This week marks the last tour stop of the 2024 calendar year on the PPA Tour in Holly Hill, Florida, a northern suburb of Daytona Beach. Pictona at Holly Hill hosts 49 permanent pickleball courts and is a staple on the tour.
While the event is an Open event (1,000 PPA points to the winners of each event), this one is a little unique. In terms of points, this event will count towards players’ 2025 PPA points, so players that do well will be seeded better in the first event of the 2025 calendar year, The Masters.
Additionally, in terms of contractual obligations in terms of meeting a minimum number of events, this event will count toward players’ 2024 contractual obligations. Even though this seems complicated and a little difficult to understand, the PGA Tour and other sporting entities around the world have similar setups.
Weather Outlook
The only day that looks troublesome is Wednesday, the day for pro qualifiers. Other than that, the weather is looking good. It is going to be slightly chilly for Florida, so the ball will be flying in Daytona.
How to Watch the Daytona Beach Open
Thursday, December 19th - Singles
- 11am - 7pm ET - Championship Court - PickleballTV
- 11am - 5pm ET - Grandstand Court - PickleballTV & PPA YouTube
Friday, December 20th - Mixed Doubles
- 11am - 7pm ET - Championship Court - PickleballTV
- 11am - 5pm ET - Grandstand Court - PickleballTV & PPA YouTube
Saturday, December 21st - Women’s & Men’s Doubles
- 11am - 7pm ET - Championship Court - PickleballTV
- 3:30pm - 7pm ET - Championship Court - Tennis Channel
- 11am - 5pm ET - Grandstand Court - PickleballTV & PPA YouTube
Sunday, December 22nd - Championship Sunday
- 11am - 5pm ET - Championship Court - PickleballTV
- 2:30pm - 5:30pm ET - Championship Court - Tennis Channel
- 10am - 3pm ET - Grandstand Court - PickleballTV & PPA YouTube
Player Availability
Because this is an Open event AND it is so close to the holidays AND so many players are looking for a break, there are not many touring pros playing in this event. Here is a list of prominent players who are not playing in Daytona:
Men:
- Ben Johns
- Collin Johns
- JW Johnson
- Dylan Frazier
- Riley Newman
- Tyson McGuffin
- Gabe Tardio
- Christian Alshon
- Hunter Johnson
- Matt Wright is only playing men’s doubles
Women:
- Catherine Parenteau
- Anna Leigh Waters is only playing women’s doubles with her mom
- Rachel Rohrabacher
- Etta Wright
- Callie Smith
- Lucy Kovalova
- Lacy Schneemann
- Parris Todd
- Brooke Buckner
- Vivienne David
Let’s get into the action!
Women’s Singles
Top Storylines
- Lea Jansen is the top seed without ALW, Catherine, and Brooke playing. She has two golds on the tour this year and is looking to make Daytona her third.
- (2) Kaitlyn Christian is easily the most consistent finisher in women’s singles without a gold medal this year, and she always seems to be hungry for a win.
- This field is really wide open due to so many players not playing. Anyone in the top eight or so have a legitimate chance of winning.
Tice’s Takes
- (6) Genie Bouchard has been playing much better the last four months and could definitely make a run in Daytona. I think she makes it all the way to the quarterfinals, but loses to Christian.
- (21) 17-year-old Alexa Schull has been winning a lot in the past few months. I think she upsets (9) Angie Walker and then (5) Dominique Schaefer to make it to the quarterfinals.
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Lea Jansen, (3) Salome Devidze, (2) Kaitlyn Christian, and (4) Mary Brascia
- Finals: Kaitlyn Christian gets her first win on the PPA Tour over Salome Devidze
Men’s Singles
Top Storylines
- Fed Staksrud just doesn’t miss tournaments. He is the 1 seed, and is looking to start off the 2025 year ahead of the pack.
- (3) Collin Shick is the highest seed he has been all year and is playing one of his last tournaments before headed back to Med School.
