The Drive to Survive: Underdog AZ Battles Bay Area Breakers in Thrilling MLP Quarterfinal
Introduction
The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the Arizona Drive faced off against the Bay Area Breakers in an electrifying Major League Pickleball quarterfinal. With $319,000 and a semifinal berth on the line, every point counted in this David vs. Goliath clash.
While the Breakers entered as heavy favorites on paper, boasting top-ranked Lea Jansen and Etta Wright, the scrappy Drive squad refused to back down. Arizona's deep roster, led by the fiery hard hitting Vivian Glozman and the finesse of Vivienne David, proved too tough to overcome in the decisive dream breaker. Both teams left everything on the court in a quarterfinal for the ages.
- Men's Doubles: Julian Arnold/Dekel Bar vs Rafa Hewett/Connor Garnett (8:57)
The crowd buzzed in anticipation as Arizona's top duo of Julian Arnold and Dekel Bar took the court against Bay Area's Rafa Hewett and Connor Garnett. With their powerful forehands, Arnold and Bar threatened to blitz their opponents. "I wish we had this close-up of Vivian David's face on that reaction as Julian Arnold comes storming across," commentator Adam Stone remarked, as Arnold crushed a winner.
But Hewett and Garnett weathered the barrage, leaning on Garnett's nasty two-handed backhand to counterpunch. "The ability to have range with that two-hand backhand is such a difference he can roll that ball along the length of the line," analyst Cameron Irwin noted. After battling back from an early deficit, Garnett and Hewett edged ahead 20-18.
With the game in the balance, Arnold dug deep. Attacking Garnett's body with surgical precision, Arnold fired two blistering forehands to seal a 22-20 victory. "Julian was one step ahead play for Julian as he goes towards the belly button with Connor still sitting a little bit middle," Irwin commented on Arnold's clutch shots. Arizona drew first blood, taking men's doubles 1-0.
- Women's Doubles: Vivienne David/Vivian Glozman vs Lea Jansen/Etta Wright (33:35)
The excitement continued as Bay Area's stacked duo of Lea Jansen and Etta Wright faced the unfamiliar pairing of Vivienne David and Vivian Glozman. While David was battle-tested, Glozman was untested at pickleball's highest level.
"Vivian Glozman has stated that she prefers playing the left side is more comfortable there and who better to pair her with than one of the best," Adam Stone said of the pairing. It proved a shrewd move, as Glozman impressed from the start. "The first thing that stands out about Vivian Glozman right now is her ability to volley a backhand slice," Michelle McMahon observed.
With Glozman volleying crisply and David delivering timely offense, Arizona grabbed a shocking 11-7 lead. But Wright and Jansen roared back behind the veteran's flawless hands. "That counter I'm talking about from Lea Jansen her ability to have that one hand backhand is just so important," Irwin said after a highlight counterpunch. The Breakers edged ahead 15-13. The comeback charge continued until Bay Area finally clinched a nerve-wracking 24-22 marathon.
- Mixed Doubles: Dekel Bar/Vivian Glozman vs Lea Jansen/Rafa Hewett (1:01:26)
Mixed doubles took center stage with Vivian Glozman paired with Dekel Bar against Lea Jansen and Rafa Hewett. Bar's imposing presence led Stone to quip, "I don't think she was fully having it, she was anchored to the ground" when Hewett playfully lifted Jansen following a winner.
But despite Bar's size, the Breakers sized up a 6-1 lead behind Jansen's sterling play. "Lea Jansen digging and just a small note Dekel Bar's favorite put away is the slap forehand Cross Court and that's going right back at her who is a very Scrappy and good defensive player," Irwin said after Jansen dug out a winner.
The Breakers warrior duo battled to 21-18, getting the team score at 1-2.
- Mixed Doubles: Vivienne David/Julian Arnold vs Connor Garnett/Etta Wright (1:23:54)
With a semifinal berth on the line, Vivienne David and Julian Arnold clashed with Connor Garnett and Etta Wright in a mixed doubles thriller. The frenzied pace left both sides gasping for air. "Batman he's flying in the air he doesn't even have his base set with his legs from his torso and his core is just so good here come the breakers," Irwin exclaimed after a marathon rally.
Back and forth they battled, neither team leading by more than three. With Bay Area ahead 23-21, Garnett cracked under pressure. "Connor ends up hitting a ball long, um and he was playing insanely well yeah that whole match and then when it got to like the last couple of points just melted down," recalled Stone. The meltdown opened the door for Arizona to push the match to a climactic dream breaker.
- Dream Breaker: AZ Drive vs Bay Area Breakers (1:50:50)
In the dramatic dream breaker finale, Arizona carried intangible momentum despite facing a stacked Bay Area lineup. Julian Arnold set the tone, splitting the score with Connor Garnett 2-2 in a spirited opener. Vivienne David followed by slaying legend Lea Jansen 4-2, backed by two clutch passing shots.
With Arizona boasting a shocking 12-7 lead, Vivian Glozman dug in against Etta Wright. "I like it Glozman's really trusting her Baseline play we haven't seen her come to the net really utilize her length in that regard but she has a great dipping drive from the Baseline," McMahon observed, as Glozman leapt ahead 3-1. Sensing an historic upset, the crowd roared Arizona to a 21-14 triumph.
Conclusion
Despite entering as heavy underdogs, the Arizona Drive battled with heart and grit against the star-studded Bay Area Breakers. Anchored by the intensity of Julian Arnold and clutch play of Vivian David, the Drive weathered doubles play to force a decisive finale. Though Bay Area's deep roster proved too tough in the end, Arizona left it all on the court. Their Cinderella run embodied pickleball's unpredictable nature - on any given day, an underdog can rise up to shock the world.
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