
Miami ends skid with sweep of Hustlers as Funemizu makes history
The Miami Pickleball Club (7-10, 19pts) snapped a five-match losing streak with a 4-0 sweep of the New York Hustlers (3-12, 8pts) in Friday’s first match on Championship Court.
This is Miami’s first event since MLP Austin in May, where they failed to get a win against a gauntlet of top teams including the Dallas Flash, New Jersey 5s, Texas Ranchers, and Orlando Squeeze.
They fell to Orlando again on Thursday before getting back on track against New York on Friday to keep possession of the tenth and final playoff spot at the Premier level.
“We hadn’t won a match in our last couple, so this was a good win after yesterday,” said Miami’s Noe Khlif after the performance. “I didn’t think we played badly yesterday, but we played a good team, so today it came down to executing the basics, believing in ourselves, and just getting back on track.”
But Friday’s match was a special one for reasons other than what was on the scoreboard.
Yuta Funemizu, Miami’s third rostered male who is filling in for Jay Devilliers this week, became the first Japanese player ever to record a game win in Major League Pickleball.
The former soft tennis world champion picked up victories in men’s doubles with Khlif and mixed doubles with Mya Bui to etch his name in MLP history.
Funemizu and the rest of Miami’s squad will be back in action later Friday afternoon when they take on the Brooklyn Pickleball Team (10-5, 33pts).
Related articles

Mesa Championship Sunday Recap: Alshon, Daescu win thriller as Waters takes two golds
Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu saved seven match points in their men's doubles final victory over Nico Acevedo and Yuta Funemizu on Sunday.
17 hours ago
-Pickleball.com Staff

Order of play for Carvana Championship Sunday at the Veolia Arizona Open
Anna Leigh Waters is in the running for two golds on Sunday in Mesa.
1 day ago
-Pickleball.com Staff

Order of play for Semifinal Saturday at the Veolia Arizona Open
Christian Alshon enters Saturday as the only player still alive in singles, mixed doubles, and gender doubles.
2 days ago
-Pickleball.com Staff

One and done: Johns, Staksrud stunned by upset in first match together
Nico Acevedo and Yuta Funemizu spoiled the top seeds' debut match with an 11-4, 11-5 victory late Thursday evening.
3 days ago
-Will Daughton