- Very good friends and former Arizona Pickleball League players, (16) Augie Ge and (2) Michael Loyd could face each other in the Rd of 16.
- There are 109 men’s singles pro qualifiers, fighting for eight spots in the main draw.
Tice’s Takes
- (22) Spartak Rahachou is a very good singles player and has gone on some deeper runs this year. I think he upsets (14) Ryan Fu and (5) Rafa Hewett to make the quarterfinals.
- Players I like from qualifiers to make it to the main draw:
- Etienne Blaszkewycz
- Alex Crum
- Tanner Tomassi
- Tom Evans (Australian)
- John Lucian Goins
- Max Wild
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Federico Staksrud, (6) Aanik Lohani, (2) Michael Loyd, and (5) Grayson Goldin
- Finals: Fed beats Grayson Goldin in the finals.
|
Mixed Doubles
Top Storylines
- (1) Anna Bright and Dekel Bar are teaming up together. Dekel has been on Anna and Rachel Rohrabacher’s bench as a coach before, so this move makes sense.
- Most exciting new partnerships at Daytona:
- (2) Jorja Johnson and Hayden Patriquin
- (3) Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu
- (5) Pablo Tellez and Tyra Black
- (7) Lea Jansen and Max Freeman
Tice’s Takes
- (8) Jackie Kawamoto and CJ Klinger (teammates and mixed doubles partners for the NY Hustlers) could eventually face Klinger’s men’s doubles partner, (3) Andrei Daescu and Tina Pisnik in the quarters. I am picking Kawamoto and Klinger in that one.
- (4) Federico Staksrud and Kate Fahey could face Fed’s former men’s doubles partner, (5) Pablo Tellez and Tyra Black in the quarters. I think Fed is able to out-dink Tyra, and the 4 seed moves on.
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Bright/Dekel Bar, (8) CJ Klinger/Jackie Kawamoto, (2) Jorja Johnson/Hayden Patriquin, and (4) Kate Fahey/Fed Staksrud
- Finals: Jorja Johnson and Hayden Patriquin beat Anna Bright and Dekel Bar
Women’s Doubles
Top Storylines
- (2) Leigh Waters is back! She is playing with Anna Leigh and they have a very favorable draw as the 2 seed.
- (1) Anna Bright and Jackie Kawamoto are teamed up for the first time in a long time, but Jackie is playing the left this time.
Tice’s Takes
- (10) Layne Sleeth and Genie Bouchard have both gotten so much better over 2024, I believe they upset the Brascia sisters in the Rd of 16, to make the quarterfinals against Leigh and Anna Leigh.
- (8) Tammy Emmrich and Genie Erokhina have a good draw and I think bring a little more firepower than (4) Allyce Jones and Tina Pisnik. I think the 8 seed makes it all the way to the semis.
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Bright/Jackie Kawamoto, (3) Jorja Johnson/Tyra Black, (2) Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters, and (8) Tammy Emmrich/Genie Erokhina
- Finals: Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters beat Anna Bright and Jackie Kawamoto in the finals.
Men’s Doubles
Top Storylines
- (1) Hayden Patriquin and Fed Staksrud are going for their fourth gold out of four attempts this year.
- (2) Pablo Tellez and Dekel Bar played together in the LAPIPLASTY World Championships and earned a silver medal.
- (6) Augie Ge and Eric Oncins are a first time partnership and with Ge coming off an MLP win with the Flash and Oncins won the Most Improved Player in MLP Challenger. They have a lot of momentum going into Daytona.
Tice’s Takes
- (12) Anderson Scarpa/Greg Dow have had some big wins this year and I think they make it all the way to the semifinals, beating AJ and Matt in the quarterfinals.
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Hayden Patriquin/Fed Staksrud, (3) Andrei Daescu/CJ Klinger, (6) Augie Ge/Eric Oncins, and (12) Greg Dow/Anderson Scarpa
- Finals: Hayden and Fed win number four over Augie and Eric
