The Professional Pickleball Tour recently made its way from Palm Springs to Phoenix for the 2024 Desert Ridge Open. Held at the JW Marriott Resort in Phoenix, this event marked the fourth time it has been hosted on the PPA tour. With top players vying to achieve triple-crown winning performances, anticipation was high.
The Desert Ridge Open is a '1000 level' event, which means it is a regular tour stop. While it may not boast the same draw as a major event, it still attracted top players. However, some notable names were absent, including the #2 doubles team of JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier. Nevertheless, the event maintained its one-event-per-day structure, making it easier for coverage and analysis.
A quick update on tour news: serve modifications remained in play, much to the discontent of many big servers. Following January's controversy with the cancellation of the bronze medal matches, the PPA tour made it clear that players who bail on the bronzes will face heavy fines. Hopefully, this would result in some exciting Sunday action leading up to the finals.
Now, let's dive into the event recap.
Men's Pro Singles: The Men's Pro singles event began with a large qualifier draw, with 51 players competing for eight spots in the round of 32. Among the qualifiers, Will Howells stood out, having recently won a gold medal in pro doubles at the APP Punta Gorda event. Howells made it to the round of 16 before being defeated by the formidable Federico Staksrud. Staksrud, who continued his impressive run, secured his second consecutive final appearance.
Christopher Haworth also showcased his skills, defeating several opponents before falling to Jay Devilliers in the quarterfinals. Aanik Lohani, another double-digit seed, reached the quarterfinals but couldn't overcome Tyson McGuffin. Meanwhile, top-ranked player Ben Johns experienced another early round loss, this time to Jaume Martinez Vich in the quarters.
In the final, Staksrud faced Vich in a thrilling match that showcased the true intensity and difficulty of pickleball. Staksrud emerged victorious, earning his fifth PPA singles gold medal and closing the gap on #1 Ben Johns in the rankings.
Women's Pro Singles: Catherine Parenteau, the #2 singles player, opted to skip this event, creating an opportunity for other players to make their mark. Salome Devidze, who missed the season opener, entered the draw and found herself on the same side as #1 Anna Leigh Waters. Parris Todd, another notable addition, withdrew from the tournament before playing a match. Conversely, Lea Jansen, the #2 seed, defied expectations by participating and reaching the semifinals.
Kaitlyn Christian seized the chance to shine and defeated Devidze in the round of 16. Christian, a former WTA touring pro, showed promise as she leveraged her doubles specialist skills. Christian advanced to the semifinals but ultimately lost to Waters, who secured her spot in yet another singles final. In the lower half of the draw, Nicole Eugenio and Liz Truluck made impressive runs before succumbing to Mary Brascia and Waters, respectively.
In the much-anticipated final, Waters dominated Brascia to claim her 34th PPA singles gold medal. Christian secured the bronze, marking her first PPA medal.
Mixed Pro Doubles: With 50 mixed pro teams entering the qualifying rounds, the competition was fierce. #1 seeds Ben Johns & Anna Leigh Waters faced a close call in the round of 16 but managed to advance. In the semifinals, they encountered an unexpected challenger in the form of
