What’s the Score?
The playoff picture for the World Pickleball League (WPL) has sharpened significantly following the action on Day 8. Dilli Dillwale officially secured their spot in the next round with a gritty 3–2 victory over Pune United. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Titans kept their hopes alive and improved their net run rate with a commanding 4–1 demolition of Mumbai Pickle Power.
Hit it Deeper!
The day’s opening tie was a high-stakes affair for Dilli Dillwale. Facing a Pune United squad desperate for points, Dilli relied on their star, Vinh Hien Truong, to steer the ship. Truong was named “Player of the Tie” after a critical Men’s Singles victory over Balint Bako (15–12).
Dilli’s depth was on display in the doubles categories. The Mixed Doubles pair of Max Manthou and Trang Huynh edged out Pune’s William Sobek and Madalina Grigoriu in a tight 8–6 contest. Trang Huynh returned to the court for Women’s Doubles, partnering with Mihae Kwon to rout their opponents 17–9. Although Pune United salvaged some pride with wins in Women’s Singles and Men’s Doubles, the 3–2 loss sealed their fate near the bottom of the table.
In the second tie, the Rajasthan Titans finally found their rhythm against Mumbai Pickle Power. It was a near-perfect performance. Lorena Duknic set the tone with a 17–11 win in Women’s Singles. The Titans dominated the doubles courts, sweeping all three doubles matches. The pairing of Amanda Hendry and Trinh Linh Giang was particularly effective in Mixed Doubles, winning 15–11. Mumbai’s only point came from Max Green, who fought hard to win the Men’s Singles 22–19 against Jack Foster.
With these results, Chennai Super Champs (Q1) and Dilli Dillwale (Q2) have officially qualified for the playoffs.
The World Pickleball Verdict
Day 8 was a reality check for the league. Dilli Dillwale’s qualification proves that a balanced roster—capable of winning across singles and doubles—is essential for league success. They rely heavily on the Truong/Huynh axis, and it is delivering results.
For Rajasthan, the 4–1 win is a lifeline. Sitting in 5th place, they are knocking on the door of the top four, and this dominant showing against Mumbai suggests they are peaking at the right time. Conversely, Pune United and Mumbai Pickle Power look to be out of answers. The disparity between the top two teams (Chennai and Dilli) and the bottom two is becoming stark. The upcoming matches involving the Bengaluru Jawans and Hyderabad Super Stars will now be essentially knockout fixtures—they must win to stop Rajasthan from stealing a playoff berth. The pressure is mounting.
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.