The PPA is back in action in Sin City this weekend. The PPA Rate Championships event is at the Darling Tennis Center from Wednesday through Sunday.
The event is outdoors. It's also a traditional Open-level tournament, meaning winners receive 1,000 PPA Points. But, with just three events left before the finals, every point counts.
Weather Outlook
It’s going to be hot in Vegas this week! No rain is forecasted, so the brackets should play on schedule.
How to Watch the PPA Rate Championships
Now, let’s get into the draw with a full breakdown and prediction.
Women’s Singles
Top Storylines
- (6) Kaitlyn Christian and (9) Kate Fahey could face each other in the Round of 16 if they both win their matches. They are two of the hottest singles players right now and for them to face off in the Round of 16 is crazy.
- (16) Genie Bouchard made a great run in the PPA Virginia Beach Cup, narrowly losing to Salome Devidze in the third game. Can she continue her ascent?
- (2) Catherine Parenteau cannot escape (10) Zoey Wang. They could face off in the quarterfinals if they both win their matches. Zoey just beat Catherine in Virginia.
Tice’s Takes
- (14) Nicole Eugenio is a very good lefty singles player, and she could face Catherine Parenteau in the Round of 16. I am predicting this upset early over Catherine.
- (18) Christine Maddox doesn’t play in many tournaments, but she is one of the longest, most athletic women on tour. I think she upsets (11) Jorja Johnson.
Prediction
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters, (3) Lea Jansen, (10) Zoey Wang, and (7) Judit Castillo
- Finals: Anna Leigh beats Zoey in Zoey’s first trip to Championship Sunday
Men’s Singles
Top Storylines
- (1) Federico finished fourth at the Virginia Beach Cup, which was the second time ALL YEAR that he missed out on a medal. He will look to bounce back in Vegas.
- Christian Alshon withdrew from singles last week in Virginia Beach and is not playing in this event.
- (9) Hunter Johnson is coming off a win and a silver medal in Virginia. He is currently in ninth place in singles on the year, only 75 points behind Christian Alshon for that last place in the finals.
Tice’s Takes
- (24) Noe Khlif is one of the top singles players who plays the cat-and-mouse style. I think he upsets (11) Aanik Lohani and (5) Dylan Frazier and will make it to the semifinals.
Prediction
- Semifinalists: (1) Federico Staksrud, (3) Connor Garnett, (2) Ben Johns, and (24) Noe Khlif
- Finals: Fed finally gets a win over Ben Johns on Championship Sunday
Mixed Doubles
Top Storylines
- Everyone is playing musical chairs in mixed doubles in Vegas! New partnerships include:
- (3) Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin - the dominant St. Louis Shock teammates
- (4) Catherine Parenteau/James Ignatowich
- (6) Viv David/Augie Ge
- (10) Viv Glozman/Dekel Bar - the D.C. Pickleball teammates
- (12) Jackie Kawamoto/Riley Newman won bronze in Virginia Beach and are looking to gain more points to get into the finals.
- (22) Kate Fahey/Dylan Frazier is another new partnership. If they both win, they will face Jackie and Riley in the Round of 32.
Tice’s Takes
- (17) Parris Todd/Jaume Martinez Vich could face (13) Meghan Dizon/Andrei Daescu in the Round of 32, and if they do, I predict an upset.
- In the upset of the tournament, I think (11) Lea Jansen/Jack Sock are able to beat (2) the Johnson siblings to make the semi-finals.
Predictions
- Semi-finalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, (3) Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin, (11) Lea Jansen/Jack Sock, and (4) Catherine Parenteau/James Ignatowich
- Finals: Anna Bright and Hayden Patiquin beat ALW and Ben in the semis and win gold in Las Vegas over Catherine and James.
Women’s Doubles
Top Storylines
- (6) Allyce Jones/Hurricane Tyra Black made a deep run in Virginia Beach, but they are in the same bracket as (1) Anna Leigh Waters/Catherine Parenteau.
- I really like the partnership of (11) Tina Pisnik/Kate Fahey - I think they easily make the quarterfinals and push Rachel and Anna to three games.
- (8) Jade and Jackie Kawamoto have been playing with different partners for most of 2024, but they are paired in Vegas.
Tice’s Takes
- (15) Brooke Buckner/Zoey Wang have had some big wins recently, and they could face (3) Etta Wright and Meghan Dizon early, who haven’t had as much success recently. I think the 15 seed takes that one.
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Catherine Parenteau/Anna Leigh Waters, (10) Mari Humberg/Jorja Johnson, (2) Rachel Rohrabacher/Anna Bright, and (4) Lucy Kovalova/Lea Jansen
- Finals: Stop me if you’ve seen me write this before, but I believe Anna Leigh and Catherine beat Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright
Men’s Doubles
🔥HOT TAKE🔥
— Erik Tice (@azetice) October 5, 2024
Hayden Patriquin THE BEST "most versatile" guy in pro pickleball.
He can play a great left side, creating opportunities and finishing points. He is also a phenomenal strong side right side guy, with some nasty forehand stuff at the kitchen line and crazy quick…
Top Storylines
- (6) Christian Alshon/Hayden Patriquin is a new pairing, and I would say they are the two most versatile men in the game—they both play both sides very well.
- (7) Riley Newman/Gabe Tardio is another new pairing, and they could face the Johns brothers in the quarterfinals.
- (8) James Ignatowich/Andrei Daescu is another new pairing and could go far in Vegas.
Tice’s Takes
- With the ball playing a little slower in the heat, I think (16) CJ Klinger/Quang Duong bring a ton of speedups against JW and Dylan and win the upset in the Round of 16.
- (5) Jaume Martinez Vich/Tyson McGuffin had a bad loss in Virginia Beach and I think that continues in Vegas. (9) Garnett/Loong upset Jaume and Tyson on their way to a semifinal run.
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Collin/Ben Johns, (6) Christian Alshon/Hayden Patriquin, (9) Tyler Loong/Connor Garnett, and (4) Pablo Tellez/Dekel Bar
- Finals: Christian Alshon and Hayden Patriquin win the men’s doubles draw, beating Collin and Ben in the semis and Tyler and Connor in the final.
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