The final PPA event of 2024 is the Daytona Beach Open presented by ROAR Organic.

 

Although played in 2024, the points from this event count toward the 2025 standings. A number of players are skipping this last event, so we have a lot of partnerships we are not used to seeing. It should make for a fun and unpredictable tournament.

 

 

 

The big news of both women’s doubles event and the tournament as a whole is the return of Leigh Waters. She will play for the first time in well more than a year, pairing of course with Anna Leigh Waters. This is a “home game” for the Florida residents. They get a #2 seed. The top seed goes to a new pairing of Anna Bright and Jackie Kawamoto. Continuing with our theme of new pairings is the #3 seed, Tyra Black/Jorja Johnson. They should pair well together, as Tyra is best on the left and Jorja has been playing very strong right side pickleball. At #4 is Allyce Jones and Tina Pisnik. This team is not as well matched, as both are better on the right. The same is true of the #5 seed Meghan Dizon/Alix Truong. At #6 is yet another new pair of Kate Fahey and Lea Jansen. Both usually play right side, but Jansen has the power to play left well. In 2025, I would not be surprised to see Fahey try some left side play as she continues her rise up the rankings.

 

With so many new partnerships, the women’s doubles event should be wide open, lots of potential for upsets, and an unpredictable finish.

 

 

 

New partnerships are again the name of the game in men’s doubles. But, it doesn’t start at the #1 seed, as that goes to Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud. They are coming off their big win at the CIBC PPA Finals. They will be very tough to beat in this event, especially as they will be facing so many duos that have not played together much.

 

 

At #2 is Pablo Tellez and Dekel Bar. Tellez continues to show his tremendous versatility. As a lefty, he can pair well with so many different players. Bar has been playing very well, probably the best of his career. They should be able to do well together.

 

The third seed goes to another new pair, Andrei Daescu and CJ Klinger. Klinger, like Tellez, is an lefty and thus pairs well with any strong left side player. Klinger is someone to watch out for in 2025. The #4 seed goes to Matt Wright and AJ Koller. I do not see this pair as having much potential, so expect a somewhat early exit for them.

 

There are a couple of interesting lower seeds. At #9 is Michael Loyd/Ivan Jakovljevic. Loyd has broken through to singles success and it will be interesting to see if he can convert it to doubles success. Jakovljevic has played well against top competition and is another player who could break out. With their draw, I could see them making the quarterfinals to face Tellez/Bar. The #12 seed is Greg Dow and MLP super-sub Anderson Scarpa. Can Scarpa’s success at MLP translate into PPA success? They have a very good draw, and an opportunity to make it to at least the quarters.

 

 

Once again, many players are sitting this event out, so it is wide open. The top seed is Anna Bright/Dekel Bar. While they do not normally play with each other, both are top veterans of the sport, so they will be hard to beat. The second seed is Hayden Patriquin/Jorja Johnson, another team that has not played together but has all the talent needed to succeed. The #3 and #4 seeds are very similar. At #3 is Tina Pisnik/Andrei Daescu and at #4 is Kate Fahey/Federico Staksrud. All very good players, who have not had as much success at mixed doubles as we would expect. It will be interesting to see which teams gel the best.

 

At #5 is Tyra Black/Pablo Tellez. Black enjoyed success with lefty Augie Ge, so playing with Tellez makes a lot of sense. Two more righty/lefty combos are #8 Jackie Kawamoto/CJ Klinger and #10 Mary Brascia/Augie Ge. I would look for more success from Kawamoto/Klinger.

 

 

With Anna Leigh Waters and Kate Fahey skipping singles, this event could not be more wide open. Any of the top 8 seeds could win this one. The #1 seed goes to Lea Jansen, and this is her best opportunity to win a singles gold. At #2 is Kaitlyn Christian, followed by #3 Salome Devidze. Like Jansen, again this event is the best chance Christian or Devidze will have to win singles gold.

 

 

Unlike women’s singles, the big gun is in this event, with Federico Staksrud taking the top seed. It will be an upset if he does not win gold. There are a number of interesting players in the event to challenge Staksrud. At #2 is Michael Loyd. He took a silver at the World Championships, and will be looking to continue his hot hand. 

 

A player to watch out for is #5 seed Grayson Goldin. Like Loyd, Goldin has a big serve and a lot of power. He could face #21 Zane Ford in the round of 16 — that would be a battle worth seeing.

 

Staksrud has a favorable draw, so it is hard to see him not cruising into the final. Can one of these young power players challenge him for the gold?

 

 

I did pretty well with the predictions for the CIBC PPA Finals, hitting exactly all four final pairs in men’s and women’s doubles, and also picking the winners of women’s singles and mixed doubles. I did whiff on the unpredictable men’s singles final.

 

This week is going to be difficult in most of the events. With so many new pairs, and some top seeds not being as strong as normal, most of the draws will be unpredictable. But, we have to give it our best shot.

 

Women’s doubles: Teams will certainly focus on Leigh Waters, attacking her relentlessly. It will be fun to see how she stands up to the pressure. I expect Anna Leigh to give 110% to assist the family effort. I think they will fall just short, losing in the final to Bright/Kawamoto.

 

Men’s doubles: I will take Patriquin/Staksrud all the way, with their experience and familiarity. I will pick an upset special to reach the final, with Loyd/Jakovljevic getting to their first doubles final.

 

Mixed doubles: I will go chalk in this one, with Bright/Bar defeating Patriquin/Johnson in the final.

 

Women’s singles: I will pick some mild upsets here, with Devidze winning it all.

 

Men’s singles: Staksrud should be too tough for everyone in this one. I’m looking for a Loyd v Goldin semifinal on the other side. How about Goldin in an upset in the semifinal, but Staskrud is too hard to beat in the final.

 

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Enjoy the action. Following this tournament, we will be doing our 2024 wrap up column and then the always fun predictions for 2025. The predictions for 2025 will have some hot takes, so make sure you go to pickleball.com every day to see the latest and best pickleball news.

 

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