Opportunity Knocks at the Veolia Houston Open With Some Big Names Sitting Out

The Veolia Houston Open kicks off Wednesday at Life Time Pickleball in Atascocita, Texas. This is the second of four back-to-back tour stops in April on the PPA Tour.

As an open, this tournament is worth 1,000 PPA Points and has a "traditional draw" instead of the "progressive draw."

How to Watch

• Thursday, April 11 - Championship Court Singles - Noon-8pm - PickleballTV/Prime Video
• Thursday, April 11 - Grandstand Singles - Noon-6pm - PPA YouTube
• Friday, April 12 - Championship Court Mixed Doubles - Noon-8pm - PickleballTV/Prime Video
• Friday, April 12 - Grandstand Mixed Doubles - Noon-6pm - PPA YouTube
• Saturday, April 13 - Championship Court Gender Doubles - Noon-8pm - PickleballTV/Prime Video
• Saturday, April 13 - Grandstand Gender Doubles - Noon-6pm - PPA YouTube
• Sunday, April 14 - Championships - Noon-8pm - PickleballTV/Prime Video
• Sunday, April 14 - Championships - Noon-4pm - Tennis Channel
• Sunday, April 14 - Bronze Matches - 11am-3pm - PPA YouTube
  

Notable players not playing this week

Since this is an Open level event and the second of four back-to-back tournaments, some top players are taking this tournament off. Here are some names who are not playing in Houston:

• Anna Leigh Waters
• Catherine Parenteau
• Brooke Buckner
• Jack Sock
• Riley Newman
• Tyson McGuffin
• JW Johnson

Women’s Singles

Click here to get the full draw from the PPA Tour (PDF format)

Interesting Facts/Matchups

• Mary Brascia is the No. 1 seed without ALW or Catherine competing.
• Christine Maddox is the No. 14 seed and she hasn’t played on tour in the last month.
• Dominique Schaefer is the No. 5 seed even though she hasn’t made a quarterfinals this year - is this the event where Schaefer makes a run?
• If they make it to the quarterfinals, new MLP teammates Lacy Schneemann and Kaitlyn Christian will play each other for the first time.

Predictions

• Semifinalists: Mary Brascia (1), Kaitlyn Christian (7), Lea Jansen (2), and Lina Padegimaite (3)
• Gold: Lea Jansen gets her first win on tour this year in singles over Kaitlyn Christian

Men’s Singles

Click here to get the full draw from the PPA Tour (PDF format)

Interesting Facts/Matchups

• I really think the PPA should make some seeding exceptions from time to time - Hunter and Yates Johnson shouldn’t be 30-something seeds.
• Travis Rettenmaier is playing a singles event in a traditional draw - hopefully he is fully healthy.
• Rafa Hewitt is the No. 15 seed, but hasn’t made it past the Round of 16 this year - is Houston the place? Doubtful because he will probably face Federico Staksrud.

Predictions

• Semifinalists: Ben Johns (1), Federico Staksrud (2), Connor Garnett (3), and Christian Alshon (4) - Straight Chalk
• Gold: Federico beats Christian Alshon (who upsets Ben) in the gold medal match
  

Women’s Doubles

Click here to get the full draw from the PPA Tour (PDF format)

Interesting Facts/Matchups

• Can Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright bounce back after a not-so-great event in North Carolina?
• Lea Jansen and Tina Pisnik are the No. 8 seed and this is their first time playing together.
• Callie and Lucy are back together; they are the No. 2 seed

Predictions

• Semifinalists: Bright/Rohrabacher (1), Jansen/Pisnik (8), Todd/Black (9), David/Jackie Kawamoto (4)
• Gold: Bright/Rohrabacher beat Todd/Black to win gold

Men’s Doubles

Click here to get the full draw from the PPA Tour (PDF format)

Interesting Facts/Matchups

• Tyler Loong and Christian Alshon are pairing up, making them the most athletic team in this draw.
• Rafa Hewitt and Will Howells are paired up together for the first time as the No. 13 seed.
• CJ Klinger and Jaume Martinez Vich do not get a first round bye and have to play one of the pro qualifiers - this off of his second place finish in North Carolina.

Predictions

• Semifinalists: Johns/Johns (1), Wilson/Bar (5), (2) Wright/Ignatowich, and Staksrud/Tellez (3)
• Gold: The Johns beat Wright and Ignatowich to win another gold

Mixed Doubles

Click here to get the full draw from the PPA Tour (PDF format)

Interesting Facts/Matchups

• Ignatowich and Bright have the No. 1 overall seed, even after their loss to Maggie Brascia and Todd Fought in North Carolina.
• With ALW out, Ben picked up Etta Wright; they are the No. 2 seed.
• Jaume Martinez Vich and Mary Brascia don’t get a bye and have to play a qualifier as the No. 19 seed.

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (7) Jansen/Patriquin, Rohrabacher/Staksrud (8), Johns/Wright (2), and Frazier/Black (6)
• Gold: Ben Johns and Etta Wright beat Lea Jansen and Hayden Patriquin in the finals