Mumbai: Chennai Super Champs rounded off the group stages of the World Pickleball League (WPBL) 2026 with a gripping 2-3 result that went in the favour of Pune United at the Jio World Garden this evening.
In a game where Chennai handed key roles to the likes of Ava Cavataio and Sonu Vishwakarma, players who were majorly restricted to bench roles thus far, the Super Champs tested their squad depth and also gave their key players some much-needed breather before the semi-finals that take place tomorrow.
Chennai commenced this fixture in a dominant fashion that has become synonymous with them this season. Domenika Turkovic defeated Katie Morris by 20-12, with the former handing extremely slender openings for the opponent to grab a hold over the proceedings.
The mixed doubles match fell in Pune’s kitty though. William Sobek, alongside Madalina Grigoriu, clinched the fixture by 18-5 against the pairing of Tomassi and Ava Cavataio.
Pune built on that momentum, though Sonu packed a formidable punch in men’s singles, before falling 21-13 against Balint Bako.
Chennai roared back in the women’s doubles fixture though, as Rika Fujiwara doubled up with Carlota Trevino to edge past the duo of Grigoriu and Sarah Jane Lim by 12-10.
With their back against the wall, Pune secured a timely win in men’s doubles, one that propelled them to enter the semi-finals. Vanshik Kapadia emerged as the Player of the Tie, thanks to his partnership with Mateusz Matysik, where they defeated Ly Hoang Nam and Do Minh Quan by 14-10.