Daytona was filled with new partnerships, new beefs, new names, and body bags. Without Ben Johns and with Anna Leigh Waters only playing Women’s doubles with Jorja Johnson, the field was open in all 5 divisions. We’ll dive into everything that happened in the tournament, updates on the contract terminations, and whether Jorja Johnson might be the right partner for Anna Leigh Waters in 2026.
Pre-Tournament Tensions
Before the tournament kicked off, we had the biggest news in a while: James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu, and Vivian Glozman had their contracts terminated by the UPA for running clinics at a competing event. There's a lot to unpack, including Ryan Fu’s response, the MLP Commissioner’s rebuttal, and news of their plan to fight the decision. We also await updates on Parris Todd.
Other pre-tournament highlights included DUPR becoming the official rating system of USAP, Nick Kyrgios as the new creative director of Stack, MLP's partnership with OWL AI for AI tech in line calls, CRBN suing Vactic, and the Paddletek and ProXR merger. If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for a pickleball lover, check out my online academy, The Transition Zone!
The Florida Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open Begins
When the Florida Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open started, it was clear that the absence of some big names was going to shake things up. The tournament was close to Christmas, leading many players to skip it, making things far more exciting.
From the previous year's gold medalists, like Kaitlyn Christian in women’s singles and Andrei and CJ in men’s, this year's field saw a mix due to Ben and Anna Leigh sitting out. The tournament’s worth was 1000 ranking points and followed a "semifinal Saturday" format.
Men’s Singles Surprise
The competition was fierce on Wednesday. Federico Staksrud dropped the first game against both Luc Pham and Donald Young but came back to win both in three. However, Rafa Lenhard, in an impressive showing, took him out in the quarters. Zane Ford upset Christian Alshon to advance, and Chris Haworth staged an impressive comeback against Eric Oncins.
Women’s Singles Shake-Up
With Anna Leigh Waters not playing singles, the women's title was wide open. Katerina Stewart took out Kaitlyn Christian, raising questions about her future with PPA. Isabella Dunlap, however, stopped Ava Ignatowich's streak to advance, joined by Lea Jansen and Catherine Parenteau.
Mixed Doubles Developments
Thursday’s mixed doubles saw Jorja and JW as the #1 seed. Zane Ford and Jay Devilliers had an intense game, but Jay and Callie’s impressive run highlighted the day. Despite their loss, the absence of Ben and Anna Leigh presented opportunities for others to shine.
Men’s and Women’s Doubles
Friday’s men’s doubles witnessed Gabe and Andrei face a big upset against Riley Newman and Noe Klihf. On the women’s side, Jorja and Anna Leigh cruised as expected. However, Riley was called out for a kitchen violation due to his lead tape mishap, echoing previous incidents at the venue.
Semifinal Saturday and Championship Surprises
Saturday was jam-packed! The men's singles match between Rafa Lenhard and Gabe Joseph was intense, with Gabe finally closing out an epic battle. On the women's side, Katerina Stewart surprisingly advanced, but Catherine Parenteau claimed victory over Lea Jansen.
In mixed doubles, beef brewed between Jessie and JW during their match, adding drama. Jessie’s attacks and the lack of paddle taps confirmed the tension.
In the finals, Catherine Parenteau secured her first singles gold in over two years, while Chris made short work of Gabe Joseph in men's singles. Jorja and Anna Leigh dominated in women's doubles.
Final Thoughts and Future Moves
As we wrap up, a few takeaways: Ryan Fu’s contract termination remains controversial, and the saga is ongoing. Anna Leigh Waters' partnership prospects remain exciting, but for now, Anna Bright remains the right partner. The pickleball world keeps evolving, and we’ll see how these partnerships play out in upcoming tournaments.
That’s all for 2025! Subscribe and stay tuned for more pickleball action!
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