June 11–14 | Love Pickle (Pro Division) & Renouf Tennis Centre, Wellington NZ
The PPA Tour’s first event in Wellington delivered exactly what New Zealand pickleball needed. The pro field went to work at Wellington’s brand-new indoor venue, Love Pickle, while 272 players filled out the amateur and junior program across the courts at Renouf Tennis Centre. Four days, one stacked draw, and a finals day that came down to the wire in almost every division – including a triple-crown bid from Harrison Brown that fell agonisingly short.
Official Event Photos
See all the action in Wellington with the official event photos for all players and spectators to access from 4 days of amazing competition.
Pro Division
Pro recap by PPA pro Sarah Burr, runner-up in Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
Women’s Singles: Dikosavljevic Delivers, Henare Announces Herself
Top seed Andie Dikosavljevic proved why she entered the tournament as the favourite, navigating a stacked draw to claim the women’s singles title.
One of the stories of the event came from Melbourne’s Bee Horsley, who produced a stunning quarterfinal upset over second seed Kaitlynn Hart. In one of the matches of the tournament, Horsley edged Hart 11-9, 9-11, 11-8 to secure her place in the semifinals and continue a career-best weekend.
Another standout performance belonged to 16-year-old Aria Henare. The young Kiwi announced herself on the professional stage with a dramatic quarterfinal victory over local superstar Brittany Yang, prevailing 11-6, 4-11, 12-10 — a breakout moment and a glimpse of what could be a very bright future.
Tayah Cross also enjoyed a milestone weekend, claiming the bronze medal with a straight-games victory over Henare. The result earned Cross her first-ever PPA professional medal.
Men’s Singles: Brown Dominates to Claim Gold
Men’s singles produced plenty of drama before an emphatic finish.
Top seed Mitchell Hargreaves was pushed to the brink in the semifinals by Zachary Grabovic. After dropping the opening game 10-12, Hargreaves battled back to win 11-6, 11-8, overcoming a significant deficit in the decider to book his place in the final.
Standing opposite him was Harrison Brown, who put together one of the most dominant tournament runs of the weekend — defeating local favourite Semisi Fanguna (11-1, 11-7), Ryan Morris (11-3, 11-7), and then local superstar Andy van der Vyver in the semifinals (11-9, 11-8).
The gold medal match belonged entirely to Brown. Displaying exceptional power, precision and court coverage, he dismantled the top seed 11-2, 11-4 to capture the title in commanding fashion.
Men’s Doubles: Brown and Pascoe Deliver in First-Time Partnership
The pro program opened with men’s doubles, where top seeds Hargreaves and Grabovic looked every bit the favourites, cruising through the draw without dropping a game on their way to the final.
Second-seeded Harrison Brown and Lucas Pascoe also enjoyed a strong run, though not without challenges. Their semifinal against Brian Tran and Nick Maleganeas featured a tense opening game, with Brown and Pascoe escaping 11-9 before running away with the second 11-1.
The final delivered one of the matches of the tournament. In a thrilling three-game showdown, Brown and Pascoe edged the top seeds 11-7, 9-11, 14-12. For a first-time partnership, the performance was remarkably polished — Pascoe seamlessly transitioning between both left and right-side responsibilities, with Brown’s relentless pressure proving decisive in the key moments. It’s a partnership many fans will be hoping to see again soon.
Women’s Doubles: Horsley Earns First PPA Gold
The women’s doubles draw saw a dominant start from top seeds Sarah Burr and Andie Dikosavljevic, who stormed through their opening rounds — defeating Hawkes and Brady 11-2, 11-4 before dispatching Martine and Ferguson 11-2, 11-0.
Meanwhile, the newly formed partnership of Kaitlynn Hart and Bee Horsley battled through a much tougher path, overcoming Vakaukamea and Maasi 11-8, 11-8 before surviving a hard-fought semifinal against third seeds Brittany Yang and Tayah Cross, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6.
The final brought another momentum-swing-filled contest. Burr and Dikosavljevic looked in complete control after taking game one 11-5. Hart and Horsley responded brilliantly, turning the match around with aggressive net play and disciplined defence to capture games two and three, 11-6, 11-4. The win marked Horsley’s first-ever PPA women’s doubles title and capped off an outstanding weekend.
