A Day to Remember: Inside the Pickleball Central Indoor USA Championships Lakeville MN Open

Thomas Wilson and Vivienne David PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

At the Pickleball Central Indoor USA Championships in Lakeville, Minnesota, the finals were something else. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters did not compete in this tournament, so the field was wide open. In the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), an “Open” refers to a specific type of tournament within the PPA Tour where players compete for both prize money and points, influencing their rankings significantly, but not as much as Cups (worth 1500 points) or Slams (worth 2000 points).

Here is a Recap of each final from Championship Sunday.

Men’s Singles

Federico Staksrud PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Winner = Federico Staksrud

Federico Staksrud and Connor Garnett reminded us why we love sports. Before a high-stakes match against Jack Sock in Mesa, Federico Staksrud was spotted playing a few points with his fans, mere minutes before the game. It wasn’t for show or a scheduled PR stunt; it was Fed being Fed—generous, approachable, and genuinely in love with the game.

The championship match itself was super sun to watch, with Staksrud pulling off an awe-inspiring comeback that left me speechless.

Garnett, while not clinching the title, displayed a clear message: he’s here to stay.

Interviews

After the dust had settled on the court, Federico Staksrud and Connor Garnett shared their thoughts. Staksrud, in victory, remained gracious and full of praise for his opponent. “First of all, congrats to Connor. Great round for him… He hasn’t been playing for so much. What he has accomplished is a lot. He’s going to keep going and he’s going to get tired of winning championships.”

“I Just try to do the little things right… Try to eat good, try to train, try to put my mind positive.”

On a more personal note, Staksrud touched on the impact of his career on his family back home in Argentina, humorously noting the shift in their viewing habits: “They used to watch soccer. Now they watch pickleball.” Maybe pickleball really will end up in the olympics.

Connor Garnett PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Match Summary

Game 1

Federico took the lead initially, going up 2-0, but Connor then responded strongly, taking a lead of 3-2. The score was tied often (2-2, 3-3, and 4-4), and then Connor pulled away significantly after the score was tied at 4-4, scoring 6 consecutive points to make it 10-4.

A referee correction at 11-4, overturning a call, momentarily shifted momentum but Connor ultimately won the game 11-4.

Game 2

Federico started the second game stronger, scoring first, but it was a tightly contested start at 2 a piece. Federico then made a significant push, scoring consecutive points to lead 9-7.

Connor attempted to close the gap late in the game, bringing the score to 10-10, but Fed came out alive with the final two points to win 12-10.

Game 3

The third game saw Federico taking a substantial early lead, racing ahead to 6-2 and then extending it to 9-2. Connor struggled to make inroads into Federico’s lead. The game concluded 11-2 in favor of Federico.

Sheesh, look at Fed’s medal mountain…

• 2024 Mesa Arizona Cup (Mesa, AZ): Silver in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2024 Desert Ridge Open (Phoenix, AZ): Gold in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2024 PPA Hyundai Masters (Rancho Mirage, CA): Participated in Men’s Pro Doubles (Gold won by Ben Johns/Collin Johns) and Silver in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 PPA Championships (Las Vegas, NV): Participated in Men’s Pro Doubles (Gold won by Ben Johns/Collin Johns)
• 2023 Baird Cincinnati Open (Mason, OH): Gold in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 Vulcan Kansas City Open (Overland Park, KS): Bronze in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 Vulcan Tournament of Champions: Bronze in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 Takaya Showcase: Gold in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 Baird Seattle Open: Gold in Mixed Pro Doubles (with Pablo Tellez) and Gold in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 Denver Open: Gold in Mixed Pro Doubles (with Pablo Tellez)
• 2023 OS1st North Carolina Open: Bronze in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 OGIO Newport Beach Shootout: Silver in Men’s Pro Doubles (with Pablo Tellez)
• 2023 PPA Onix Austin Open: Gold in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 PPA Indoor National Championships: Gold in Mixed Pro Doubles (with Pablo Tellez)
• 2023 PPA Carvana Arizona Grand Slam: Bronze in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 PPA JW Marriott Desert Ridge Open: Gold in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2023 PPA Hyundai Masters: Gold in Men’s Pro Singles
• 2022 PPA Atlanta Open: Bronze in Men’s Pro Singles

