Rising stars Yufei Long and Jamie Wei delivered a sensational performance at the Select Medical Orange County Cup, defeating the No. 4 seeded pair Jorja Johnson and Lacy Schneemann in a thrilling three-set battle: 12-10, 8-11, 11-5.
Representing the UPA Asia Trailblazers Program, Long and Wei showcased grit and composure, bouncing back after dropping the second set to dominate the decider. Their victory marks one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far and propels them into the Round of 16 in women’s doubles.
“It feels amazing, especially after losing a close second set and then being able to come back stronger in the third set to finish it,” said Long post-match.
🌟 A New Era for Asian Pickleball
Both players are part of a new wave of Asian talent training at the Arizona Athletic Grounds. Wei emphasized the significance of the opportunity:
“Being here in the US is a very exciting opportunity, and we appreciate UPA Asia for this chance. I think we represent the next generation of Asian talent”.
🏓 What’s Next
Long and Wei will now face the No. 14 seeds Alix Truong and Andrea Koop for a spot in the women’s doubles quarterfinals. They’ve also advanced to the Round of 16 in women’s singles, signaling a strong all-around showing at the tournament.
Stay tuned for more updates from the PPA Tour.
