Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 8/9/18– Current Wall Ball world singles champion and WR48 #9 Danielle Daskalakis is the top women’s cross over star in the sport, as DD has demonstrated excellence in 1-Wall and 3-Wall small ball and big ball, as well as 4-Wall. Thus far in 2018, DD has won the WPH/Castle Hill Florida Cup 1-Wall small ball and big ball singles, defeating Tracy Davis and Jessenia Garate, respectively, while also taking third at the 2018 WR48 NYAC, defeating WR48 #2 Aimee Tuohey in the quarterfinals.
“I am ready to play and defend a title that I worked hard to claim in 2015,” stated Daskalakis. “ I also look forward to seeing friends, who I haven’t seen in a while.”
Daskalakis, along with All Ireland 40×20 Women’s Champion Martina McMahon, are the only women playing in both the Women’s Open Wall Ball and 4-Wall events at next week’s World Championships. “Martina McMahon seems to be pretty strong right now (in both Wall Ball and 4-Wall),” stated Daskalakis.
DD will face the winner of Fionna Tulley and Serena Wu in her opening Wall Ball singles match and will face Suz Entzeroth in her opening 4-Wall match in a rematch of the 2018 WR48 NYAC semifinals, with the winner to face WR48 #1 and World Championships #1seed Catriona Casey.
Danielle Daskalakis
Age: 3/5/1990
Height: 5’4
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Residence: Brooklyn, NY
Strong hand: Left
Home court: Westside YMCA
Favorite athlete: Derek Jeter and Ronda Rousey
Favorite pre-match music: Southpaw soundtrack
Best/favorite shot: Power serve with reverse
Highest Race 4 Eight Ranking: #3
Strengths: serve, front court play, hops, competitiveness
Summary: Danielle Daskalakis has established herself as one of the best all-around handball players in the world, ranking at or near the top in women’s 4-Wall, 3-Wall, and 1-Wall. Daskalakis owns the best serves in women’s handball and often follows her devastating serve with a first-strike kill. Daskalakis’ impressive all-around play makes her a fan favorite in every city in which she competes and a threat to any player on the Women’s Race 4 Eight tour. Daskalakis brings a hybrid outdoor-indoor style to the Women’s Race 4 Eight tour that befuddles even the greatest stars. Daskalakis is also one of the WPH’s top coaches, leading the WPH sponsored Harry Mellis Westside YMCA junior handball program in weekly clinics in New York City and coaching JR WPH clinics across the country. Danielle is truly an ambassador in the world of handball, idolized and by junior players and revered by fans and peers
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Race 4 Eight Power Rankings: HERE
To view the Women’s 4-Wall Open Singles draw at the World Championships, go HERE
To view the Women’s 1-Wall Open Singles draw at the World Championships, go HERE
To view the WPH World Championships preview, go HERE
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Broadcast links to watch the World Championships, starting on Tuesday, August 14 HERE
Follow the World Championships at wphlive.tv and ushandball.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer