Mary Brascia emerged victorious against Lea Jansen in the women’s singles final at the Selkirk Red Rock Open on April 29, 2024. She won the PPA Tour gold medal for the first time in her career, defeating Lea Jansen 7-11, 11-4, 11-9.
Leading up to their Championship Sunday showdown, both players had a flawless run, winning every game without dropping a single one. It was clear they had saved their best performances for the final stage. The top two seeds traded wins in the first two games, but the match abruptly stopped in Game 3 when Jansen was forced to take a medical timeout due to health issues related to low blood sugar.”
After a medical timeout to address his Type 1 diabetes, Jansen remarkably returned to the court and even took a 7-3 lead in the final game. However, Brascia staged a thrilling comeback, fueled by some exceptional backhand passing shots at crucial moments, to clinch the match ultimately.
Brascia was praised for Jansen’s courage and determination in Game 3, acknowledging his opponent’s refusal to give up despite the challenges he faced.
“Props to Lea for coming back out here after that timeout,” she said. “That just shows how much of a warrior she is.”
“Their Championship Sunday showdown marked the fifth singles encounter between the two players, with their previous three meetings all going the full distance of three games. Brascia was planning another intense and closely contested match, and that’s exactly what transpired on Sunday, as the two players once again went the full three games.”
“Lea and I always have battles,” she shared while talking to pickleballtv. “I knew it was probably gonna go three games, so I just had to grind it out. I’m happy to come away with the win.”
