Ben Johns will not compete in men’s singles at this week’s Veolia North Carolina Open.

After visiting Vietnam and China last week with JOOLA’s Pickleball Legends Tour, he has withdrawn from the men’s singles competition. He was seeded fourth.

This means that Johns will not get a chance to defend his 2024 Triple Crown in the Tar Heel State, a feat he has not accomplished since.

At this time, the 26-year-old is still planning to compete in men’s doubles with Gabe Tardio and mixed doubles with Anna Leigh Waters.

Here are other notable withdrawals ahead of this week’s event:

•                      Gabe Joseph: out of all events
•                      Alix Truong: out of women’s singles
•                      Travis Rettenmaier: out of men’s singles
•                      Lingwei Kong: out of women’s singles
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Main draw action from Cary Tennis Park begins on Wednesday at 11am ET on Pickleballtv.