As any Tournament Director will be quick to point out to you – last minute dropouts and other player related miscues always happen. And it will result in scheduling being planned for weeks in advance will need to be remade. That is just how it is.
But with that said, now that we have draws for all five divisions of play officially released let’s dive into the excitement. First off, Mixed Doubles kicking off on March 7th. But before we step up onto the trampoline, two more things:
As timings of matches are bound to be changed – use the Match ID below to go into the Raqt app and see when the games will actually be played. Then go to Raqt.tv and enjoy the show!
Secondly, the predictions below are there for three purposes. First to calm the nerves of the favorites so they can focus on calmly planned execution of their game plans. But also the reverse – fuel for the underdogs to prove me wrong! And lastly to give all readers the opportunity to do the same. If you don’t have the chance to comment before games take place, please do so afterwards and tell me you knew that was going to happen all along and how wrong I was…
Friday March 7th: Mixed Doubles
Round 1
Match 3 – Court 1
Marta & Miki
vs
Ade & Basti
Three players who quickly have established themselves on the European pickleball scene +1 who has been there forever it seems.. 😉
From the Poznan area, Marta & Miki have as strong practise partners as anyone in Europe right now with players such as Pawel Jankowiak and Karolina Owczarek and they have the opportunity to raise more than one eye brow winning this match. However, with the spirited play of Adeline lately and all the experience Basti brings to the table I think this will be close, but that the experience ultimately wins.
Prediction: Nguyen/Grau win 2-1.
Match 7 – Court 2
The Fitzpatricks
vs
Robin & Helena
Here I think we will have a chance to watch a great game of classic pickleball featuring two very smart and solid dinkers in Francie and Helena who will be as patient as they will be efficient in their drops and cross-court dinks. Which ultimately means the winner will be decided by whose partner will be most successful in squeezing the middle and venture out to do some poaching. Now this will be risky business as there won’t be many given opportunities! While Robin has the longer reach I see Bobby as the more daring in this sense and that could be the deciding factor here.
Prediction: Fitzpatricks win 2-1.
Match 11 – Court 2
Cyril Maria
vs
Theo Mol
Reversed set-up from Match 3 with three very internationally experienced players and one who is on a quick ascension towards the upper echelons of European pickleball. Former tennis player Maria Pintor claimed the singles gold in the Andalucia Pickleball Championships 2025 in Rota a few weeks back and is working hard with a professional pickleball coach, no other than the same as used by Mauro Garcia and Maria Constantino among others.
But in this match, she shares the court with 3 bonafide RTA superstars who each may have just the more impressive Arlberg Championships merits than the other.
This match may as well be the highlight of Round 1 but I think the offensive fire power of Theomol will just be too much to handle.
Prediction: Knaggs/Platel win 2-0.
Round 2
Game 13 – Court 2
Karolina & Pawel
vs
Jessi & Stewe
Poznan vs Solna. Few players in Europe can match the ride Karolina and Pawel have had in the last 6 months or so of pickleball. But they are still fairly new in the game. On the other side of the net will likely stand savvy veterans Jessi & Stewe. And they will game plan some stuff Karolina and Pawel might have difficulties with. So this could be a fun one! Still, my bet is with team Poznan.
Prediction: Poznan – Solna 2-1.
Match 19
Axel vs Pialena
vs
Fruzsi/Bakó or Anna/Thor
When Axel and Pialena make their “comeback” on the RTA stage it’s simply must-see TV. While they will probably show some fire power later in the tournament, I predict they will play this match soft, to get their ground game of 3rd shot drops and dinking rhythms going. Making plans early on how to ride this tournament towards the very end. This team has done exactly that many many times before.
Prediction: Pialena/Axel win 2-0.
Round 3
Match 34 – Court 2
Dan & Klara
vs
Arwid & Thaddea
While the other likely highlight of this round (Pawel & Karolina vs Bartosz & Alma) will feature two teams that like to play similar types of strategy this match-up will be two teams trying to control the game very differently. While Arwid and Thaddea are all about control though building up points, in Dan and Klara they will face a team that will jump at every opportunity to put pressure on the opponent early on. It’s very easy to get drawn into this rhythm but very dangerous because Dan and Klara do it so well. Arwid and Thaddea will not walk into that trap unknowingly, still it’s hard to resist. Look especially for Klara’s passing shots finding angles that makes life really difficult for the opponents and for Dan’s twoey volley which he hits full speed at the kitchen line. This will be a fun one to watch! Which team will be better at dictating the game flow?
Prediction: Dan & Klara win 2-0.
Round 4
Match 41 – Court 1
Dan & Klara
Vs
Bartosz & Alma
While Klara has emerged as the more well-known of the Swedish Pickleball twins based on that she found the sport a couple of months earlier than her sister and have a had a chance to win lots of titles while Alma has been working to catch up. Malmö could be a change of queenship in the family and I see that starting already on the Friday in mixed!
Prediction: Alma & Bartosz win 2-0.
Match 46 – Court 2
Wow! Another finals caliber showdown in the fourth round..! By this time into the tournament expect Axel to bring out the full force of his heavy artillery and Pialena to engage in the most exotic dinking patterns. But in the end, I see Felix and Caroline as the winners here working a less flamboyant but possibly more efficient game plan.
Prediction: Felix & Caroline win 2-1.
Semis – and finals – as well as a final deciding game to 15 as well!
Felix & Caroline
vs
Bartosz & Alma
I see Bartosz and Alma coming out swinging in semifinals and winning it…
…but Felix and Caroline will come back to the ultimate finals and with a fine-tuned strategy they will find a way to win in the end, including the final deciding game to 15.
Now let’s see if that’s how it all will play out 😊