OVERALL TOP 5:
- NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Fox national broadcast on Sunday June 2nd from 1:30-3:30 Central – earlier this year on Fox at Mesa, over a half million people watched the PPA broadcast.
- THE BIG MAN: John Isner, the superstar from tennis, will be playing pro doubles with Wyatt Stone.
- 1 VS 2: Staksrud took the #1 singles ranking from Ben Johns but held it for just one week, can he grab it back?
- DOUBLE TRIPLE DOUBLE?: Waters and Johns both won triple crowns at the Texas Open in ’23.
- OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Traditional format: singles Thursday, mixed Friday, women’s and men’s doubles Saturday, then Championship Sunday.
VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:
- Event #11 of the year – an Open, with 1000 points up for grabs.
- Oasis Pickleball Club in Rockwall, TX will host the tourney, with 1,191 players participating across pro and amateur divisions.
- Broadcast start times are 11am Central Thursday through Sunday.
- Beyond Fox National on Sunday, Doubles Saturday coverage includes a 2-hour block on FS1 from 1pm to 3pm Central.
- Coverage on PickleballTV all week long (Prime Video, Roku Channel 229, Samsung TV Plus 1184, and many more).
WOMEN’S SINGLES:
- Defending medalists: Waters, Jansen, bronze not played
- Anna Leigh Waters (1) undefeated in singles in 2024 and the defending champ.
- Parris Todd NOT in the singles draw after a terrific run in Atlanta.
- Catherine Parenteau (2) just 2 silvers, 1 bronze, no golds so far in 2024.
- WATCH OUT FOR: Samantha Parker (15) – she made the final in Houston and is playing in her home city, how far can she go?
MEN’S SINGLES:
- Defending medalists: Johns, Martinez Vich, McGuffin
- Johns (1) 4-0 vs. Fed (2) in finals in 2024.
- Fed is looking for 11 straight Championship Sundays.
- 1st round popcorn match: Tardio (18) vs. Ignatowich (47) – yes playing singles.
- WATCH OUT FOR: Quang Duong (8) is always a major factor in singles, is this the week he takes his first PPA title?
MIXED DOUBLES:
- Defending medalists: Waters/Johns, Newman/Newman, not played
- No Jack Sock in Texas so Parenteau paired with Tyler Loong (13)
- Bright/McGuffin (3) – will the last-minute pairing deliver results?
- WATCH OUT FOR: Wright/Alshon (6) – so much talent but in the Waters/Johns quarter.
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
- Defending medalists: Waters/Parenteau, Dizon/Wright, Bright/Schneemann
- Bright paired with MLP partner Kate Fahey as the 4 seed – Rohrabacher not playing the event.
- Lucy Kovalova and Callie Smith (3), running it back after some time playing with other partners.
- WATCH OUT FOR: Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black (8) – can the MLP partners for the Dallas Flash represent for their team’s city?
MEN’S DOUBLES:
- Defending medalists: Johns/Johns, Frazier/Johnson, Newman/Wright
- Johns brothers (1) lost their last 2 matches (semis and bronze in ATL)
- Wright/Bar (4) – played just once before when they got bronze in Newport in 2021.
- Isner/Stone (19) – how will the tennis star Isner hold up on the 20X44?
- WATCH OUT FOR: Frazier and Johnson (2) – winners of 2 straight PPA titles, looking to 3-peat.
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