WPBL: Hyderabad Superstars miss semis; Seone Mendez remains unbeaten

Hyderabad Superstars exited the World Pickleball League Season 2 just short of the semi-finals. The team's standout player, Seone Mendez, was a dominant force, remaining unbeaten in all her women's singles matches throughout the league stage.

Hyderabad Superstars missed out on the semi-final berth in the World Pickleball League (WPBL) season 2 by the smallest of margins after losing their final league tie to Chennai. The standout player of the season for Hyderabad Superstars has been Seone Mendez, who dominated the women's singles category and remained unbeaten throughout the league stage. Seone Mendez expressed disappointment at missing the semi-finals but acknowledged the competitiveness of the tournament, emphasising that the experience provided valuable lessons for improving consistency in crucial moments, according to a release.

'A Valuable Learning Experience'

"It's disappointing to miss out on the semi-finals, but that's sport margins are always small at this level. Every team in the league was extremely competitive, and we respect the level across the board. As a group, we'll reflect on key moments and continue building consistency in the crucial stages of matches. Overall, it's been a valuable learning experience and something we can grow from moving forward," Seone Mendez said.

Mendez's Unbeaten Dominance

One of the first picks for the Hyderabad Superstars, Seone Mendez completed her unbeaten streak, beating Katerina Stewart of the Bengaluru Jawans. One of the players to watch out for at the start of the league, she has proven to be the only player to beat through her 6 league games. Transitioning from tennis, her formidable ground strokes and incredible court coverage have resulted in her dominating that event.

'A Really Special Experience'

"Going undefeated in the league stage was a really special experience. It reflects the preparation, discipline, and mindset I brought into each match. Personally, I focused on staying consistent, trusting my training, and taking each match one at a time. It's something I'm proud of, but also something that motivates me to keep improving," she said.

Smooth Transition from Tennis

Throughout her games, she never looked under the pump at any point and held a steady lead from the first minute of the game. Her strong tennis foundation has been key to Seone's smooth transition into pickleball ,where she has steadily climbed up international ranks over the last six to eight months. Touted to be one of the top-ranked players in the world by the end of this year, Seone has been instrumental for Hyderabad Superstars' points on the leaderboard.

Hyderabad Superstars' Campaign

Backed by KLO Sports, Hyderabad Superstars started extremely strong, winning their first two games on the trot and competing in some extremely close matches, but they ended their campaign before the semi-finals. The squad for Hyderabad Superstars boasts of international stars like Marcello Jardim, Talia Saunders, Kaitlynn Hart, Pep Canyadell, Lauren Mercado, Louis Laville and Indian Superstar, Mayur Patil, along with Seone Mendez. (ANI)

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