Hyderabad Royals stun Chennai to reach Indian Pickleball League final
Hyderabad Royals staged a comeback from 0–2 down to beat Chennai Super Warriors 4-2 in Qualifier 1 and reach the Indian Pickleball League final. Mumbai Smashers later defeated Lucknow Leopards in a dramatic Eliminator to advance to Qualifier 2
Hyderabad: Hyderabad Royals staged a stunning comeback from 0–2 down to topple Chennai Super Warriors in Qualifier 1, sealing the first coveted spot in the Grand Finale of the Indian Pickleball League, launched by The Times Group and recognised as India’s only official pickleball league sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in Delhi on Saturday.
Hyderabad beat Chennai 4-2 with a Megan Fudge masterclass, before a resurgent Mumbai Smashers defeated Lucknow Leopards in the Eliminator by the same score.
A three-way tie for fourth meant a Play-In preceded the knockouts, unfolding before Global Pickleball Federation President Javier Regalado. With Grand Rallies played to 25, Mumbai Smashers edged Capital Warriors Gurgaon 25–24 in a breathless opener, then backed it up with a composed 25–22 win over Bengaluru Blasters to secure fourth place and seal their spot in the playoffs. In the final placement rally, Bengaluru defeated Gurgaon 25–21 to finish fifth.
In the Qualifier, first-placed Chennai Super Warriors faced second-placed Hyderabad Royals for a direct ticket to the Grand Finale. Mitch Hargreaves gave Chennai the perfect launch, winning the men’s singles 15–11 before teaming with Harsh Mehta to repeat the scoreline in a patient men’s doubles display for a 2–0 lead.
The women’s singles brought the headline showdown: unbeaten Roos van Reek versus Megan Fudge. Fudge came out firing, dominating the kitchen line to lead 7–3, but van Reek clawed back to 7–7 before Fudge closed out a stunning 15–13 upset, handing van Reek her first singles loss of the league.
Hyderabad carried that momentum into the women’s doubles, where Fudge and Shreya Chakraborty held off a late Chennai push to win 15–13 and level the tie. Hyderabad rose to the moment in a tense Grand Rally, overturning a brief Chennai lead to prevail 21–17 and book their place in the final, sending Chennai to Qualifier 2. Fudge and Newell were named the Players of the Tie.
Later, Mumbai Smashers and Lucknow Leopards met in a high-stakes Eliminator, with a spot in Qualifier 2 on the line and the loser bowing out. DUPR World No. 3 Quang Duong came out firing, beating Ryler DeHeart 15–8 before returning with Ammol Ramchandani to edge a tense 15–14 golden-point thriller in the men’s doubles, pushing Mumbai 2–0 ahead.
Lucknow clawed back through Mihika Yadav, who outlasted Allison Harris 15–10, and then levelled the tie as Bates and Naomi Amalsadiwala claimed the women’s doubles 15–11, setting up a dramatic finish.
The deciding Grand Rally threw up a point-for-point nail-biter, with Mumbai keeping their nerves for a 21–18 win. Catching fire at the right time, Mumbai advanced to Qualifier 2 to face Chennai Super Warriors while Lucknow exited the competition. Duong and Yadav claimed the Players of the Tie honours.
