Selina Turulja has etched her name in the history books, capturing the first Triple Crown in Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Australia tour history at the Tweeds Head event. This milestone performance has sent ripples through the pickleball community, showcasing the rising talent Down Under.
The third stop of the PPA Australia tour took place in Tweeds Head, New South Wales, just south of the Gold Coast. As a 250-level event, it offered double the points of regular tour stops, raising the stakes for every competitor. With many top Asian and Australian players competing in the Atlanta Slam stateside, the draw featured a deep field of local talent ready to make their mark.
Turulja's dominance was the headline story. She powered through the women's singles bracket as the No. 3 seed, defeating No. 2 Kaitlynn Hart before toppling top seed Andie Dikosavljevic in the final to claim her first singles gold on tour. She then teamed with Joseph Wild as the No. 2 seeds to win the mixed doubles title, topping Sarah Burr and Zachary Grabovic in a hard-fought final. To complete the trifecta, Turulja partnered with Sarah Burr as the top seeds in women's doubles, surviving a thrilling three-game final against No. 3 seeds Talia Sanders and Bernadette Massih, winning 11-8 in the decisive third game.
The men's side delivered its own share of drama. No. 6 seed Brian Tran shocked the field, taking down the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 seeds on his path to his first PPA international singles title. Top seed Mitchell Hargreaves was upset in the semifinals but rallied to secure the bronze medal. In men's doubles, top seeds and Australian pickleball royalty Mitchell Hargreaves and Joseph Wild held serve, claiming the title despite being pushed by a wave of up-and-coming Australian players.
Turulja's Triple Crown is a landmark achievement for the PPA Australia circuit, signaling the growing depth and competitiveness of the sport in the region. For fans and players alike, this event was a reminder that pickleball's future is bright—and that the next generation of stars is already making history.