Women’s Singles

Salome PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Winner = Salome Devidze

Devidze clinched her second career PPA gold in the women’s singles match against Parris Todd on Sunday. The final game, teetering on the edge of a nail-biting 9-9, saw Devidze summon her utmost focus to win over Todd. Gosh pickleball can be so unpredictable sometimes…

What sets this victory apart for Devidze is not just the win itself but the journey to it. After an 11-month gap between her last PPA gold and this one.

The match was a rollercoaster, with Devidze initially leading 8-1 in the final game, only for Todd to claw back, tying the game at 9-9. In those moments, the mental game becomes as crucial as physical. Devidze’s strategy to not overthink paid off.

Interviews

Devidze was asked what was going through her head when Parris was making a comeback and said, “Honestly, I was really relaxed at that point. I was like, well, the pressure is gone, 8-1 is gone. So I’m just gonna play my game.”

Parris Todd PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Match Summary

Game 1

The score staying close initially. Both Salome and Parris were defending well, leading to several side outs without point changes.

Salome Devidze finally managed to break the tie and take a lead, making the score 1-0. Parris Todd then took the lead, pushing the score to 3-1. Salome Devidze fought back, evening the score at 3-3. After a series of side outs and closely contested points, the score reached 5-5.

Parris managed to pull ahead to a 9-6 lead, necessitating a timeout by Devidze, which worked because Salome Devidze made a comeback, eventually winning the game 12-10. I would be so pissed if I were Parris.

Game 2

Parris came out with a vengeance in game two, building a 5-0 lead before Salome Devidze took a timeout.

Salome struggled to gain points early on, with Parris extending the lead to 7-0. Salome eventually broke through, scoring her first point of the game to make it 7-1, but Parris Todd quickly increased the lead again. The game ended with a 11-2 victory for Parris. This was a huge response to the first game and I thought for sure Parris would finish Salome in game 3, but game 1 came back to haunt Parris.

Game 3

Salome Devidze regained form at the start of the third game, quickly going up 4-0, prompting a timeout from Parris Todd. Salome now had a 6-0 lead! Parris began a comeback from 8-1, narrowing the gap to 9-9. I was rooting for Parris, I like underdogs. But, Salome Devidze bought the final points, winning the game 11-9. Better luck next time Parris.

Here are some of her successes from the last year

Salome Devidze:

2023

• Gold Medal at the 2023 Hertz Gold Cup in Daytona Beach, FL in Womens Pro Singles. Notable mention: “No ALW or Parenteau in Singles.”
• Silver Medal at the 2023 Vulcan Tournament of Champions in Brigham City, UT in Womens Pro Singles. Notable mention: “No ALW.”
• Bronze Medal at the 2023 OS1st North Carolina Open in Charlotte, NC in Womens Pro Singles.
• Silver Medal at the 2023 Selkirk Red Rock Open in St. George, UT in Womens Pro Singles. Notable mention: “no ALW.”
• Bronze Medal at the 2023 Red Clay Hot Sauce Florida Open in Daytona Beach, FL in Womens Pro Singles.
• Bronze Medal at the 2023 PPA Indoor National Championships in Lakeville, MN in Womens Pro Singles. Notable mention: “no ALW.”
• Bronze Medal at the 2023 PPA Carvana Arizona Grand Slam in Mesa, AZ in Womens Pro Singles.

Mixed Doubles

Wilson and David PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Winners = Thomas Wilson & Vivienne David

The two that everyone wanted to watch. Thomas Wilson and Vivienne David were exceptional at the USA Championships in Minnesota, bagging their first gold as a mixed doubles team. Honestly, it was something to see. Wilson, not a newbie to the winner’s circle, picked up his second gold of the day. His strategy? Simple: pick solid partners and ride the wave of fan support. It’s clear the dude knows what he’s doing on the court.

