The PPA Tour is back in action a week and a half after the conclusion of the first wooden paddle event in tour history, the PPA Sacramento Vintage Open.
This time, the PPA Tour is going to the East Coast, at the FasenraⓇ Virginia Beach Cup. Pickleball Virginia Beach, a dedicated pickleball facility with over 40 courts, is hosting the event.
As a Cup level event, there are 1,500 PPA Points on the line, elevating this event above the Opens. Additionally, since it is a Cup, it is a Progressive Draw, with one round of each event being played daily.
After two weeks of some players playing on the PPA Tour Asia and the wooden paddle event, the competition is heating up in Virginia Beach.
How to Watch the Virginia Beach Cup
Friendly reminder - Pickleballtv is now available on YouTubeTV
Tuesday, October 7 - Round of 128 and Round of 64
- 10am - 6pm ET - Championship Court - Pickleballtv
- 10am - 6pm ET - Grandstand Court - Pickleballtv
Wednesday, October 8 - Round of 32
- 10am - 6pm ET - Championship Court - Pickleballtv
- 10am - 6pm ET - Grandstand Court - Pickleballtv
Thursday, October 9 - Round of 16
- 10am - 6pm ET - Championship Court - Pickleballtv
- 10am - 6pm ET - Grandstand Court - Pickleballtv
Friday, October 10 - Quarterfinals
- 10am - 6pm ET - Championship Court - Pickleballtv
- 1pm - 5pm ET - Championship Court - Tennis Channel
- 10am - 6pm ET - Grandstand Court - Pickleballtv
Saturday, October 11 - Semifinals
- 10am - 6pm ET - Championship Court - Pickleballtv
- 1pm - 5pm ET - Championship Court - Tennis Channel
- 10am - 6pm ET - Grandstand Court - Pickleballtv
Sunday, October 12 - Finals
- 10am - 4pm ET - Championship Court - Gold - Pickleballtv
- 11am - 4pm ET - Championship Court - Gold - Tennis Channel
- 9am - 2pm ET - Grandstand Court - Bronze - Pickleballtv
- 5pm - 7pm ET - Semifinal Tape Delay - ESPN2
Weather Outlook
Rain and wind look like they could take their toll on the Virginia Beach Cup this week. It looks like rain is imminent on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Winds are also high, above 20 mph for the latter half of the event. As of publishing, I am unsure if Pickleball Virginia Beach has an indoor option.
Let’s get into the action.
Women’s Singles
Top Storylines
- Anna Leigh Waters is back playing singles after some time off since the Cincinnati Showcase (which she won) - If she wins this event she will have gone over 500 days without losing a singles match
- Kate Fahey is taking this event off, after getting married this past Saturday - she would be the #2 seed
- (2) Kaitlyn Christian and (7) Zoey Wang are going to have some major jet lag, after just competing in both PPA Tour Asia events, one of which just ended Sunday in Vietnam
- (8) Genie Bouchard just made her first Championship Sunday at the Sacramento Vintage Open - can she keep the momentum going?
Kalshi Trading
Below is a list of ask price for each of the top players/partnerships to win on the Kalshi platform, as of 1pm EST, Monday, October 6.
- Anna Leigh Waters - 68 cents
- Parris Todd - 19 cents
- Kaitlyn Christian - 18 cents
- Brooke Buckner - 8 cents
Fun Matchups
- Rd 32 - Jalina Ingram v Angie Walker - Arizona based players who sometimes train together
- Rd 16 - Lea Jansen v Salome Devidze - I am confident line judges will be called out for this one
- QF - Anna Leigh Waters v Catherine Parenteau (if Parenteau can get past Castillo) - the former partners always put on a show
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters, (3) Parris Todd, (2) Kaitlyn Christian, and (6) Lea Jansen
- Finals: Anna Leigh beats Kaitlyn Christian in two games
Men's Singles
Top Storylines
- (1) Hunter Johnson also took the Vintage Open off, and last won at the Orange County Cup in June
- (2) Federico Staksrud was able to get a win at the Vintage Open, breaking his eight month drought - let’s see if he can keep the momentum going
- (8) John Lucian Goins has two recent tour wins, but is still only the 8 seed
- Of note, Ben Johns is not playing singles, having just played in the MB Vietnam Cup on the PPA Tour Asia circuit
Kalshi Trading
Below is a list of ask price for each of the top players/partnerships to win on the Kalshi platform, as of 1pm EST, Monday, October 6.
