Taylor and Wright get heated in mixed match: "You need the extra steps"
SAN CLEMENTE, CA - A heater of a match occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the PPA Select Medical Orange County Cup when Matt Wright and Lucy Kovalova faced off against Zach Taylor and Carolina Lopez-Ascarate in the round of 64.
The usual shenanigans ensued after Wright and Kovalova went down 9-11 in game one, with Wright employing his familiar call of “That’s out!” in game two.
After one of Wright’s balls flew long with Wright/Kovalova leading game two 4-0, Taylor called the ball out by saying (amid a few laughs from the crowd): “No. Never.”
Wright responded on the next ball when Taylor put it in the net: “Never.”
Taylor remarked audibly, “11-9,” likely referring to the score of the first game that Wright/Kovalova had just lost to them.
Wright replied with something that is mostly inaudible, but, “just two hacks,” sounded like it might have been a portion of his monologue.
At that point, Taylor began using Wright’s signature, “that’s out” call back at him.
At 4-2, Taylor disputed a call on the back line that Wright/Kovalova made and asked if there was a challenge system on the court that he could use. There was not, and the referee upheld the call on the court.
A firefight ensued at 6-3 between Taylor and Kovalova, with Kovalova coming out on top. Wright followed this up by saying, “Yup, slow hands there” as well as another comment that is inaudible.
At 7-3, Taylor stretched in to take a ball out of the air and landed it in the net.
Wright: “Yeah, I would say ‘never’ on that one.”
Taylor: “Yeah, probably not.”
Next point, Taylor (in response to a winning ball from his partner): “Yup, all day, let’s go.”
Next point, Wright (forcing an out ball from Taylor): “That’s out, that’s not the shot.”
Finally logging a point with a smash past Wright to take the game to 4-7, Taylor let Wright know: “Yes, that’s the shot.”
Wright (after Taylor missed a defensive ball at the back): “Let her play, it’s better.”
Taylor responded by knocking the ball over to the far corner of Wright’s side of the court to retrieve.
Wright (sarcastically): “Thank you.”
Taylor: “You’re welcome. You need the extra steps.”
Taylor/Lopez Ascarate lost the next point to take them to 4-8 down and called a timeout, with Taylor climbing into the first row of the stands and walking around the ref to his bench in order to avoid passing by Wright.
A miss from Taylor upon returning to the court prompted Wright to say: “Uh-oh.”
Kovalova and Wright closed out game two 11-4, taking the match to a game three.
The chatter continued throughout game three, with Wright making the bulk of the comments to Taylor which included:
“You have no backhand, believe me.”
“Uh-oh, that hurts (referencing a foot fault called on Taylor)”
“How many forehands is he [Taylor] going to miss? Keep going there, return to him every time.”
“Oh, that’s a bad miss.”
“I think he was trying to hit a lob on that one (referencing a high, deep ball from Taylor).”
Taylor tried to bring his partner up, who seemed to be letting the chatter get to her: “Hey, forget what he says. Just play pickleball. It’s what he does.”
Taylor/Lopez Ascarate called a timeout at 2-9 down, prompting Wright to let them know: “Good timeout.” and remind them of the score, “9-2-1.”
Wright: “How could we lose a game to these guys?”
Kovalova: “I played terrible first game.”
Wright: “… 4.0s…”
Taylor/Lopez Ascarate went on to lose the match 9-11, 11-4, 11-2.
Wright: “That was close, I said [it would be] 2 and 2, [and it was] 4 and 2.”
What do you think of the chatter in this match? Over the line or part of the game? Let us know by tagging @pickleballdotcom or commenting on our social media post detailing this exchange.
To rewatch the full match, head over to PPA Grandstand Court.
Related articles
What's it like raising a teenage daughter on tour? Julie Johnson shares all
The veteran mentor has learned a thing or two over the years.
13 hours ago
-Victoria Radnothy
Vote Now: 2024 Pickleball.com Endseason Awards
Cast your vote and support your favorite players.
a day ago
-Pickleball.com Staff
Best dressed at the CIBC PPA Tour Finals presented by ROAR Organic
If you look good, you play good.
2 days ago
-Victoria Radnothy
A final look at the CIBC PPA Tour Finals
We had some unseasonably cold weather for San Clemente, and a couple of days of fog, but the play on the court was hot.
2 days ago
-Jim Kloss