A strong British contingent dominated the podium at last weekend’s Reballution Cup in southern Spain with Pei Chuan Kao the pick of the bunch.
Over 350 players from across Europe, Asia and North America descended on Reballution Pickleball Rota, attracted by a prize pot of €15,000 for the 5.0+ bracket (€600 per player for the winners in each category).
Pei went home with four gold medals round her neck after starting the weekend by winning the team event without dropping a set alongside England team-mates Thaddea Lock, James Chaudry and Louis Laville.
Pei’s domination continued in the women’s singles as she defeated home favourite Sabri Mendez, last year’s European champion, in three tense sets.
Pei’s victory with Louis in the mixed doubles was an all-English affair as they defeated Thaddea and James in what proved to be James’ only defeat of the tournament.
James swept to victory in the men’s singles, conquering Louis just as he did in the recent Franklin Pickleball Premier League final.
As Louis said on Instagram afterwards: “[James] played awesome all day and despite me playing some of my best singles to date he was just too good. I’m really happy to have won silver in a stacked European field!”
James and Louis were together in the men’s doubles and once again claimed the gold with victory over Polish pairing Mateusz and Bartosz Karwbownik in a wind-swept men’s doubles final.
