2026 Carvana Mesa Cup Preview

The PPA Tour was back in action one day after the PPA Cape Coral Open ended, with qualifiers playing on Monday.

The Mesa Cup has become one of the best stops on tour, outside of the four slams. The Arizona Athletic Grounds is hosting again this year and has over forty courts with an awesome Championship Court.

Almost every pro is playing in this one. Two big exceptions are Will Howells (ankle) and Grayson Goldin (medical condition).

How to Watch the Carvana Mesa Cup

Tuesday, February 17 - Round of 64

Noon - 8pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
Noon - 8pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Wednesday, February 18 - Round of 32

Noon - 8pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
Noon - 8pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Thursday, February 19 - Round of 16

Noon - 8pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
Noon - 8pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Friday, February 20 - Quarterfinals

Noon - 8pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
Noon - 8pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Saturday, February 21 - Semifinals

Noon - 8pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
Noon - 8pm ET - Grandstand Court (Juniors) - pickleballtv

Sunday, February 22 - Championship Sunday

Noon - 6pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
Noon - 3pm ET - Championship Court - Tennis Channel
11am - 3pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Weather Outlook

It will be on the colder side of things in Mesa, up until Championship Sunday. Wind is playing a factor early on in the draw, but lessens as the week progresses.

Let's get into the action.

Women’s Singles

Top Storylines

Anna Leigh Waters is playing singles again after not playing in Minnesota and Cape Coral - she is the definitive favorite
(3) Kaitlyn Christian just won the PPA Cape Coral Open, but will run into ALW in the semis, if she makes it that far
(4) Parris Todd missed out on the Masters due to her suspension, but is playing in her first Cup in singles
*This graphic shows Lara Giltanan as the 14 seed, but the 14 seed is actually Angie Walker

Predictions

Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters, (3) Kaitlyn Christian, (2) Kate Fahey, (4) Parris Todd
Finals: Anna Leigh Waters beats Parris Todd in the finals

Men’s Singles

Top Storylines

Hunter Johnson is playing great recently and has maintained his #1 overall seed
(4) Chris Haworth was sick for Cape Coral and skipped it, but seems to be healthier for Mesa
It is absolutely crazy that Tyson McGuffin is the 42 seed in this one, and was the 6 seed at last year’s Masters, just over a year ago
(10) Ben Johns hasn’t played singles in a while and is the defending champion in this one

Predictions

Semifinalists: (1) Hunter Johnson, (4) Chris Haworth, (2) Federico Stasksrud, (3) Christian Alshon
Finals: Hunter takes down Christian Alshon in the finals

Mixed Doubles

Top Storylines

(2) Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson won this event last year - can they defend their title?
(1) Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns lost to Anna Bright and Dekel Bar last year in the semis, for one of their two losses together last year - can they turn it around in Mesa?
A great matchup will be (4) Tyra Black and Andrei Daescu v (5) Rachel Rohrabahcer and Christian Alshon in the quarters, to face the #1 seed in the semis

Predictions

Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, (5) Rachel Rohrabacher/Christian Alshon, (2) Jorja & JW Johnson, and (3) Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin
Finals: Anna Leigh and Ben beat AB and Hayden

Women’s Doubles

Top Storylines

Can anyone take down the #1 seed? We are rapidly approaching six months since Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters lost a match together
(2) Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson are back together again, and could give them a run in the finals
An exciting matchup could potentially be Fahey/Todd v Pisnik/Schneeman in the quarters - Fahey and Pisnik had been playing together until recently

Predictions

Semifinalists: (1) Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters, (4) Kate Fahey/Parris Todd, (2) Jorja Johnson/Hurricane Tyra Black, and (3) Rachel Rohrabacher/Catherine Parenteau
Finals: AB and ALW beat Jorja and Tyra in four

Men’s Doubles

Top Storylines

Can anyone break through the top four? It seems like every tournament, the top four seeds are making the semis, with very few outsiders
Gabe and Ben haven’t lost since Worlds and are clearly the favorites in this one
Due to Grayson Goldin’s medical issues, he had to withdraw from this tournament, so Haworth is only playing singles and mixed
I like the (20) pairing of Loyd and Delgado - I like both their games individually, but let’s see if they can play well together

Predictions

Semifinalists: (1) Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns, (3) Federico Staksrud/Andrei Daescu, (2) Christian Alshon/Hayden Patriquin, (4) CJ Klinger/JW Johnson
Finals: Gabe and Ben beat Christian and Hayden in four