A Semifinal Saturday Preview - PPA LAPIPLASTY World Championships

The biggest tournament ever has lived up to the hype. Despite some torrential rain downpours, the PPA LAPIPLASTY World Championships have provided a ton of drama, thus far. 

There are five pro events being played, much like any other tournament, women’s singles, men’s singles, mixed doubles, women’s doubles, and men’s doubles. Each discipline has two matches today, for a total of ten matches to determine who is playing on Championship Sunday for Gold.

Because this is such a big tournament, I thought a quick guide to each of the matchups might be fun for people to follow along. This guide will be especially helpful if you weren’t able to watch much during the week.

NOTE: Three players have a chance at the triple crown, going into the semifinals:

• Anna Leigh Waters
• Federico Staksrud
• Quang Duong

Order of Play

*ALL matches are being played on Championship Court today on PickleballTV

Let’s Get Into the Action

Women’s Singles

Semifinal #1: Noon ET - 1 Anna Leigh Waters v 4 Catherine Parenteau

Semifinal #2: ~1:30 ET - 5 Salome Devidze v 9 Kate Fahey

How they each got here

• 9 Kate Fahey had to beat 8 Parris Todd and 3 Lea Jansen in 3 games and Kate won both matches by two points in the third game - I think this is the definition of being “clutch”
• Anna Leigh has cruised to the semis, going a combined 66-13, never dropping a game
• Salome had a fairly easy path to the finals, with Sam Parker beating Brooke Buckner. Devidze has handled her competition, though, winning 66-24 and never dropping a game.
• Catherine had a VERY difficult matchup against 6 Kaitlyn Christian in the quarters, somehow finding a victory, winning 12-10, 13-11.

The Matchups

Semifinal #1: Noon ET - 1 Anna Leigh Waters v 4 Catherine Parenteau

Usually Anna Leigh and Catherine are playing each other on Championship Sunday, because Catherine has historically been the 2 seed all throughout 2024. However, since she has slipped a little in 2024, she lost the 2 seed at this tournament, dropping to the 4 seed.

Tice’s Take: Anna Leigh looks like an unstoppable machine right now and has to be favored heavily in this matchup. Catherine is going to have to return the serve middle and cut off Anna Leigh’s angles on her thirds in order to have any real shot. As soon as Catherine returns out wide in either wing, it just gives Anna Leigh too many angled options.

Prediction: Anna Leigh wins this won in two, 11-7, 11-4

Semifinal #2: ~1:30 ET - 5 Salome Devidze v 9 Kate Fahey

Salome and Kate have similar play styles: they both play heavily from the baseline and hit hard, exact, ground strokes to the other opponent’s baseline. Kate is obviously a much better mover, but Salome’s precision is elite. 

Tice’s Take: I think this one comes down to Kate’s ability to get to the net a little more often than she normally does. If she can choose the right times to come in and put pressure on Salome, I think she wins this one.

Prediction: Kate wins this one in a tough battle, 11-8, 11-8.

Men’s Singles

Semifinal #1: ~12:45 ET - 5 Quang Duong v 21 Michael Loyd

Semifinal #2: ~1:30 ET - 1 Federico Staksrud v 8 Hunter Johnson

How they each got here

• Federico had to beat Ross Whittaker, Noe Khlif, and Jaume Martinez Vich, in order to make the semis. Khlif was the only one of his three opponents to take a game off him.
• Hunter had the easiest trip to the semis, with Roscoe Bellamy withdrawing in the Rd of 16. He also beat Connor Garnett for the third straight time in the Rd of 16.
• Quang just keeps winning - the Gold Medalist from PPA Rate Championships beat Zane Navratil, Grayson Goldin, and Tyson McGuffin, to make the semis.
• Loyd is having his second Cinderella story this year, making it to the semis for the second time. He beat a very good 37 seed in Max Green and then followed that up with a win against Ben Johns and then JW Johnson.

The Matchups

Semifinal #1: ~12:45 ET - 5 Quang Duong v 21 Michael Loyd

Loyd is going to make the Top 20 year end list with this performance, which is great for seeding headed into 2025. 

The last time these two played was in PPA Rate Championships in Vegas, in the semifinals as well. The score? 11-2, 11-2, in favor of Quang Duong.

