Newmans Reunite in Atlanta: Mixed Doubles Return Ends in Victory
What's the Score?
Sibling professional pickleball players Lindsey and Riley Newman reunited as a mixed doubles team at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, playing their first match together since August 2023.
Hit it deeper!
A notable development at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships presented by Ensure Max Protein is the reunion of the formidable mixed doubles pairing of siblings Lindsey and Riley Newman. The duo took the court together for the first time since August of 2023. Their return was marked by a successful start, as they secured an 11-6, 11-2 victory over the No. 51 seeds Allison Phillips and Cason Campbell in their opening match on Tuesday.
Before their hiatus as a mixed doubles team, Lindsey and Riley Newman had a strong track record on the PPA Tour. They have earned a remarkable ten PPA medals together in mixed doubles. Their decision to team up again for the Atlanta Championships indicates their intention to potentially return to the podium. The Newmans will now look to build on their successful first match as they advance in the mixed doubles draw. Their next opponents in the Round of 32 will be the No. 22 seeds Mary Brascia and Blaine Hovenier.
The mixed doubles event at the tournament also featured other exciting matches and pairings. The pairings of Jessie Irvine and Gabe Tardio, and Milan Rane and Eric Oncins, both advanced to the Round of 32 with three-game victories on Tuesday afternoon. Irvine and Tardio, seeded No. 8 this week, defeated No. 58 seeds Hannah Blatt and Yuta Funemizu 8-11, 11-1, 11-4. Rane and Oncins, the No. 28 seeds, earned a comeback victory over No. 37 seeds Tamaryn Emmrich and Michael Loyd with scores of 7-11, 11-5, 11-2. Irvine/Tardio and Rane/Oncins are now set to face each other on Wednesday, with a spot in the Round of 16 at stake.
Several teams also fought through the mixed doubles qualifying rounds on Monday to earn their place in the main draw. These qualifying teams included Alia Brown and Thomas Yu, Jade Rau and Zachary Marceau, Jaeda Minniefield and Garrison Eaby, Daniel Miron and Helen To, Eunggwon Kim and Ting Chieh Wei, Etienne Blaszkewycz and Maria Klokotzky, Sam Weinbach and Ella Yeh, Demetric Marrero Jr. and Ella Cosma, and Giorgia Vitale and Kentaro Hamaguchi. These qualifiers were set to face various seeded teams in the main draw, including Klokotzky/Blaszkewycz playing against No. 52 seeds Andrea Koop and Brandon French, and Marrero Jr./Cosma facing No. 50 seeds Christine Trifunovic and Chuck Taylor.
The mixed doubles competition at the Atlanta Open provides a significant platform for both established partnerships like the returning Newmans and newer pairings or qualifiers looking to make their mark.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The reunion of Lindsey and Riley Newman in mixed doubles after a significant break is a key storyline at the Atlanta Open, bringing back a proven medal-winning team to the PPA Tour. Their successful return match demonstrates their continued capability at a high level. Their performance, alongside the progress of other teams through early rounds and qualifiers, highlights the competitive nature of mixed doubles and adds an element of intrigue to see if the Newman siblings can reclaim their status as top contenders in the event.