PPA Rate Vegas Cup Tournament Preview

The last PPA Tour event before World’s is taking place in Las Vegas this weekend at the iconic Darling Tennis Center. The PPA Rate Vegas Cup is going to take over the venue starting Monday, where qualifiers will be competing for main draw bids.

1,500 PPA Points are on the line this week for the winners, as this is a Cup level event. Just as important, gaining momentum headed into Worlds, which is worth 3,000 PPA Points, is huge.

How to Watch the PPA Rate Vegas Cup

Tuesday, October 21 - Round of 64

• 1pm - 9pm ET - Pickleballtv

Wednesday, October 22 - Round of 32

• 1pm - 9pm ET - Pickleballtv

Thursday, October 23 - Round of 16

• 1pm - 9pm ET - Pickleballtv

Friday, October 24 - Quarterfinals

• 1pm - 9pm ET - Pickleballtv

Saturday, October 25 - Semifinals

• 1pm - 9pm ET - Pickleballtv
• 1pm - 4pm ET - TennisChannel

Sunday, October 26 - Championship Sunday

• 1pm - 5pm ET - Pickleballtv
• 1pm - 4pm ET - TennisChannel
• 5pm - 7pm ET - ESPN2

PPA Tour

Weather Outlook

The Las Vegas desert is looking to have pristine pickleball weather. Sunny skies with a few clouds mixed in, highs in the low 80’s and zero rain in the forecast? It looks like lady luck is on the PPA Tour’s side this week in Vegas in terms of weather.

Let’s get into the action.

Women’s Singles

Top Storylines

• Anna Leigh Waters hasn’t lost in over 500 days in singles, and she especially plays well in Cups and Slams - the #1 seed is the heavy favorite
• Kate Fahey is the #2 seed, and she hasn’t played pickleball in over three weeks, since she got married recently - this is her first tournament back after winning the PPA Vintage Sacramento Open
• The #3, #4, and #5 seeds (Kaitlyn Christian, Parris Todd, and Lea Jansen) all just played into Sunday at the Life Time Open - does the quick turnaround get one of them knocked out early?

Fun Matchups to Watch

• Round of 32 - (15) Lara Giltinan v (23) Samantha Parker
• Round of 16 - (11) Genie Bouchard v (7) Catherine Parenteau 
• Round of 16 - (6) Brooke Buckner v (10) Judit Castillo

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters, (3) Kaitlyn Christian, (2) Kate Fahey, and (4) Parris Todd - Straight Chalk
• Finals: Anna Leigh beats Kate Fahey in three games to take the title

Men's Singles

Top Storylines

• It has been over four months since Hunter Johnson won a PPA Tour event - can the #1 seed get the win this time?
• #2 Federico Staksrud won the wooden paddle tournament and then played Haworth close in the Life Time Open - can he keep the momentum going?
• Speaking of, Haworth has moved up to the #12 seed, and should be a top 10 seed for Worlds in a couple weeks, with his recent Cup win
• The bottom left of this bracket has four previous PPA Tour winners in Alshon, Bellamy, Ben Johns, and Gabe Joseph

Fun Matchups to Watch

• Round of 64 - (58) Armaan Bhatia v (6) Jack Sock - how in the world can this be a Round of 64 matchup?
• Round of 32 - (25) Grayson Goldin v (7) Ben Johns

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (12) Chris Haworth, (7) Ben Johns, (6) Jack Sock, and (4) Connor Garnett
• Finals: Haworth wins the title over Jack Sock in two

Mixed Doubles

Top Storylines

• Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns haven’t lost in over five months and they are heavy favorites
• Anna Bright continues her quest to find a solidified mixed doubles partner heading into 2026, and she is playing this one with her St. Louis Shock teammate, Hayden Patriquin and they are the #3 seed
• I don’t see Parris Todd in the mixed doubles draw - she may be taking this one off
• Eric Oncins is partnering up with Catherine Parenteau and they are the #9 seed

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, (3) Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin, (2) Jorja and JW Johnson, and (4) Hurricane Tyra Black/Christian Alshon - Straight Chalk
• Finals: Anna Leigh and Ben beat Alshon and Tyra in three in the finals

Women’s Doubles

Top Storylines

• ‘The Annas’ got back to their winning ways in Virginia Beach and looked unstoppable again together
• #3 Parris Todd and Hurricane Tyra Black made it to the semis in Virginia Beach, but had to withdraw due to a foot injury to Parris - she is moving much better now
• #2 Jorja Johnson and Rachel Rohrabacher are teaming up again and they just got silver in Virginia Beach

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters, (12) Milly Rane/Lea Jansen, (2) Jorja Johnson/Rachel Rohrabacher, and (3) Parris Todd/Hurricane Tyra Black
• Finals: The Annas beat Parris and Tyra in four games

Men’s Doubles

Top Storylines

• #1 Ben and Gabe have won five straight and everyone else is chasing them
• Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu have overtaken #3 Hayden and Fed for the #2 seed
• JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier are back together again after winning the wooden paddle tournament about a month ago
• #10 Hovenier and Ignatowitch is a fun pairing to keep your eye on

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns, (3) Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud, (2) Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu, and (4) Dylan Frazier/JW Johnson - Straight Chalk
• Finals: Gabe and Ben beat Dylan and JW Johnson in four games