Tice’s Take: Both players have similar game styles - serve huge and drive everything. I would put both serves in the top ten on the tour, in terms of power and spin. Loyd may have a slight edge in terms of ground covered at the net, but Quang has the edge in almost everything else. Loyd is going to have to play a near perfect game to beat Quang.

Prediction: Quang wins this one 11-4, 11-6.

Semifinal #2: ~1:30 ET - 1 Federico Staksrud v 8 Hunter Johnson

Fed has been unbelievably consistent this year. Federico’s worst finish on the year is 4th. Let that sink in. With this semifinal run, Hunter has solidified his spot in the Top 8 and entry into the CIBC Finals next month.

Tice’s Take: This is the tale of two contrasting styles of play. Fed much prefers the cat and mouse style of play, while Hunter is more of a hybrid/power player in singles. Hunter will be looking to pass Fed, while Fed will be happy to bring Hunter to the kitchen line. This one will come down to who can impose their game plan on the other player more.

Prediction: Federico takes this one, 11-5, 11-8.

Mixed Doubles

Semifinal #1: 3 ET - 1 Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns v 4 Anna Bright/Quang Duong

Semifinal #2: ~3:45 ET - 5 Etta Wright/Christian Alshon v 8 Rachel Rohrabacher/Fed Staksrud

How they each got here

• Ben and Anna Leigh have won 66-25, and have not dropped a game thus far. Even against their toughest opponent, Riley and Catherine, they won 2 & 8.
• Anna and Quang haven’t lost a game and beat Tina and Dekel in the quarters, 8 & 7.
• Rachel and Fed have had the toughest route to the semis. They beat Rafa and Kate Fahey, 6 & 5. Then they beat Alix Truong/Connor Garnett, 8 & 1. In the quarters, they beat JW and Jorja Johnson handedly, 8 & 5.
• Christian and Etta were the closest to missing the semis. In fact, they almost missed the quarterfinals, because they played Hayden and Jessie in the Rd of 16. They won that one, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9. In the quarters, they beat Noe Khlif and Lea Jansen in two games.

The Matchups

Semifinal #1: 3 ET - 1 Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns v 4 Anna Bright/Quang Duong

If this isn’t the semifinal you are most excited for, I don’t know which one it is. This is going to be a battle of two styles. Ben and Anna Leigh like to slow things down against bangers, and Quang Duong doesn’t slow things down. Ever. 

Tice’s Take: Quang is going to miss and he is also going to make some amazing shots. He is going to speed up stuff he probably shouldn’t and is going to get Anna caught in some bad spots. He is also going to his some clean winners - this is expected and is fine, if he can limit his errors. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one go three games.

Prediction: Ben and Anna Leigh win this one 11-7, 8-11, 11-4.

Semifinal #2: ~3:45 ET - 5 Etta Wright/Christian Alshon v 8 Rachel Rohrabacher/Fed Staksrud

Before this tournament started, Rohrabacher was in 9th in The Race for the Finals in women’s mixed doubles. She owes Etta and Christian a small thank you for knocking Jessie out in the Rd of 16. Now she wants to get this one to build a lead going into the last event of the year. A chance at gold would be awesome for Rachel and Fed, who have played well, but only have one medal on the year.

Tice’s Take: In my mind, this one comes down to which woman can throw the opposing guy off their game more. Can Rachel disrupt Christian by going behind him and speeding up at the right moments? Or will Etta use that super dangerous forehand to find the holes? 

Prediction: Christian and Etta take this one in two games, 11-8, 11-5.

Women’s Doubles

Semifinal #1: ~5:15 ET - 2 Rachel Rohrabacher/Anna Bright v 7 Allyce Jones/Hurricane Tyra Black

Semifinal #2: 6 ET - 1 Catherine Parenteau/Anna Leigh Waters v 5 Lea Jansen/Tina Pisnik

How they each got here

• Anna and Rachel weren’t contested a ton, but Lina Padegimaite and Layne Sleeth got the second game to 12-10, almost pushing for a third.
• Tyra and Allyce have to VERY good wins on the way to the semis. First, they beat Zoey Wang and Brooke Buckner in the Rd of 16, 3 & 4. Yesterday, they upset Dizon/Wright, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7.
• Lea and Tina have won all six games they have played. They beat the Brascia sisters, 9 & 8. Yesterday, they beat Callie and Lucy, 9 & 4.
• Anna Leigh and Catherine haven’t had any problems headed into the semis. They got a withdrawal from a qualifier in the Rd of 32, so didn’t play until Thursday. They are a combined 44-9 over their two opponents.

