PPA ’ s Newport Beach Showcase Tournament
By Steve Taylor and Bryce Morgan
The Showcase brought some of the best
professional pickleball players together in Newport Beach , California . The Professional Pickleball Association ( PPA ) held one of its major tournaments in a tour year derailed by COVID-19 . Unfortunately , amateurs and fans were not allowed to be a part of the tournament because of COVID-19 restrictions . While amateur players and fans are the sport ’ s lifeblood , The Showcase was livestreamed on ESPN3 to pickleball fans worldwide .
The beautiful Tennis Club at Newport Beach had 21 courts permanently resurfaced as pickleball courts since it will be the home of The Showcase for the next five years . The weather was unseasonably warm , but the pickleball play brought even more heat .
Simone Jardim continued to dominate as she earned gold in each of the women ’ s events . The Women ’ s Doubles Pro play was extremely competitive as Jessie Irvine and Lindsey Newman fought intense battles with Irina Tereschenko and Callie Smith as they made their way from the losers bracket . Here are the results of the women ’ s events :
Tyson McGuffin and Riley Newman
Women ’ s Doubles Pro
• Gold : Simone Jardim & Lucy Kovalova
• Silver : Jessie Irvine & Lindsey Newman
• Bronze : Irina Tereschenko & Callie Smith
Women ’ s Singles Pro
• Gold : Simone Jardim
• Silver : Michelle Esquivel
• Bronze : Corrine Carr
Jessie Irvine and Irina Tereschenko
Women ’ s Doubles Senior Pro
• Gold : Kris Anderson & Lisa Naumu
• Silver : Jennifer Dawson & Cammy MacGregor
• Bronze : Eva Welsher & Helen Wilhelm
Tyson McGuffin and Riley Newman put on one of the tournament ’ s best shows as they suffered an early defeat to