Yang and Cross claimed bronze with a straight-games victory over Ferguson and Martine.
Mixed Doubles: Grabovic and Dikosavljevic Strike Gold
If there was one event that captured the atmosphere of Wellington, it was mixed doubles. The Love Pickle crowd was electric all day, packing the venue for some of the tournament’s best matches.
Top seeds Sarah Burr and Lucas Pascoe looked strong early, recording straight-game wins over Halliday and Paynter, then Cross and Barber. Their semifinal against Harrison Brown and Kaitlynn Hart proved far tougher. With Brown chasing a potential triple crown, the match featured long rallies, momentum swings and clutch shot-making — but Burr and Pascoe held firm, winning both games 12-10, 12-10 to end Brown’s triple-crown hopes.
On the other side of the draw, second seeds Zachary Grabovic and Andie Dikosavljevic worked hard for their finals berth, opening with a win over van der Vyver and Han before surviving consecutive three-game battles against Gray/Ferguson and then Hargreaves/Yang.
The championship match delivered a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable weekend. Grabovic and Dikosavljevic raced to an early lead in game one before Burr and Pascoe clawed back to level at 9-9 — the second seeds held their nerve to steal the opener. Game two saw Burr and Pascoe make a strategic side switch that briefly unsettled their opponents, building a 9-7 lead, but Grabovic and Dikosavljevic responded with several clutch points down the stretch to close out the match and secure the title.
The win marked the first PPA mixed doubles gold for both Grabovic and Dikosavljevic — and given their chemistry and composure under pressure, it may be the first of many.
Pro Division — Winners Circle
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Singles | Harrison Brown | Mitchell Hargreaves | Andy van der Vyver |
| Men’s Doubles | Harrison Brown / Lucas Pascoe | Mitchell Hargreaves / Zachary Grabovic | Nick Maleganeas / Brian Tran |
| Women’s Singles | Andie Dikosavljevic | Bee Horsley | Tayah Cross |
| Women’s Doubles | Kaitlynn Hart / Bee Horsley | Andie Dikosavljevic / Sarah Burr | Brittany Yang / Tayah Cross |
| Mixed Doubles | Zachary Grabovic / Andie Dikosavljevic | Lucas Pascoe / Sarah Burr | Mitchell Hargreaves / Brittany Yang |
Winners Circle — Amateur Divisions
Renouf Tennis Centre
Men’s Doubles
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19+ DUPR 3.49 and under | Ezra Tan / Reuben Tan | Stuart Plester / Dion Morgan | Samuel Chademana / Quentin Carmichael |
| 19+ DUPR 3.5–4.49 | Johnlee Kuoch / Yijun Zeng | Bradley Moulin / Augustino Kondylis | Jayden Leith / Nathaniel Leith |
| 19+ DUPR 4.5+ | Ryan Morris / Harrison Young | Chris Maasi / Louis Duckworth | Feiloakitohi Tavalea / Semisi Fanguna |
| 35+ DUPR 3.99 and below | Adam Sylva / David Gillespie | Craig Williams / Nigel Morgan | David Moors / Alan Mac Mahon |
| 35+ DUPR 4.0+ | Willard Sunnex / Hemi Kingi | Ross Smith / Paul Leith | David Smith / Nat Sabesan |
| 50+ DUPR Any | Chris Popata / Damon Curtis | Kent Mori / Jeremy Pearson | Jay McLean / Bobby Lim |
Men’s Singles
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19+ DUPR 3.49 and under | Craig Williams | Samuel Chademana | Quentin Carmichael |
| 19+ DUPR 3.5–4.49 | Sam Sherburd | Tama Skipper | Siaosi Havealeta |
| 19+ DUPR 4.5+ | Feiloakitohi Tavalea | Chris Maasi | Michael Akroyd |
| 35+ DUPR 3.99 and below | Nathaniel Leith | Chris Sherburd | Nat Sabesan |
