Tia Norton’s Las Vegas Smash franchise have qualified for the semi-finals of the Pro Padel League after what has been a crazy inaugural regular season.
Great Britain No.1 Tia – nicknamed ‘Poker Face’ – was a key figure for the Smash as they secured a spot in the top four of the seven-team league by overcoming Los Angeles Beat on the final weekend of regular season action in Florida. That sealed their place in next weekend’s semi-finals.
Tia and partner Ana Paula de la Peña triumphed against Los Angeles Beat’s women’s pairing, Jordana Lugan and Daniela Banchero, 7-5, 6-4.
Los Angeles then levelled the tie with victory in the men’s doubles, but a 6-4, 7-5 victory for de la Peña and Pablo Amora in the deciding mixed doubles match wrapped up the victory the Smash needed.
The launch of North America’s inaugural team padel competition has featured rapper Daddy Yankee (attracting the attention of his 48.3 million followers), former big-name tennis stars Juan Martin del Potro and Tommy Haas, MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco (Italian footballer) and a typically American flurry of hype.
Daddy Yankee – a Puerta Rican rapper and actor, aka ‘The King of Raggeaton’ – is perhaps best known for his YouTube sensation Despacito. He, ex-US Open champion Del Potro and former world No.2 Haas have all invested in the PPL, which was co-founded by Keith Stein and Marcos del Pilar.
All four regular season weekends were played at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyrhills on the outskirts of Tampa, Florida.
Tia’s Las Vegas smash team finished third with four wins and two defeats. They will be accompanied in the semi-finals by undefeated regular season winners Miami Padel Club, plus Arkansas Matrix and Cancun Waves.
Next weekend’s PPL Cup Championship Match on 11 June will be aired in America on CBS Sports on 22 June in a two-hour broadcast, exposing a massive audience to the sport in the States.
With Tequila Comisaro among the league sponsors, next weekend promises to be one heck of a party!
