressive and to try and get to the net,” she shared of her thought process during the pause in play. “That’s how I get a lot of my results, so at the end of these matches, I just want to put pressure on my opponents to pass me and come up with big shots.”
The No. 6 seed will next face No. 15 seed Nicole Eugenio.
Wang had a similar result against Lea Jansen, again fighting through a tough first game to an eventual 1-11, 11-4, 11-7 triumph. The No. 14 seed can earn her first PPA semifinal berth with a win against No. 8 seed Judit Castillo in the next round.
A. Ignatowich into quarters after Stratman’s withdrawal
Ava Ignatowich is into the quarterfinals after No. 7 seed Lauren Stratman withdrew ahead of their Round of 16 matchup.
Stratman has not publicly given a reason for her withdrawal, but she endured a battle in her first and only match of the day, outlasting No. 27 seed Shannon Pretorius 5-11, 11-7, 11-9.
The No. 11 seed Ignatowich beat No. 18 seed Lingwei Kong 11-5, 11-9 in her opening match and will now face No. 4 seed Salome Devidze with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
Goldin continues run, sets clash with Johns
Grayson Goldin continued his strong performance in Bristol with an 11-9, 12-10 victory over No. 7 seed Jack Sock.
With wins over Sock and Julian Arnold already on Thursday, Goldin will look to make his first PPA semifinal appearance with a victory over No. 2 seed Ben Johns.
The former University of South Florida tennis player says that nailing the opening shots of the rally is crucial in the Tennessee heat.
“These courts are playing extremely quickly this week, so getting a deep serve and a somewhat deep return to set up that first volley has been important.”
Bellamy survives to book spot in Round of 16
Roscoe Bellamy overcame a 4-9 Game 3 deficit to defeat No. 45 seed Max Green in the Round of 32 by way of a 9-11, 12-10, 12-10 score line.
The No. 14 seed—who has one bronze medal to his name in 2024—will take on Ryan Fu with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
Goldin downs Arnold, sets enticing clash with Sock
Grayson Goldin earned a convincing 11-2, 11-3 victory over No. 11 seed Julian Arnold. The No. 42 seed has had a strong summer in singles, highlighted by a run to the quarterfinals at the Select Medical Orange County Cup.
Goldin will next take on No. 7 seed Jack Sock in what is shaping up to be a highly entertaining Round of 16 matchup.
Waters withdraws from singles, to be replaced by Brown
No. 1 seed Anna Leigh Waters withdrew from singles competition earlier Thursday morning because of a knee injury.
She is expected to still compete in mixed doubles and women's doubles later in the week, where her partners are Ben Johns and Catherine Parenteau, respectively.
Alia Brown, who lost in the final round of qualifying, will take Waters' spot and face Mehvish Safdar in the first round.
Fu into Round of 16 after Alshon's withdrawal
Ryan Fu is into the Round of 16 after No. 4 seed Christian Alshon withdrew ahead of their Round of 32 matchup.
Alshon gives no indication that he will miss any doubles action. He is set to play mixed with Anna Bright and men's with Quang Duong, his Texas Ranchers teammate.
Fu won his first-round match against Wyatt Stone 11-6, 11-6 and will face the winner of the match between No. 14 seed Roscoe Bellamy and No. 45 seed Max Green with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
Foster takes down Patriquin, books spot in Round of 16
Jack Foster continued his strong form in Tennessee with an 11-6, 11-5 victory over No. 13 seed Hayden Patriquin.
The No. 46 seed—who had to fight through Wednesday's qualifying draw—credits his serve and forehand as the biggest contributors to his latest triumph.
“My serve definitely helped me out here," he shared. "These courts are very fast, and I was able to hit deep serves that are tough to return. I got a lot of free points off of that, and then I think my inside-out forehand worked really well, too.”
Foster will next face the winner of the match between No. 3 seed Tyson McGuffin and No. 26 seed Blaine Hovenier.
Boyer upsets Y. Johnson in straight games
Dustin Boyer ousted No. 18 seed Yates Johnson 11-6, 11-2 in the first round, which sets him up to face No. 10 seed Jay Devilliers in the Round of 32.
Boyer last made a deep run at PPA Minnesota, where he notched wins against Aanik Lohani and Quang Duong en route to a quarterfinal finish.
We'll see if another run is in store for him in Tennessee.
Foster eases past Roddy to reach Round of 32
US Open men's singles champion Jack Foster opened up his campaign with a comfortable 11-1, 11-4 victory over Eric Roddy.
He'll next take on No. 13 seed Hayden Patriquin in one of the day's most intriguing early-round matchups.
Related articles
Order of play for Round of 16 at CIBC Atlanta Slam presented by Vizzy
A busy day of pickleball awaits in the Peach State on Thursday.
6 hours ago
-Pickleball.com Staff
Thoughts on Day 2 of CIBC Atlanta Slam presented by Vizzy
It was another beautiful day in Atlanta.
6 hours ago
-Jim Kloss
LIVE BLOG: Wednesday's results and news from Life Time Peachtree Corners
Stay tuned for updates throughout the day.
19 hours ago
-Pickleball.com Staff
Order of play for Round of 32 at CIBC Atlanta Slam presented by Vizzy
The stakes get even higher in Georgia.
a day ago
-Pickleball.com Staff