PPA Tour Brisbane Championships Showcase Thrilling Battles and New Champions

The PPA Tour Brisbane Championships recently concluded at the picturesque Focus Pickleball Redcliffe, delivering an exhilarating showcase of talent, grit, and sportsmanship. With over 200 competitors converging over three action-packed days, the tournament lived up to its billing as one of the highlights of the pickleball calendar. Despite the warm and windy conditions, players brought their A-game to the courts, thrilling fans and leaving a lasting impression.

The event kicked off in style with a special Active Queensland Clinic and Ladies Camp hosted by the legendary five-time Olympian Nat Cook on Thursday night. This pre-tournament session set the tone for the days ahead, inspiring participants and fostering a sense of community among players of all levels.

One of the defining features of the PPA Tour Brisbane Championships was the emergence of new champions across all categories. From the Open Singles to the Mixed Doubles, the competition was fierce, with each match serving up its own brand of excitement and drama.

Click here for the PickleballBrackets.com home page for the event, where you can get tournament details, draw sheets, and results.

Let’s take a look at the action from the event.

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Men’s Open Singles

Armaan Bhatia stepped in for his first singles appearance this year and did not disappoint. Going undefeated to claim the title off of Mitch Hargreaves the winner of the previous two events. Mitch had a tough run to the final having to overcome Zachary Grabovic in an epic 3-game battle. Tom Evan’s won the battle of the Victorians to claim the Bronze.

Gold: Armaan Bhatia Silver: Mitch Hargreaves Bronze: Tom Evans

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Women’s Open Singles

The Women’s draw saw a new queen Pei-chuan Kao claiming back-to-back event gold this time over Somer Dalla-Bona. Kao had only dropped 14 points for the event on her way to the gold medal match.

Roos van Reek took out Yu-chieh Hseih in an epic quarter-final battle but the back-draw fight from both ladies saw them face off again in the bronze. Roos was too good clinching the bronze medal to keep Hsieh off the podium in singles for the first time this year.

Gold: Pei-chuan Kao  Silver: Somer Dalla-Bona Bronze: Roos van Reek

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Open Mixed Doubles 

Townsend and Wild take their first mixed doubles title in an epic 3 game match against undefeated champs Hargreaves & Schmidt. They had to fight off Wall and Burr in the Semi, coming up with the good 14-12 in the 3rd game.

Bronze saw internationals Yu-chieh Hsieh & Wes Gabrielsen overcome the injured van Reek and Grewal.

Gold: Danni-Elle Townsend & Joey Wild Silver: Schmidt & Hargreaves Bronze: Gabrielsen & Hsieh

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Open Men’s Doubles

With double prize money up for grabs Pickleball Hall of Famer, Wes Gabrielson claimed his first gold on the PPA Tour Australia, teaming up with Roman Estareja. They took down defending champion Mitch Hargreaves and partner Joey Wild 11-5, 11-8.

The bronze went to the Victorian’s Tom Evans and Zachary Grabovic.

Gold: Gabrielsen & Estareja Silver: Hargreaves & Wild Bronze: Evans & Grabovic

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Open Women’s Doubles 

Again we saw new champs crowned in the women’s and the first podium for local Sarah Burr bringing her back into some stunning form. In a very close match with defence on show from all four ladies it was Schmidt and Wang-Beckvall that proved too good. It was fantastic to see the full display from Xiao with no hints of that back injury that had hindered most of her season.

Meanwhile, the ladies from Taiwan had a hiccup in the quarter-finals being defeated by Lim and Patrimonio from the Philippines. They were on a tear and taking no chances winning big in every match to claim the bronze of first-time finalists Casey Rodgers and Isha Lakhani.

Gold: Schmidt & Wang-Beckvall. Silver: Burr & van Reek Bronze: Hsieh & Kao

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Masters 50+ Competition It was great to see the Master’s athletes in Queensland come to play and take it to those who travelled across from Australia. 

Masters 50+: 

• Men’s 50+ Singles: 1. Stride 2. McLean 3. Tea
• Men’s 50+ Doubles: 1. Stride / Newell 2. Field / Andrade 3. Ware / Reynolds
• Women’s 50+ Singles: 1. Lee. 2. Corbett. 3. Morris
• Women’s 50+ Doubles: 1. Lee / Corbett 2. Amakawa / Bolton 3. Gregory / Goretti
• Mixed 50+ Doubles: 1. Bertuleit / McLean 2. Lee / Stride 3. Corbett / Nijssen-Smith

Futures Competition

• Men’s Singles: 1. Maleganeas 2. Fogl-Kulich 3. Bruinsma
• Men’s Doubles: 1. Lashford / Baum 2. Hass / Swartz 3. Yturralde / Kugler
• Women’s Singles: 1. Maroc 2. Carter 3. Ward
• Women’s Doubles: 1. Potsepis / Ghiselline 2. Paterson / Naulu 3. Ward / McMillian
• Mixed Doubles: 1. Maroc / Russ 2. Ward / Rochow 3. O’Donoghue / Gledden

As the curtains drew on the PPA Tour Brisbane Championships, participants and spectators alike departed with cherished memories and newfound inspiration. The tournament served as a celebration of the sport of pickleball and a testament to the passion and dedication of its players. With new champions crowned and old rivalries renewed, the stage is set for the continued growth and excitement of pickleball in Brisbane and beyond.