Layne Sleeth hits a pickleball serve.
Layne Sleeth competing at the Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina Cup presented by CIBC. PPA Tour

Sleeth enjoying successful run in LA

LOS ANGELES, CA - Layne Sleeth is playing in just her fifth pro pickleball tournament, but she’s having quite the run at the Veolia LA Open presented by Deep Eddy Vodka.

After three victories on Thursday, the former University of Oklahoma tennis player is into the quarterfinals.

One of those wins was a three-game battle against No. 4 seed and pickleball veteran Irina Tereschenko, where the No. 29 seed came out with a 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 victory.

“I feel like I just ran after every ball and just grinded it out,” Sleeth said of the match.

From there, she took down No. 14 seed Nicole Eugenio 11-4, 11-6.

An extensive tennis background has been a major part of Sleeth's quick rise to success on the singles court.

“A lot of the tennis has crossed over, especially the ground strokes,” she shared. “It’s just the short game and the soft game that have been tougher to get, but the tennis definitely helps a lot with movement on the court.”

Sleeth will next face No. 5 seed Brooke Buckner with a spot in the semifinals on the line.