
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).
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