Auckland Shines: PPA New Zealand Cup Delivers Thrills and Triumphs
What's the Score?
The PPA Tour New Zealand Pickleball Cup, held in St. Johns, Auckland, showcased compelling pickleball action across two key days, April 25 and April 27, 2025. The tournament featured notable comeback victories and strong performances, with players securing gold and bronze medals in Pro Women's Doubles, Pro Men's Singles, and Pro Men's Doubles events.
Hit it deeper!
The PPA Tour New Zealand Pickleball Cup brought professional pickleball to St. Johns, Auckland, offering exciting matches and determining podium finishers across several categories on April 25th and April 27th, 2025.
April 25th featured some significant outcomes. In the Pro Women’s Doubles 5.0 and Above, Andie Dikosavljevic claimed the gold medal after a dramatic comeback victory against Roos van Reek. Dikosavljevic lost the first set 8-11 but rallied to win the next two sets convincingly, 11-9 and 11-3, securing the title. Also on April 25th, Danni-Elle Townsend earned the bronze medal in the same category with her own comeback win against Kwon Mihae. After dropping the first set 8-11, Townsend dominated the second set 11-0 and closed out the third set 11-6 to clinch third place. The Pro Men’s Singles events also concluded on April 25th. Kenta Miyoshi won the gold medal, defeating Hong Kit Wong in straight sets with scores of 11-4 and 11-3. Mitchell Hargreaves secured the bronze medal in a hard-fought three-set match against Lucas Pascoe. Hargreaves triumphed with scores of 9-11, 11-9, and 11-9, with Pascoe finishing in third place and earning the bronze medal.
Action continued on April 27th with the finals and bronze medal matches for other categories. In Pro Women’s Doubles 5.0 and Above, the team of Danni-Elle Townsend and Michelle Esquivel staged an epic comeback in the final to capture the gold medal against Kaitlynn Hart and Roos van Reek. After losing the first set 6-11, Townsend and Esquivel dominated the remaining two sets, winning 11-4 and 11-1 to secure the victory. Their path to the final included a straight-sets win (11-7, 12-10) over Jamie Haas and Sarah Burr in the semifinals. In the bronze medal match for the same event, Jamie Haas and Sarah Burr defeated Andie Dikosavljevic and Vrushali Thakare in straight sets, 11-7, 11-8, to claim the bronze medal. Hart and van Reek had reached the final by defeating Dikosavljevic and Thakare 11-3, 11-6 in their semifinal match.
The Pro Men’s Doubles 5.0 and Above final on April 27th saw Robert Stirling and Zachary Grabovic win the gold medal in a thrilling contest against Kim Eunggwon and Joseph Wild. Stirling and Grabovic took the match 11-5, 13-11. They had advanced to the final by defeating George Wall and Hong Kit Wong in a tight three-set semifinal, winning 11-8, 3-11, 12-10. George Wall and Hong Kit Wong secured the bronze medal by defeating Jai Grewal and Rob Cassidy in straight sets, 11-6, 11-4. Eunggwon and Wild had reached the gold medal match by defeating Grewal and Cassidy 11-7, 11-4 in their semifinal.
The tournament featured strong performances and exciting finishes, showcasing the growing level of competitive pickleball in the region.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The PPA Tour New Zealand Pickleball Cup successfully delivered a showcase of competitive pickleball, highlighting both established talent and emerging players in the region. The event was marked by several compelling narratives, including the resilience displayed in multiple comeback victories for medal positions across different categories and dates. The tournament demonstrated the increasing global reach of the PPA Tour and provided valuable competition opportunities. The close matches and dominant performances from players like Kenta Miyoshi and the winning doubles teams underscore the rising standard of play in New Zealand. The tournament's structure, spreading key finals and bronze matches over two days, allowed different events to take centre stage, contributing to a dynamic few days of action. Overall, the Auckland event served as a strong statement for pickleball in New Zealand, solidifying its place on the international professional circuit.