| 35+ DUPR 4.0+ | Willard Sunnex | Curtis Pegler | Paul Yeatman |
| 50+ Open | Graeme Clemett | Bobby Lim | Jeremy Pearson |
Women’s Doubles
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19+ DUPR 3.49 and under | Sonia Cummings / Lorna Corrie | Kataraina Sanft / Tracy Whitley | Irene Wong / Liane Young |
| 19+ DUPR 3.5–4.49 | Reiona King / Teal King | Violet Skipper / Aria Skipper | Iram Sandridge / Joanna Aquino |
| 19+ DUPR 4.5+ | Hikaru Han / Mint Bhetraratana | Darian Taylor / Michaela Winiata | Maora Ratapu / Ana Fleming |
| 35+ DUPR 3.99 and below | Nadia Hardie / Kylie Stevens | Luanna Michael / Paris Brough | Kylie Tipene / Amanda Crooks |
| 35+ DUPR 4.0+ | Grace Sorbello / Coco Lococo | Sarah Hawkes / Adrianne McLeod | Rebecca Paynter / Rhia Williams |
| 50+ Open | Belinda Crane / Karen Denman | Louise Reynolds / Helen Henry | Tracy Kemp / Saori Han |
Women’s Singles
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19+ DUPR 3.49 and under | Marama Lambert | Irene Wong | Aimee White |
| 19+ DUPR 4.5+ | Lizzie Brady | Teal King | Rima Solomon |
| 35+ DUPR 3.99 and below | Karine T | Kristen Smith | Rhia Williams |
| 35+ DUPR 4.0+ | Grace Sorbello | Mint Bhetraratana | Sarah Hawkes |
| 50+ Open | Karen Denman | Tracy Kemp | Gretchen Lund |
Mixed Doubles
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19+ DUPR 3.49 and under | Tracy Whitley / Jason Fernandes | Renee Winter / Sandino-Diaz C | Lynn Sanders / Simon Jones |
| 19+ DUPR 3.5–4.49 | Madison Callander / Alex Turnbull | Ripeka Noe / Yijun Zeng | Teal King / Brigham Lio |
| 19+ DUPR 4.5+ | Ela Vakaukamea / Semisi Fanguna | Hikaru Han / Andy van der Vyver | Brookie Maasi / Feiloakitohi Tavalea |
| 35+ DUPR 3.99 and below | Tsunar Brown / Myk Horua | Mel Ataata / Fazi Toia | Nadia Hardie / Steve Lawson |
| 35+ DUPR 4.0+ | Kristen Smith / Curtis Pegler | Eileen Mason / Nathaniel Leith | Tania Martin / Ben Montague |
| 50+ Open | Belinda Crane / Jeremy Pearson | Karen Denman / Graeme Clemett | Gretchen Lund / Jay McLean |
Winners Circle — Junior Divisions
Renouf Tennis Centre
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 and Under Boys’ Doubles | Aston Carter / Alamoni Latu | Oscar Clarke / Mitch Rodgers | Tomasi Hulu Kaloni Ale Jr / Paula Akimoana Jr Kaufana |
| 18 and Under Boys’ Singles | Oscar Clarke | Etuate Tavo Jr Toutai | Alamoni Latu |
| 18 and Under Girls’ Doubles | Aria Henare / Mia Hardie | Sophie H / Angelene M | Moana H / Maia Cornell |
| 18 and Under Girls’ Singles | Aria Henare | Sophie H | Angelene M |
| 18 and Under Mixed Doubles | Angelene M / Alamoni Latu | Sophie H / Mitch Rodgers | Mia Hardie / Aston Carter |
Looking Ahead
The inaugural PPA Australia event in Wellington was a major success. Love Pickle’s brand-new indoor venue gave the pro field a fantastic showcase, while Renouf Tennis Centre carried the weight of the amateur and junior program without missing a beat — and the Wellington crowd delivered an atmosphere worthy of a championship event.
From Aria Henare’s breakthrough and Tayah Cross’s first professional medal to Harrison Brown’s near triple crown and a host of new partnerships finding instant chemistry, Wellington provided storylines everywhere you looked.
If this weekend was any indication, New Zealand’s place on the PPA Australia calendar looks very secure.
Next stop: PPA250 Melbourne, July 16–19.
Full results and brackets at pickleballtournaments.com. Tour info at ppatour.com.au.