Wilson’s still juggling a full-time job and a new baby girl at home. Talk about multitasking! His workplace is all in on his pickleball adventures, which must be nice. Having a day job while competing? That’s not something you hear about every champion.

For everyone hitting the courts after this, Wilson and David’s gold is a reminder: find yourself a partner who believes in your game as much as you do. That’s the real secret sauce to winning.

Match Summary

Game 1

The match started with a tight contest, with the first game ending in a close score of 10-12, but Thomas and Vivienne took it. Several referee corrections occurred during the game, and there were a lot of contentious and unclear plays.

Game 2

Fed and Rachel were up, but a series of points were rattled off by Wilson and David, with alllll the momentum shifting in their favor. Notably, there was a run where they increased their lead from 4-3 to 9-3, a clean stretch for them.

Federico Staksrud and Rachel Rohrabacher called a timeout at 5-3, which didn’t change the game’s outcome, Wilson and David maintained control winning 11-6.

Game 3

Vivienne David took over with a lead early in the third game, pushing herself and Wilson to a BIG advantage, which ended with an 11-2 win. A timeout was called by Staksrud and Rohrabacher at 5-1, but it did little to stop the bleeding.

The sequence from 6-1 to 10-2 in favor of David and Wilson I think killed the spirits of Staksrud and Rohrabacher and prevented them from putting together any kind of comeback.

We’ve already mentioned what Thomas Wilson has done medal wise on the court, but if you haven’t heard of Vivienne David, then you don’t watch much pickleball… Don’t let her smile fool you.

Vivienne David:

2024

• Mixed Pro Doubles:
  • Mesa Arizona Cup: Silver with Thomas Wilson.

2023

• Mixed Pro Doubles:
  • Desert Ridge Open: Bronze with Thomas Wilson.
  • Hertz Gold Cup: Bronze with Thomas Wilson.
  • PPA Championships: Bronze with Thomas Wilson.
  • Carvana Arizona Grand Slam: Bronze with Thomas Wilson.
  • Hyundai Masters: Bronze with Thomas Wilson.
• Women’s Pro Doubles:
  • Baird Seattle Open: Silver with Jackie Kawamoto.
  • Denver Open: Silver with Lacy Schneemann.
  • Acrytech Atlanta Open: Silver with Jorja Johnson.
  • PPA Onix Austin Open: Silver with Meghan Dizon.
  • JW Marriott Desert Ridge Open: Bronze with Anna Bright.
  • Baird Cincinnati Open: Both Silver with Thomas Wilson and Bronze with Anna Bright/James Ignatowich indicating participation in the Mixed Pro Doubles category as well.

Mens Doubles

Christian Alshon PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Winners = Thomas Wilson and Christian Alshon

Thomas Wilson and Christian Alshon squared off against Connor Garnett and Tyler Loong in a game that was as much about mind games as it was about physical skill. Both pairs utilized timeouts, particularly when trying to disrupt the flow of the game or regain composure. However, Alshon and Wilson seemed to benefit more from these breaks. I don’t blame them for taking the timeouts though, I would have done the same thing if I were Garnett and Loong.

Interviews

Alshon’s win was especially significant, marking his first men’s doubles gold medal at the championships. In the interview afterwards, he had a heartfelt shoutout for his mom, “That’s for you, Mom.”

Wilson had a pragmatic take on their strategy, admitting, “I think we lost the driving crash battle. Fair and square.” It’s refreshing to see players acknowledge where they struggled, even in victory. I guess sportsmanship is still alive and well.

Thomas Wilson PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Match Summary

Game 1

The game began with both pairs exchanging points, but then Christian Alshon and Thomas Wilson make a significant run to extend their lead from 3-1 to a dominating 11-2 finish.

Game 2

The second game was more competitive, with scores tied multiple times, but despite the back-and-forth nature, Alshon and Wilson pull away after an 8-8 tie, closing the game at 12-10. It looked like Alshon and Wilson handled the pressure better at this moment.

