The Biggest Event of the Year
This is the type of reaction you’re only going to get at the biggest pickleball event of the year. The PPA tour headed to Dallas, Texas for the pickleball world championship. With 3000 points on the line, it was the most important event of the year and so much was at stake. Federico Staksrud and Hunter Johnson were neck and neck in points, with the World #1 ranking on the line. Anna Leigh Waters was on the cusp of surpassing Ben Johns for the most gold medals. And, as per our usual arrangement these days, we had probably the most egregiously bad line call of the entire year.
Rapid Fire Announcements
These recap videos are now on Spotify. MLP just announced junior MLP for next year, which is pretty cool. My online academy, the Transition Zone, just hit 200 members, and you can lock in the best price forever by purchasing during our pre-launch. Anna Leigh Waters launched her own YouTube channel. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from the event due to a wrist injury, but I’m happy to let you guys know that I’m healing up nicely.
Main Draw Highlights
The main draw started on Tuesday and delivered drama right away. #52 seeded Isabella Dunlap upset #14 seeded Angie Walker, and Rika Fujiwara upset Salome Devidze in her very first US professional tournament, the 44-year-old Japanese player ranked as high as 84 in singles and 13 in doubles. Christian Alshon faced off against Jack Wong in a rematch of the PPA Malaysia final, but this time, Alshon won 2 and 2.
Tama Shimabukaro, at just 14, won his first round before facing off against Chris Haworth. While he lost, the match brought us some incredible points. Mixed doubles delivered nasty shots from Layne and Jack Sock, along with some nasty behavior. Rafa Hewett and AJ Koller aren't exactly buddy-buddy, and some words were exchanged after their match. This tension stems from an almost altercation last year.
You’ve probably seen Alli Phillips and Olivia McMillan’s missed call by now. It was likely the worst of the year. This ref, previously working the Al-Houni versus Tyson match and the Dekel and Roscoe match, is drawing unfavorable comparisons to Angel Hernandez. Fortunately, cheating deterrents will be in place soon, so hopefully, incidents like this will be rare.
Wednesday Stakes High
Wednesday was tough for the tennis players. Genie Bouchard had to withdraw due to a lower body injury against Sam Parker. Tom Protzek upset Jack Sock, and Sam Querrey announced his retirement from professional pickleball. Despite his lack of success as a pickleball player, he remains an icon.
Hunter Johnson showcased the newly approved Hand Cannon from Hit Pickleball, interestingly seen alongside legendary streamer Tfue. Callie Smith appears to be moving to a Proton paddle, and Riley Newman debuted the new ProXR Riley Newman Signature paddle, with all ProXR’s paddles at just $119—a crazy deal!
Thursday Ups and Downs
On Thursday, Anna Leigh faced Jorja Johnson in the round of 16, while Lea Jansen ended Rika Fujiwara’s run. Chris Haworth defeated Christian Alshon, again showing prowess with Christian’s distinctively blacked-out Paddletek paddle. A major match highlight saw Hayden and Fed facing Jonathan and Jaume in a high-quality match worth watching. Federico comfortably played the right side, showcasing stunning points to set up match point.
JW and CJ edged out Roscoe and Wyatt in a memorable match that deserved a better conclusion. Hunter barely escaped Gabe Joseph 11–8 in the third, and Fed came back from a game down to defeat Jaume, keeping the World #1 race alive.
Semifinals and Grand Finals
Semifinal Saturday started with drama in the women’s singles match between Anna Leigh and Kaitlyn Christian. A previous lead for Kaitlyn couldn't stop Anna Leigh from storming back. Despite challenges in rule enforcement, Anna Leigh ultimately reversed and dominated the subsequent rounds.
In men’s, Chris Haworth and Hunter displayed modern singles techniques. Federico reclaimed the World #1 singles ranking with a decisive 4 and 1 victory over Connor. Ben and Anna Leigh faced Hayden and Anna in mixed, witnessing remarkable points despite losing a game.
Anna Leigh and Anna Bright entered women’s doubles, impressively eliminating Jorja and Tyra. The standout men’s match between Federico and Hayden versus Ben and Gabe was electrifying, with Hayden and Fed capturing a fantastic win.
Conclusion: A Testament to Pickleball’s Growth
This tournament truly feels like pickleball's first grand slam. From concerts to celebrity pro-ams, the lively atmosphere at pickleball boulevard and packed stands elevated this event’s significance. Emphasizing the growing grandeur of pickleball, the event stands testament to
any partnership. That duo makes you earn every single point. Not only that, but they have some of the best hands on tour. And hey, if you can't beat them the traditional way, might as well bag the hell out of them like this! As you Guys probably know, I'm a fan of the full bag shots, but you might not be. Let me know what you think about this shot from Hayden.
The last match of the day was, of course, Anna Leigh looking to surpass Ben’s total gold medal count. She rolled through Kate relatively easily in game 1, but game 2 was a battle, and this is probably the best championship point I’ve ever seen. She extends her singles win streak to 19 tournaments, 89 matches, and 529 days…
To me, this tournament really feels like pickleball’s first true grand slam. From nightly concerts to celebrity pro-ams, pickleball boulevard, and packed stands, this tournament is a great testament to where pickleball is headed. This felt like a grand slam. Pickleball to the moon, and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the Hayden and Fed upset of Ben and Gabe match analysis!
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.