Bermuda win medals before Pickleball World Cup
Bermuda players clinched four medals, three of them in women’s doubles, at the International Pickleball Tournament World Cup Edition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday.
Sarah Fox and Sue Chiappa struck gold in the women’s doubles 3.5 65+, while Patricia Mills and Melisa Judd secured bronze in the women’s doubles 4.0 35+.
Tori Powell and Val Stevenson bagged silver in the women’s doubles and John Singleton was the only male to deliver a medal for Bermuda, capturing silver in the men’s singles 3.5 35+.
Judd, who is representing Bermuda at the World Cup for the second time, was thrilled to get her combination with Mills clicking as they had never played as a pair in a global event before.
On Thursday, she is partnering with Tom Mills, Patricia’s husband, in the 4.5 mixed doubles.
“We’re thrilled to take home the bronze medal in our first international tournament together,” Judd said.
“It was a great experience and a good momentum builder for the World Cup. We won all our games in the round-robin to top our group. We then lost in the semi-finals and won the bronze medal match 21-15.”
Imani Phillips, Bermuda’s No 1 singles female player, got into action on Wednesday and is playing in the women’s open until Saturday.
Bermuda captain Gavin Manders is hunting for a medal in the men’s doubles 5.0 with Benjamin Jones.
Matches in the tournament that is serving as a precursor to the World Cup were meant to conclude on Thursday, but inclement weather has caused some encounters to be moved to Friday.
World Cup pool matches are slated to start on Friday, with the tournament running all the way to Sunday.
George Thomas, the Pickleball Association Bermuda president, stated that the island’s players are making use of the pre-tournament to gear up for the World Cup.
“World Cup team players are taking advantage of this international tournament to get familiar with the atmosphere and surface at the Fort,” he said.
“They are using it to fine-tune strokes and tactics as well as scout some of the competitors they may face in the World Cup later this week.
“With over 3,000 players, the level of intensity more closely mirrors the World Cup than our local tournaments. Winning medals in this truly global tournament is a phenomenal achievement.”