Game 3

Alshon and Wilson quickly built a lead, but Garnett and Loong made a comeback, tying the game at 6 a piece. The game was tight the entire time, and honestly either team could have won, but Alshon and Wilson finished on top 11-9.

Game 4

Alshon and Wilson continue their trend of taking an early lead, pushing ahead to a 7-2 scoreline, but Garnett and Loong make another valiant effort to close the gap, managing to bring the game back to a more competitive state. I’ll give it to Garnett and Loong, they just would not give up… but Alshon and Wilson finished strong, winning the final game 11-2 and the match overall.

Here is a quick snapshot of past achievements for Thomas Wilson and Christian Alshon.

Thomas Wilson:

2024

• Bronze in the Men’s Pro Doubles at the Mesa Arizona Cup in Mesa, AZ, with Riley Newman.
• Silver in the Mixed Pro Doubles at the Mesa Arizona Cup in Mesa, AZ, with Vivienne David.

2023

• Bronze in the Mixed Pro Doubles at the Desert Ridge Open in Phoenix, AZ, with Vivienne David.
• Silver in the Men’s Pro Doubles at the PPA Hyundai Masters in Rancho Mirage, CA, with Riley Newman.
• Bronze in the Mixed Pro Doubles at the Hertz Gold Cup in Daytona Beach, FL, with Vivienne David.
• Bronze in the Mixed Pro Doubles at the PPA Championships in Las Vegas, NV, with Vivienne David.
• Silver in the Mixed Pro Doubles at the Baird Cincinnati Open in Mason, OH, with Vivienne David.
• Bronze in the Men’s Pro Doubles at the Takaya Showcase in Fountain Valley, CA, with Julian Arnold.
• Silver in the Men’s Pro Doubles at the Red Clay Hot Sauce Florida Open in Daytona Beach, FL, with Julian Arnold.
• Bronze in the Mixed Pro Doubles at the PPA Carvana Arizona Grand Slam in Mesa, AZ, with Vivienne David.
• Bronze in the Mixed Pro Doubles at the PPA Hyundai Masters in Rancho Mirage, CA, with Vivienne David.

Christian Alshon:

2023

• Silver in Men’s Pro Doubles at the 2023 Hertz Gold Cup (Daytona Beach, FL).
• Bronze in Men’s Pro Doubles at the 2023 Vulcan Tournament of Champions (Brigham City, UT).
• Silver in Men’s Pro Singles at the 2023 Denver Open (Denver, CO).
• Bronze in Men’s Pro Singles at the 2023 OS1st North Carolina Open (Charlotte, NC).
• Bronze in Men’s Pro Singles at the 2023 PPA Onix Austin Open (Austin, TX).

Women’s Doubles

Lucy PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Winners = Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright

Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright really showed everyone how it’s done this Championship Sunday against Callie Smith and Lucy Kovalova. They had a game plan that was all about mixing things up—throwing high shots to mess with court positioning and sneaking in those poaches when the other team least expected it.

What stood out was their ability to keep the defending champs guessing and struggling to keep up. Anna’s serves were on point, and Rachel’s cross-court shots were just brutal. Whenever Callie Smith and her partner tried to get something going, Rachel and Anna had an answer, keeping the pressure cranked up high.

But it wasn’t a walk in the park. There were moments, especially for Smith, where the pressure from Anna and Rachel’s constant attack made things really tough. Despite their efforts to shake things up, they couldn’t find a way around the solid teamwork and strategy Rachel and Anna brought to the table.

Ending up with their first PPA gold together was huge for Rachel and Anna, you could see this win meant a lot to them.

Callie PPA 2024 (Picture Kerry Pittenger)

Match Summary

Game 1

Rachel Rohrabacher and her partner Anna Bright took an early lead, scoring the first two points (2-0), but the score was tied at various points early on, 2-2, 3-3.

After a tied score of 3-3, Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright managed to pull away, taking a significant lead to make it 6-3.

Lucia Kovalova and Callie Smith called a timeout at 8-4, they were trying to disrupt the momentum… However, Rohrabacher and Bright extended their lead further after the time-out and closed the game on a strong note, winning with a final score of 11-6.

