Saturday was semifinal day at the CIBC PPA Tour Finals, presented by ROAR Organic. With no bronze medal games, it was win or go home in all 10 matches. It was a beautiful, sunny day, with pickleball to match.

 

1. Men’s singles is hard to predict. In the men’s singles semifinals, both matches were won by the lower seed. Connor Garnett took out the pre-tournament favorite Federico Staksrud 12-10, 7-11, 11-3, in one of their typical all-hustle matches. In the other semifinal. Hunter Johnson dealt Tyson McGuffin his first loss of the event, 11-1, 11-7. That sets up a Sunday final of Johnson’s power against Garnett’s speed. Hard to predict a winner, but a need for all three games is likely.

 

 

2. Women’s singles is easy to predict. While the men’s side is unpredictable, on the women’s side, Anna Leigh Waters is as sure as death and taxes. Waters cruised to the finals with an 11-0, 11-6 win over Mary Brascia. Waters will face Parris Todd, who prevailed 11-8, 11-5 over Kaitlyn Christian.

 

 

3. ALW for a triple? Anna Leigh Waters added victories in mixed doubles (with Ben Johns) and in women’s doubles (with Catherine Parenteau), to keep alive a potential triple crown in San Clemente. Can she be stopped? In mixed doubles, Parenteau and Christian Alshon will give it a shot, and Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher lurk in the women’s doubles final. Both should be great matches.

 

 

4. Something old, something new. The men’s doubles final will feature a new partnership (Gabe Tardio/JW Johnson) taking on an old partnership (Federico Staksrud/Hayden Patriquin). Staksrud/Patriquin have won titles before on the PPA Tour, but this event is a first for Tardio/Johnson. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out I did predict this final before the event started. The men’s doubles matches have been won by the team which has been more aggressive. Look for a hard-hitting final with lots of fast hands and firefights. It will be a good one.

 

 

Sunday is championship day, and will wrap up the CIBC PPA Tour Finals. We had a very big crowd on Saturday and I expect the same on Sunday. If you can’t be there in person, tune in to Pickleballtv to catch all the action.

 

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