The PPA Tour moves to Las Vegas for the Rate Vegas Cup presented by Holland America. The tournament starts Monday, and all the big names on tour will be in action.

 

Let’s review each bracket, and because we will be in Vegas, let’s see if we can make a few profitable predictions on the Kalshi odds.

 

 

Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright are coming off a dominant win in Virginia Beach. They did not drop a game in that tournament and look for a repeat performance in Las Vegas. The two duos that defeated Waters/Bright earlier this year, the Kawamoto sisters and Jorja Johnson/Tyra Black, are not playing together. Waters/Bright have a favorable draw, and I do not see the partnerships entered in Vegas as major threats.

 

The #2 seed goes to Jorja Johnson and Rachel Rohrabacher. They have the more difficult road to the finals, with #3 seed Tyra Black and Parris Todd most prominently in their way. Also in the bottom half of the draw are #6 Mari Humberg/Allyce Jones, #8 Kaitlyn Christian/Jessie Irvine, #9 Lacy Schneemann/Lucy Kovalova, and #10 Kate Fahey/Tina Pisnik.

 

For challengers to the top seed in the top half of the draw, we have #4 Jade Kawamoto/Catherine Parenteau, #5 Jackie Kawamoto/Meghan Dizon, and #7 Callie Smith/Etta Tuionetoa. To beat Waters/Bright, a team must both defend well and be able to counterpunch. Waters and Bright put forth constant offense, and teams that focus on resetting get run over. Of the teams in the top half, Smith and Tuionetoa have the most ability on offense, but I see Waters/Bright having a favorable road to the finals and then the gold.

 

 

 

Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns have been on a tremendous roll. No draw in men’s doubles is easy, but the draw they have in Vegas is relatively smooth. Their likely quarterfinal opponent is #5 Jay Devilliers/CJ Klinger. Devilliers has been playing really well, so that match could be more of a challenge than people might expect. Also in the top half is #3 seed Federico Staksrud/Hayden Patriquin. Tardio/Johns have had their number lately.

 

In the bottom half of the draw, the #2 seed goes to Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu. Alshon/Daescu passed up Staksrud/Patriquin in the PPA points standings at the last tournament. That is a huge development as the #2 seed gets to avoid Tardio/Johns until a final. The main obstacle to Alshon/Daescu making the finals will be the reunited pairing of #4 JW Johnson/Dylan Frazier. Johnson and Frazier had tremendous success together before 2025, and everyone will be interested to see if they can recapture their 2024 magic.

 

The bottom half of the draw has a lot of solid teams that could make a run. #6 Pablo Tellez/Dekel Bar, #7 Eric Oncins/Matt Wright, #10 Blaine Hovenier/James Ignatowich, and #11 Tyler Loong/Connor Garnett are all capable of beating anyone. For a longshot, I like #20 Roscoe Bellamy/DJ Young. Both players are capable of high end play.

 

 

 

The top seed of course goes to Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns. Waters took a Triple Crown in Virginia Beach and did not lose a game, so obviously Waters/Johns are hitting on all cylinders. The main challenger in the top half of the draw is #3 seed Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin. Bright has not been playing up to her standard lately, especially in mixed doubles. She did play very well in Virginia Beach in women’s doubles. We will have to see if she has re-found her top game and can break through in mixed doubles.

 

Also in the top half of the draw are #6 Rachel Rohrabacher/Andrei Daescu, #8 Etta Tuionetoa/Dylan Frazier, and #9 Catherine Parenteau/Eric Oncins.

 

In the bottom half of the draw, the #2 seed is Jorja and JW Johnson. As always, they present the biggest threat to Waters/Johns. Standing in their road to the finals are #4 seed Tyra Black/Christian Alshon, #5 Jessie Irvine/Gabe Tardio, and #7 Alix Truong/Federico Staksrud. I like the Black/Alshon combo.

 

 

The top seed and overwhelming favorite is, of course, Anna Leigh Waters. Opponents are not just having trouble beating Waters, they are not just having trouble winning a game, they are having trouble even winning more than five points in a game. #3 Kaitlyn Christian and #5 Lea Jansen are both in the top half, but will face each other in the quarterfinals.

 

On the other side of the draw, Kate Fahey returns to action and is the #2 seed. Her toughest competition on the road to the finals comes from #4 Parris Todd and #6 Brooke Buckner. For an interesting early round match, #7 Catherine Parenteau is set to play #11 Genie Bouchard. Bouchard has been improving at singles, so do not be surprised at an upset in that match.

 

 

The men’s singles draw is, as usual, loaded. The #58 seed is Armaan Bhatia, who is a very good player. He will take on #6 Jack Sock in the Round of 64. That match Illustrates the depth of the draw.

 

Hunter Johnson is the top seed. He is yet to win a gold medal as the top seed. Can this be his week? His challengers in the top half of the draw include #3 Christian Alshon, #5 Jaume Martinez Vich, #7 Ben Johns, and #12 Chris Haworth. When was the last time Ben Johns was a “lowly” #7 seed? 

 

Federico Staksrud is the #2 seed. His side of the draw is the easier side, but still filled with great players. In addition to Sock, the bottom half includes #4 Connor Garnett, #8 Michael Loyd, and #9 Tyson McGuffin.

 

 

Anna Leigh Waters is, if anything, more dominant today than at any prior time. Very hard to see her losing in Las Vegas. Ben Johns faces deeper competition on the men’s side, but he and Gabe Tardio continue to look like solid favorites. For best bets on Kalshi, look for the lowest prices you can find on an ALW gold. Another profitable avenue is to pick a lower seed who you think can make the semis or finals, and then sell your bet before the final. This is often a way to double or triple your money without even picking the gold medal winner.

 

Women’s doubles: Waters/Bright over Black/Todd

Men’s doubles: Tardio/Johns over Alshon/Daescu

Mixed doubles: Waters/Johns over Black/Alshon

Women’s singles: Waters over Buckner

Men’s singles: Haworth over Staksrud

 

Come out to the Darling Tennis Center or watch it on Pickleballtv. Good luck to all who venture a wager on Kalshi.

 

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