Game 2

Rohrabacher and Bright took an early and dominant lead, scoring five consecutive points before Kovalova and Smith scored their first point.

Kovalova and Smith took a timeout early in the game at 5-0, an obvious attempt to regroup… But Rohrabacher and Bright steadily were increasing their lead with minimal scoring from Kovalova and Smith.

The game ended with an 11-5 victory for Rohrabacher and Bright.

Game 3

The final game saw an overwhelming performance by Rohrabacher and Bright, with an almost uninterrupted scoring streak to lead 5-0, similar to the start of the second game.

Kovalova and Smith employed time-outs yet again (e.g., at 5-0 and later at 7-1), but they couldn’t stop Rohrabacher’s rhythm. They struggled significantly in this game, only managing to score 1 point. The game and match concluded with an 11-1 win for Rohrabacher and Bright.

If you didn’t get the chance to watch them on Sunday, don’t worry, I can promise you we will see more of them this year. That partnership is not going anywhere.

Here is a look at what Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright have already accomplished over the last few years. Remember, Rachel is coming from tennis and just started playing pickleball.

Rachel Rohrabacher:

2024

• Bronze medal in the Women’s Pro Doubles at the Desert Ridge Open
• Silver medal in the Womens Pro Doubles at the PPA Hyundai Masters

Anna Bright:

2024

• Silver at the 2024 Desert Ridge Open in Phoenix, AZ with James Ignatowich.
• Bronze at the 2024 Desert Ridge Open in Phoenix, AZ with Rachel Rohrabacher.
• Silver at the 2024 PPA Hyundai Masters in Rancho Mirage, CA with James Ignatowich.
• Silver at the 2024 PPA Hyundai Masters in Rancho Mirage, CA with Rachel Rohrabacher.

2023

• Silver at the 2023 PPA Championships in Las Vegas, NV with James Ignatowich.
• Gold at the 2023 Baird Cincinnati Open in Cincinnati, OH with Lucy Kovalova.
• Bronze at the 2023 Vulcan Kansas City Open in Kansas City, MO with Catherine Parenteau.
• Silver at the 2023 Vulcan Tournament of Champions in Brigham City, UT with Jessie Irvine.
• Bronze at the 2023 Takaya Showcase in Newport Beach, CA with Parris Todd.
• Silver at the 2023 Baird Seattle Open in Seattle, WA with Jessie Irvine.
• Gold at the 2023 Denver Open in Denver, CO with Jessie Irvine.
• Bronze at the 2023 Orange County Cup in San Clemente, CA with Catherine Parenteau.
• Gold at the 2023 Selkirk Texas Open in Austin, TX with Lucy Kovalova.
• Silver at the 2023 Acrytech Atlanta Open in Atlanta, GA with Jessie Irvine.
• Bronze at the 2023 OGIO Newport Beach Shootout in Newport Beach, CA with Jessie Irvine.
• Silver at the 2023 Selkirk Red Rock Open in St. George, UT with Jessie Irvine.
• Bronze at the 2023 PPA Onix Austin Open in Austin, TX with Catherine Parenteau.
• Gold at the 2023 PPA Carvana Arizona Grand Slam in Mesa, AZ with Jessie Irvine.
• Silver at the 2023 PPA JW Marriott Desert Ridge Open in Phoenix, AZ with Jessie Irvine.
• Gold at the 2023 PPA Hyundai Masters in Rancho Mirage, CA with Jessie Irvine.

In Lakeville, Minnesota, the finals were nothing short of unpredictable with Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters sitting this one out, the competition really was wide open, leading to some unusual outcomes, for once! Federico Staksrud’s jaw-dropping comeback and Salome Devidze’s clutch win in the women’s singles will be all the talk this week. And Thomas Wilson & Vivienne David’s victory in mixed doubles is a perfect example of what a partnership should look like.

What’s next? PPA 2024 Austin Showdown March 17th. See you there. Follow us on twitter for updates.