What’s the Score?
Matchday 9 of the World Pickleball League (WPBL) on February 4, 2026, delivered a masterclass in contrast: total domination on one court and a white-knuckle finish on the other. The Chennai Super Champs asserted themselves as the league’s undisputed kings, thrashing the Hyderabad Super Stars 4–1 to secure the top spot in the standings and a guaranteed qualification for the next round. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Jawans kept their title hopes alive in dramatic fashion, edging out the Rajasthan Titans 3–2 in a match decided by a high-stakes tie-breaker.
Hit it deeper!
The day’s action began with a heavyweight clash between the Bengaluru Jawans and the Rajasthan Titans. It was a seesaw battle that required individual brilliance to break the deadlock. The star for Bengaluru was undeniably Katerina Stewart, who earned “Player of the Tie” honours for a heroic all-around performance. Stewart first dismantled Lorena Duknic in Women’s Singles with a convincing 16–09 scoreline. She then returned to the court alongside Brooke Revuelta to secure a vital 13–07 win in Women’s Doubles.
However, Rajasthan refused to go quietly. The Titans fought back in the Men’s Singles, where Dusty Boyer managed a gritty 14–14 draw against Jack Foster, and in the Mixed Doubles, where Amanda Hendry and Trinh Linh Giang overcame Bengaluru’s duo 12–09. With the tie hanging in the balance, it went to a decider. In the clutch, Bengaluru’s Mauro Garcia and Katerina Stewart held their nerve, defeating Rajasthan 10–07 to secure the win and valuable league points.
In the second fixture, the Chennai Super Champs showed no such vulnerability. Facing the Hyderabad Super Stars, Chennai looked every bit the league leaders. Ly Hoang Nam was in imperious form, earning “Player of the Tie” after demolishing Josep Canyadell 20–10 in Men’s Singles and partnering with Carlota Trevino for an 11–05 Mixed Doubles victory. Chennai’s depth was on full display as they also claimed the Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles points. The only blemish on their record was a hard-fought loss in Women’s Singles, where Hyderabad’s Seone Mendez salvaged some pride with a 23–17 win over Rika Fujiwara.
The World Pickleball Verdict
With only a few matches remaining, the WPL hierarchy is becoming clear. The Chennai Super Champs (55 points) and Dilli Dillwale (45 points) have separated themselves from the pack, both marked as “Qualified”. Chennai’s 4-1 demolition job suggests they are peaking at exactly the right time.
However, the real story is the gritty survival of the Bengaluru Jawans. By scraping past Rajasthan via a tie-breaker, they sit in third place with 40 points, creating a buffer between themselves and the chasing Hyderabad Super Stars (30 points). For teams like Rajasthan and Hyderabad, the margin for error has evaporated. As we look toward Matchday 10, where Hyderabad faces Bengaluru, the pressure will be immense. Bengaluru has shown they can win ugly; now they just need to hold the line to join Chennai in the postseason.