- Federico Staksrud - 23 cents
- Hunter Johnson - 20 cents
- Christian Alshon- 18 cents
- Connor Garnett - 16 cents
Favorite Matchups
- Rd 64 - Eric Oncins v Grayson Goldin is an absolutely ridiculous first round matchup - this could easily be a quarterfinal match
- Rd 64 - I really hope James Ignatowich and Julian Arnold is streamed - This one will be entertaining
- Rd 64 - SoCal Hard Eights teammates Ryan Fu and Blaine Hovenier are going against each other in the first round
- Rd 16 - Federico Staksrud v Chris Haworth is a crazy matchup for Round of 16 - this could easily be a final
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Hunter Johnson, (4) Christian Alshon, (15) Chris Haworth, and (3) Connor Garnett
- Finals: Hunter beats Haworth in three
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Mixed Doubles
Top Storylines
- (1) Ben and Anna Leigh have won five straight mixed tournaments together
- (2) Jorja and JW Johnson just won the Vintage Open AND were the last duo to take down Anna Leigh and Ben - can they find that same magic in Virginia?
- (16) Alix and Jonathan Truong just took down the MB Vietnam Cup and could be dealing with some jet lag in their opening rounds
- (3) Anna Bright and CJ Klinger are partnering up for the first time and could definitely make some noise
Kalshi Trading
Below is a list of ask price for each of the top players/partnerships to win on the Kalshi platform, as of 1pm EST, Monday, October 6.
- Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns - 65 cents
- Jorja and JW Johnson - 34 cents
- Anna Bright/CJ Klinger - 7 cents
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, (7) Tina Pisnik/Andrei Daescu, (2) Jorja & JW Johnson, and (4) Parris Todd/Christian Alshon
- Finals: Anna Leigh and Ben beat Jorja and JW in four games
Women's Doubles
Top Storylines
- (1) Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters have lost back to back tournaments together after going undefeated for over 40 matches together - can they get back to their winning ways?
- (3) LA Mad Drops teammates, Jade Kawamoto and Catherine Parenteau are teaming up on the PPA Tour
- (15) California Black Bears teammates, Layne Sleeth and Lina Padigemaite are teaming up on the PPA Tour, but will likely face Bright and Waters in the Round of 16
Kalshi Trading
Below is a list of ask price for each of the top players/partnerships to win on the Kalshi platform, as of 1pm EST, Monday, October 6.
- Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters - 65 cents
- Parris Todd/Hurricane Tyra Black - 33 cents
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters, (3) Jade Kawamoto/Catherine Parenteau, (2) Jorja Johnson/Rachel Rohrabacher, and (4) Parris Todd/Hurricane Tyra Black
- Finals: Bright & Waters beat Todd and Black in four games
Men's Doubles
Top Storylines
- (1) Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio are clearly the class of this event and everyone is chasing them - the last time they lost was May 18th - nearly five months ago
- Despite being the 2 seed, Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud haven't won since last year's CIBC Finals in November
- (6) Eric Oncins just won two gold medals in Asia with Tyson McGuffin and Dylan Frazier just won gold with JW Johnson at the Vintage Open - both are playing extremely hot right now
Kalshi Trading
Below is a list of ask price for each of the top players/partnerships to win on the Kalshi platform, as of 1pm EST, Monday, October 6.
- Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns - 55 cents
- CJ Klinger/JW Johnson - 25 cents
- Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud - 25 cents
- Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu - 11 cents
Predictions
- Semifinalists: (1) Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns, (3) Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu, (2) Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud, and (4) CJ Klinger/JW Johnson
- Finals: Tardio and Johns beat Klinger and Johnson in three games