The Matchups

Semifinal #1: ~5:15 ET - 2 Rachel Rohrabacher/Anna Bright v 7 Allyce Jones/Hurricane Tyra Black

Tyra is playing some amazing offensive pickleball right now. Allyce and Tyra are easily a top 3 defensive team in women’s doubles. Rachel and Anna are itching to get back to the finals to see if they can exact some revenge for that epic 5 game loss to Anna Leigh and Catherine in Las Vegas.

Tice’s Take: I think this one comes down to Tyra. Can Anna and Rachel ice her out enough to either make Allyce make mistakes or speed up at her? If “the girlies” can keep the ball away from Tyra, they win this one.

Prediction: I think this is kind of a walk in the park for AB and Rachel, winning 11-4, 11-3.

Semifinal #2: 6 ET - 1 Catherine Parenteau/Anna Leigh Waters v 5 Lea Jansen/Tina Pisnik

Lea and Tina have won gold this year, in the PPA Red Rock Open. Catherine and Anna Leigh skipped that one. Catherine and Anna Leigh are looking like a machine right now, cutting down everyone in their path.

Tice’s Take: I am finding it difficult to come up with a strategy for Tina and Lea to win this one. I think they need to get to the line and pick on Catherine, especially when she is on the left. Icing Anna Leigh out for a while will make her antsy and maybe take some bad shots. All signs are pointing to a win for the 1 seed.

Prediction: Anna Leigh and Catherine win, 11-3, 11-7.

Men’s Doubles

Semifinal #1: 4:30 ET - 4 Dekel Bar/Pablo Tellez v 14 CJ Klinger/Quang Duong

Semifinal #2: 6:45 ET - 3 Matt Wright/Federico Staksrud v 7 Hayden Patriquin/Riley Newman

How they each got here

• Dekel and Pablo won a tight match against Tyson and Jaume Martinez Vich in the Rd of 16, 6-11, 11-4, 11-3. 
• CJ and Quang had the toughest road on the way to the semis. Their three opponents were Daniel De La Rosa/Martin Emmrich, the Johns brothers, and Christian Alshon/James Ignatowich, in that order. The only team to win a game off of them? Emmrich and De La Rosa.
• Matt and Fed had the most controversial entrance into the semis, with a crazy referee foot fault situation yesterday. They narrowly beat Travis and Zane in the quarters, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9.
• Riley and Hayden also had a tough path to the semis. They beat Grayson Goldin and Chris Haworth in three, beat Connor Garnett and Tyler Loong, 6 & 7, and yesterday beat JW and Dylan, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3.

The Matchups

Semifinal #1: 4:30 ET - 4 Dekel Bar/Pablo Tellez v 14 CJ Klinger/Quang Duong

This is so interesting, as Dekel and Quang just faced off against one another in the first round of the MLP Playoffs, and they faced each other yesterday in mixed doubles. I am confident Dekel is tired of playing Quang. 

Tice’s Take: I think this one comes down to the Dekel and Pablo fourth shot volleys. I know that is a crazy take on a match, but I believe it. Quang is going to drive any third or fifth shot he can get. If Dekel and Pablo don’t punish those shots, I think they are toast.

Prediction: CJ and Quang are just too much and Pablo makes a few too many unforced errors. CJ and QD win 11-7, 11-9.

Semifinal #2: 6:45 ET - 3 Matt Wright/Federico Staksrud v 7 Hayden Patriquin/Riley Newman

This is the other extremely intriguing matchup of the day for me. Matt and Fed had their controversial call late in game three yesterday, that took over 20 minutes to figure out. There is plenty of history here, as Fed and Hayden have won gold together on tour this year and Riley and Matt played together as partners for well over a year, before Riley dropped Matt last year.

Tice’s Take: I love that we will have Riley and Matt across the net from each other. I think this comes down to execution and who pulls the trigger when they should. I think Hayden is going to own the hands battle between him and Fed, so Fed either needs to disguise his speedups well, or finish off Matt’s speedups. 

Prediction: I think this one for sure goes to three games and Riley and Hayden pull it out, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5.