The Masters Division brought plenty of action to the Queensland Tennis Centre. With experienced players representing all across Australia and New Zealand, Round One showed that the veterans of Major League Pickleball Australia are just as competitive as their Pro and Challenger counterparts. A massive day of competition and all of our championship and place getter matches are locked in for Super Sunday.

Quarter Final Highlights

Vipers tame Hustle (3–1):
Angela Bertuleit and Tony Field led from the front, controlling men’s and mixed doubles to secure an important opening win. Hustle’s Justine Delport showed flashes of brilliance, but the Vipers’ composure proved too strong.

Glory edge Mavericks (3–2):
This was one of the tightest contests of the round. Terrie Robson and Annalise Bolton were key in women’s doubles, helping Glory edge the Mavericks in a five-match battle.

Breakers sweep Crocs (4–0):
The most dominant Masters performance came from the Breakers, who didn’t drop a match. Simone Kessell and Sharon Tindall Ford dictated play across both doubles and mixed, leaving the Crocs searching for answers.

Smash topple Rush (3–1):
Mandy Corbett and Miki Masui led the way for Smash, who executed smart mixed doubles play to seal a convincing victory. Rush were competitive in stretches but couldn’t find the extra gear in deciding points.

Day 1 Takeaways

The Masters race looks wide open. Breakers were flawless, but Vipers, Glory, and Smash all showed enough to believe they can go deep. With margins tight across most ties, expect more upsets and momentum swings as the competition heads into its next stage.

Day 2 saw the Masters team move into the survival phase of the bracket to see who would remain undefeated and into the Championship match and who would be battling for placings. It produced some tense battles, statement wins and big upsets.

Winner’s Semi-Finals

Sydney Smash vs Vipers (3–1):
The Smash proved dominant, taking out the Vipers 3–1. Mandy Corbett and Miki Masui were flawless in women’s doubles and mixed, while Ivan Stride and Shayne Nijssen-Smith offered strong support in the men’s doubles. The Vipers showed fight, but couldn’t match Smash’s consistency and energy.

Brisbane Breakers vs Glory (3–2):
In a thrilling five-match contest, the Breakers narrowly edged Glory 3–2. Simone Kessell and Sharon Tindall Ford were key in doubles, while Christian Andrade delivered under pressure in mixed. Glory pushed every match to the limit, but the Breakers’ balance and experience ultimately secured the win.

This sends us into a Championship match with the Brisbane Breakers v Sydney Smash for the MLPA 2025 Masters 50+ Title and the $6,000 Prize Money.

In the consolation bracket we saw some very close battles as teams were fighting to make the 3rd Place Playoff.

Mavericks vs Crocs (3–1):
The Mavericks bounced back in convincing fashion, taking down the Crocs 3–1. Donna McNaughton and Elizabeth Dobson were dominant in doubles, while the team’s mix of precision and tactical play proved decisive. The Crocs managed to win a set, but it wasn’t enough to threaten the Mavericks’ progression.

Rush vs Hustle (3–2):
One of the tightest matches of the day saw Rush narrowly defeat Hustle 3–2. Rosa Morris and Robyn Flood shone in women’s doubles and mixed, keeping their team ahead in crucial moments. Hustle fought valiantly, with Justine Delport and Goretti Sua keeping every match competitive, but fell just short in the deciding points.

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The final matches of the day to see which teams would progress to the third place playoff, were electric.

Battle into Bronze

Semi-Final 2 – Rush vs Glory (2–3):

‍In a thrilling contest, Glory edged out Rush 3–2 to secure their spot in the Premier Division final. After trading early wins, Terrie Robson and Annalise Bolton came up big in women’s doubles and mixed, delivering the decisive points. Rush fought valiantly, but Glory’s clutch play sealed the victory 18-16 in the DreamBreaker at the Queensland Tennis Centre.

Semi-Final 2 – Vipers vs Mavericks (3–1):

‍The Vipers booked their place in the Premier Division final with a 3–1 win over the Mavericks. Strong performances across doubles and mixed matches proved decisive, as the Vipers held their nerve to advance into the 3rd Place Playoff at 8am Sunday against the Gold Coast Glory.

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Tune in or come on down to Queensland Tennis Centre for Super Sunday with playoff matches at 8:00 am and the Championship Match at 2pm on Grandstand court, streamed on the PPA Australia Youtube