The 2024 Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® Pickleball World Championships are now in the books. What a tournament! A new record of 3,507 players, good weather at least to end the week, and as usual a Sunday medal round with great matches. All five pro events had great competition.

Let’s go over the highlights and what we learned.

 

 

The men’s doubles draw saw the return of Riley Newman to the winner’s circle. Newman, who had not won in 2024, grabbed a gold medal with Hayden Patriquin. Patriquin showed off his versatility, winning gold the first time out when paired with Newman. Patriquin previously won this year with Federico Staksrud. I previously had Patriquin listed in my “five players who could unseat Ben Johns as the #1 player in the world.” This gold medal indicates he certainly belongs on the list.

 

Along the way to the gold, Newman/Patriquin defeated Staksrud and Matt Wright in the semis. This was the first men’s doubles match between Newman and Wright since the well-publicized breakup of their previously successful partnership.  I’m sure that added a bit of spice to the victory.

 

 

Silver went to Dekel Bar and Pablo Tellez. Bar and Tellez continue to demonstrate their ability to play successfully with anyone. Both Bar and Tellez regularly make deep runs regardless of who they play with. Neither Bar nor Tellez (who are also two of the nicest players on tour) will have any trouble finding willing partners for 2025.

 

First time partners Quang Duong and CJ Klinger made a splash, taking down Ben and Collin Johns in the round of 16. Not only did they win, but they won convincingly 11-1, 11-6. I do need to mention that I accurately predicted that upset in my tournmanet preview column. Look for Duong and Klinger to play together more in 2025.

 

 

Men’s singles as usual provided some upsets, but the winner was #1 seed Federico Staksrud. Staksrud won the final 11-3, 11-7 over #21 seed Michael Loyd. Loyd had a great run, defeating Ben Johns, JW Johnson, and Quang Duong along the way. Loyd has a very aggressive, powerful style and expect to see him as a force in future singles events.

 

 

Men’s singles continues to be the deepest event. Hunter Johnson had a nice tournament, and he can be listed as a threat to win any singles event he enters. Keep an eye on #23 seed Noe Khlif. He took Staskrud to three games, and he will continue to work his way up the seeding ladder.

 

 

My best prediction of the week came true in women’s doubles, where #2 seed Anna Bright/Rachel Rohrabacher defeated #1 seed Anna Leigh Waters/Catherine Parenteau. Although I was not surprised at the result, the ease of the victory was unexpected. Bright/Rohrabacher won 11-4, 11-8, 11-6. Bright and Rohrabacher played an unremitting attacking style, with most of their aggression aimed at Parenteau. This has proven to be the best formula for success in the past and it proved correct big-time on Sunday. Bright in particular continues to show she is a very good pickleball strategist in addition to her top-shelf skills on the court. It will be interesting if other teams try to copy this winning style.

 

 

#7 seed Tyra Black/Allyce Jones had a nice run, taking the bronze. They were also the only pair to win a game off Bright/Rohrabacher in this event.

 

 

While other events had their upsets, not so much in women’s singles. Anna Leigh Waters took the gold, not losing a game. In the final, she defeated #9 seed Kate Fahey 11-7, 11-8. Fahey will (deservedly) be regularly seeded #2 at some point beginning in 2025. She is catching up to ALW; I think Fahey will notch a win over ALW in singles in 2025.

 

 

Salome Devidze, seeded #5, took home the bronze, defeating #4 Catherine Parenteau. Parenteau is slipping down the ranks a bit, but remains in the top 5. The competition in women’s singles is becoming increasingly close. Look for more variety in who we see on the medal stand in 2025.

 

 

The other consistent winner to take down a gold this week was #1 seed Ben Johns/Anna Leigh Waters. They did not lose a game on their way to the win. In the final, they defeated #5 Christian Alshon/Etta Wright 11-9, 11-5, 11-7. Close games, but all went one way in the end.

 

 

The new pairing of Quang Duong/Anna Bright finished fourth, losing a close one in the bronze match to Federico Staksrud and Rachel Rohrabacher, 3-11, 12-10, 11-3. Bright has struggled to find consistency with a new mixed partner. Will Duong be the one going forward?

 

There are two tournaments left on the 2024 PPA schedule. The Veolia Milwaukee Open will begin November 14. The year then wraps up with the CIBC PPA Finals beginning December 4. Milwaukee will be the last chance to get the points needed to qualify for the finals, so there will be some heated action there. And then the season ending finals will cap off a great year. Get your tickets now, or join the fun on Pickleballtv.

 

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