Asia’s Yufei Long, Jamie Wei Pull Off Stunner at PPA Tour’s Select Medical Orange County Cup
The UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme is supposed to discover Asia’s next wave of pickleball stars.
It’s looking like the programme is off to a promising start.
On Thursday, two Trailblazers—Yufei Long and Jamie Wei—looked like absolute world-beaters, stunning No. 4 seeds Jorja Johnson and Lacy Schneemann in three sets, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, in the women’s doubles at the Select Medical Orange County Cup in San Clemente, California.
Long and Wei struck first, beating Johnson and Schneemann, 12-10, in an extended first saw that seemed to hint at an impending classic. The fourth seeds then fought back in the second set, firing the last six points to notch things up at one set apiece.
Dragged to a decider the upstart pair of Long and Wei bounced back early in the third set, racing out to a quick 5-0 lead before closing the show 11 points later.
With the win, Long and Wei, who have been training at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Arizona with the other players of the UPA Asia Trailblazers Program, advanced to the next round against no.14 Alix Truong and Andrea Koop. A spot in the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles will be on the line.
“It feels amazing, especially after losing a close second set and then being able to come back stronger in the third set to finish it,” Long said after the match.
Incidentally, both Long and Wei have been doing well in the women’s singles, too, with both advancing to the Round of 16.
“Being here in the US is a very exciting opportunity, and we appreciate UPA Asia for this chance,” Wei added. “I think we present the next generation of Asian talent.”
Indeedd, Wei and Long are part of the next wave of pickleball talent from Asia. And they aren’t wasting time making a name for themselves.
