Advancing to round 16: Martina Frantova and Andrei Daescu

Andrei Daescu PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

In St. George, Utah, with 10 mph winds and a temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit, Andrei Daescu, known for his steady rise in the pickleball ranks and a history in professional tennis, including appearances at the US Open and the Davis Cup, put himself on display again. Alongside him was Martina Frantova, a player with a solid college tennis background but less experience in pickleball. Together, they faced off against seasoned competitors Zane Navratil and Lina Padegimaite, each bringing a wealth of experience from both singles and doubles play.

Game 1

Martina Frantova and Andrei Daescu initially had the serve, but the first point was scored by Lina Padegimaite, which set the tone. There were several referee corrections and undo moments. Martina Frantova and Andrei Daescu managed to break away slightly mid-game, leading at one point 9-4. By this point, they have the favor, but then Zane Navratil and Lina Padegimaite attempted a comeback, pulling it to 9-10, a good fightback. But the game concluded at 16-14 in favor of Martina Frantova and Andrei Daescu, a tight finish.

Game 2

The second game started with Lina Padegimaite and Zane Navratil taking the early lead. Martina Frantova and Andrei Daescu regained the lead and then stretched it to a 7-4 lead, they had a lot of game control… A significant time-out was taken by Lina Padegimaite and Zane Navratil at 4-7, they were just trying to regroup, trying to counter the momentum.

After the time-out, Martina Frantova and Andrei Daescu extended their lead further, ultimately winning the game at 11-4. This game had less of the back-and-forth seen in the first game.