ROSEVILLE, CA - Qualifiers Daria Walczak and Patrick Kawka are one of the last four teams left in the running for mixed doubles gold at the APP Sacramento Open.

They took down No. 1 seeds Megan Fudge and Andrei Daescu 11-1, 11-8 in the quarterfinals to keep their run alive.

Even though going through the qualifying draw can be tougher for players because they have to win more matches, Walczak thinks the confidence earned from those matches on Thursday prepared them to find their best form for Friday.

“Starting yesterday, we felt really confident on the court,” she said. “We know what we do well, so we’re just trying to keep that up.”

Coming through the qualifying draw is a familiar challenge for Kawka, who has had to do so at other pro tournaments so far this year.

But the former tennis and padel pro is enjoying this run to the later stages of a pro tournament.

“I live in the qualies, so it’s nice to be in the main draw for a little bit,” he shared.

Next up for Walczak and Kawka is a semifinal clash against Jill Braverman and Gabriel Tardio.