Day 5 — The Road to the Semifinals Turns Dramatic in Naples
Day 5 — The Road to the Semifinals Turns Dramatic in Naples
NAPLES, Florida —
By the fifth day of the US Open Pickleball Championships, the atmosphere at East Naples Community Park had clearly shifted.
The brackets are tighter, the crowds are larger, and every point carries a little more weight. At this stage of the tournament, there are no easy matches. Every win means surviving one more round in one of the biggest stages in the sport.
And in Women’s Pro Doubles, the road to the semifinals delivered tension, long rallies, and a few dramatic finishes that kept fans in Naples moving from court to court all afternoon.
One of the first teams to secure their semifinal spot was the duo of Megan Fudge and Sofia Sewing. Their quarterfinal battle had several pressure-filled moments, especially during extended kitchen exchanges that demanded patience and precision. Fudge’s experience showed in the longer rallies, while Sewing’s speed and aggressive net play helped close the match with authority.
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Not far from that court, another team had to fight point by point to stay alive. Shelby Bates and Roos Van Reek advanced after one of the most intense matches of the day. Bates found key angles from the baseline when the pressure rose, while Van Reek controlled the kitchen exchanges with remarkable composure to seal their semifinal berth.
Another match that captured the attention of the Naples crowd featured Kat Stewart and Bobbi Oshiro. Known on tour as “BobKat,” the pair demonstrated why they are one of the most dangerous teams in the draw. Stewart dictated tempo from the backcourt while Oshiro dominated the kitchen with quick hands and aggressive decisions, securing their place among the final four.
Then there is one of the tournament’s most recognizable storylines.
The iconic mother-daughter team of Anna Leigh Waters and Leigh Waters also booked their place in the semifinals, reminding everyone why they remain one of the most compelling duos in professional pickleball. With the crowd fully engaged during every rally, they closed their match with confidence to secure their semifinal spot.
With those results, the Women’s Pro Doubles draw has officially been reduced to four teams:
Women’s Pro Doubles Semifinalists
• Megan Fudge / Sofia Sewing
• Shelby Bates / Roos Van Reek
• Kat Stewart / Bobbi Oshiro
• Anna Leigh Waters / Leigh Waters
As the tournament moves deeper into its final stages, the level of play in Naples continues to rise. Every rally carries more tension, every match feels bigger, and the crowd senses that the road to the championship is about to deliver some unforgettable moments.
Because at the US Open Pickleball Championships, reaching the semifinals isn’t just about advancing.
It’s about surviving five intense days of competition on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
And in Naples, the story is far from over.
Day 5 — The Road to the Semifinals Turns Dramatic in Naples
NAPLES, Florida —
By the fifth day of the US Open Pickleball Championships, the atmosphere at East Naples Community Park had clearly shifted.
The brackets are tighter, the crowds are larger, and every point carries a little more weight. At this stage of the tournament, there are no easy matches. Every win means surviving one more round in one of the biggest stages in the sport.
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And in Women’s Pro Doubles, the road to the semifinals delivered tension, long rallies, and a few dramatic finishes that kept fans in Naples moving from court to court all afternoon.
One of the first teams to secure their semifinal spot was the duo of Megan Fudge and Sofia Sewing. Their quarterfinal battle had several pressure-filled moments, especially during extended kitchen exchanges that demanded patience and precision. Fudge’s experience showed in the longer rallies, while Sewing’s speed and aggressive net play helped close the match with authority.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Not far from that court, another team had to fight point by point to stay alive. Shelby Bates and Roos Van Reek advanced after one of the most intense matches of the day. Bates found key angles from the baseline when the pressure rose, while Van Reek controlled the kitchen exchanges with remarkable composure to seal their semifinal berth.
Another match that captured the attention of the Naples crowd featured Kat Stewart and Bobbi Oshiro. Known on tour as “BobKat,” the pair demonstrated why they are one of the most dangerous teams in the draw. Stewart dictated tempo from the backcourt while Oshiro dominated the kitchen with quick hands and aggressive decisions, securing their place among the final four.
Then there is one of the tournament’s most recognizable storylines.
The iconic mother-daughter team of Anna Leigh Waters and Leigh Waters also booked their place in the semifinals, reminding everyone why they remain one of the most compelling duos in professional pickleball. With the crowd fully engaged during every rally, they closed their match with confidence to secure their semifinal spot.
With those results, the Women’s Pro Doubles draw has officially been reduced to four teams:
Women’s Pro Doubles Semifinalists
• Megan Fudge / Sofia Sewing
• Shelby Bates / Roos Van Reek
• Kat Stewart / Bobbi Oshiro
• Anna Leigh Waters / Leigh Waters
As the tournament moves deeper into its final stages, the level of play in Naples continues to rise. Every rally carries more tension, every match feels bigger, and the crowd senses that the road to the championship is about to deliver some unforgettable moments.
Because at the US Open Pickleball Championships, reaching the semifinals isn’t just about advancing.
It’s about surviving five intense days of competition on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
And in Naples, the story is far from over.
