Matthew Barlow competing in the Newport Beach PPA Challenger.
Matthew Barlow competing in the Newport Beach PPA Challenger. PPA Challenger Series

Newport Beach PPA Challenger Recap: New medalists shine in SoCal

While some pros were overseas competing in Vietnam over the weekend, others were stateside in Southern California at the Newport Beach PPA Challenger.

The tournament, which was held at the same venue as last month’s Newport Beach Open, saw first-time gold medalists in four of five events.

One standout performance came from Matthew Barlow, who captured the men’s singles title after dropping only one game through six matches.

 

“It was a grind of a day, not gonna lie,” he said after his 11-4, 11-1 win over Spartak Rahachou in the final. “Six matches in a row was a grind, but it was fun.”

In mixed doubles, Alexa Schull/DJ Young teamed up and struck gold to earn what is the first Challenger title for both players.

Their run nearly ended in the Round of 16, where they got down 0-7 in the deciding game against Isabella Dunlap/Brandon French, but they went on to score the match’s final eleven points to stay alive.

The weekend’s only gold medalist with a previous Challenger title was Jalina Ingram, who defeated Carlota Trevino 7-11, 11-8, 13-11 to capture her second career Challenger gold.

It was quite the effort from the 18-year-old, who found herself own a game and 2-7 before pulling off a massive comeback.

 

The women’s doubles final was just as entertaining, as Genie Erokhina/Lingwei Kong took on Isabella Dunlap/Abbigal Hatton.

Both teams advanced to the final without dropping game, but it was Dunlap/Hatton who struck first and took Game 1 before jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the second.

Just two points away from defeat, Kong/Erokhina clawed their way back to steal Game 2 after saving a match point and went on to eventually close out the 8-11, 12-10, 11-9 win.

And in the men’s doubles final, Alex Emery/Aidan Schenk overcame a slow start to defeat Kailas Shekar/Riley Inn by a 5-11, 11-2, 11-1 score line.

Five of their six matches went to three games, but Emery/Schenk time and again raised their collective level in big moments as both players secured their first PPA Challenger titles.

 

Here is the full rundown of podium finishers in the Golden State:

Women’s Singles

  • Gold: Jalina Ingram
  • Silver: Carlota Trevino
  • Bronze: Alexa Schull
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Women’s Doubles

  • Gold: Genie Erokhina/Lingwei Kong
  • Silver: Isabella Dunlap/Abbigal Hatton
  • Bronze: Angie Walker/Daria Walczak
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Mixed Doubles

  • Gold: Alexa Schull/DJ Young
  • Silver: Daria Walczak/Augie Ge
  • Bronze: Kiora Kunimoto/Tom Protzek
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Men’s Singles

  • Gold: Matthew Barlow
  • Silver: Spartak Rahachou
  • Bronze: Connor Mogle
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Men’s Doubles

  • Gold: Alex Emery/Aidan Schenk
  • Silver: Kailas Shekar/Riley Inn
  • Bronze: Carlos Di Laura/Augie Ge
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