Anna Leigh Waters is partnering with Jorja Johnson in the Sunshine State this week.
Anna Leigh Waters is partnering with Jorja Johnson in the Sunshine State this week. PPA Tour

Dave Fleming's storylines for the Florida Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open

OVERALL TOP 5: 

  • DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? In 2024, CJ Klinger won his first title in Daytona in men’s doubles (with Andrei Daescu). Will another player grab his/her first title here in ’25?
  • IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR: Can Kaitlyn Christian and Federico Staksrud defend their singles titles? 
  • 3 FRENCH HENS? Just a partridge in a pear tree possibility for Anna Leigh Waters as she is only playing women’s doubles (with Jorja Johnson!).  
  • WINTER WONDERLAND? Uh…no. Perfect pickleball weather with highs in the low 70s expected. 
  • OPEN THOSE PRESENTS: 1000 points to the winners. 


VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

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  • Playing at Pictona in Holly Hill.  
  • Over 1,200 players participating across all divisions. 
  • Semi-Final Saturday Open Format: singles Wednesday, mixed Thursday, men’s/women’s doubles Friday – all through the quarters, Semifinal Saturday, and Championship Sunday.  
  • Pickleballtv (and the app) will have the coverage starting at 11am Eastern on Wednesday-Friday, 10am Eastern on Saturday and Sunday. Tennis Channel coverage 3-6pm Eastern Thursday through Saturday and 2-5pm Eastern on Championship Sunday. 


WOMEN'S SINGLES:

  • Defending medalists: Kaitlyn Christian, Dominique Schaefer, Mary Brascia
  • Anna Leigh Waters is not in the singles draw, so she will end the 2025 campaign a perfect 59-0 in singles. 
  • Kate Fahey and Brooke Buckner also taking this tournament off. 
  • Christian is the top seed, Lea Jansen is the (2). 
  • Good potential quarterfinal matchup: Genie Bouchard (4) vs. Judit Castillo (6)
  • Watch out for: Catherine Parenteau (3). Hasn’t won a singles gold since August of ’23 – is this her week?   


MEN'S SINGLES:

  • Defending medalists: Federico Staksrud, Zane Ford, Michael Loyd
  • Staksrud is back as #1 in the world, is the top seed, and the defending champion. 
  • Hunter Johnson, Roscoe Bellamy, and Jack Sock are not in the tournament. 
  • Twoeys for days in a potential quarterfinal between Connor Garnett (3) and Gabe Joseph (5).
  • Watch out for: John Lucian Goins (6) – can he find his top form that propelled him to back-to-back wins this summer? 


MIXED DOUBLES:

  • Defending medalists: Jorja Johnson/Hayden Patriquin, Tina Pisnik/Andrei Daescu, Anna Bright/Dekel Bar
  • No GOATS – Waters (just playing women’s) and Ben Johns (not in the tournament)
  • Johnsons are the top seed, looking for their 4th mixed win in 2025. 
  • Christian Alshon and Tyra Black are the 2 seed and both continue to seek their 1st mixed gold. 
  • Watch out for: Jessie Irvine/Gabe Tardio (3) – last tourney together for the foreseeable future as Tardio will play with Catherine Parenteau in 2026. 


WOMEN'S DOUBLES:

  • Defending medalists: Waters/Waters, Johnson/Black, Bright/Jackie Kawamoto
  • Anna Leigh Waters and Jorja Johnson are paired up for the 1st time as the 1 seed. 
  • Anna Bright is not playing in the tournament. 
  • Potential Utah dominant fun quarterfinal: Rachel Rohrabacher/Etta Tuionetoa (3) vs. Allyce Jones/Callie Smith (5)
  • Watch out for: First time partners Parenteau and Black – can they make a run to Sunday as the 2 seed?


MEN'S DOUBLES:

  • Defending medalists: Andrei Daescu/CJ Klinger, Dekel Bar/Pablo Tellez, Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud
  • Daescu/Tardio are the top seed – this pair won twice in 2024.  
  • FLASH MOB ALERT: JW Johnson and Augie Ge (3) are playing their first Carvana PPA tour event together – members of the 2024 MLP champions, the Dallas Flash. 
  • Must see potential round of 16 matchup: AJ Koller/Connor Garnett (9) vs. Dekel Bar/Pablo Tellez (6) 
  • Watch out for: Tom Protzek/Jay Devilliers (8) – Protzek with a chance as a high seed to make a run with “Team Europe” (Protzek from Germany, Devilliers from France).