PPA Veolia Lakeland Open Tournament Preview

It feels like ages since the last Open level event on the PPA Tour, but that is exactly what is being played now. The tournament starts Wednesday, November 19 and runs through Sunday, November 23.

The Beerman Family Tennis Center is hosting the event, which is a public court in the city of Lakeland, Florida. Lakeland is nearer to the west coast of Florida, between Orlando and Tampa, but still just a 3.5 hour drive for many of the PPA pros, who live in the greater Miami area.

Since this is an Open event, 1,000 PPA Points are on the line for the winners. This is a “hybrid” event, meaning it is a cross between a regular draw and a progressive draw. On Wednesday, singles are played through the quarterfinals. On Thursday, the same goes for mixed doubles, and then Friday is gender doubles. Saturday is Semifinal Saturday in all events, and then of course, there will be Championship Sunday.

How to Watch the PPA Lakeland Open

Wednesday, November 19 - Singles

• 11am - 7pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
• 11am - 7pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Thursday, November 20 - Mixed Doubles

• 11am - 7pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
• 11am - 7pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Friday, November 21 - Gender Doubles

• 11am - 7pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
• 11am - 7pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Saturday, November 22 - Semifinal Saturday

• 11am - 7pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
• Noon - 4pm - Tennis Channel

Sunday, November 23 - Championship Sunday

• 11am - 7pm ET - Championship Court - pickleballtv
• 11am - 7pm ET - Grandstand Court - pickleballtv

Weather Outlook

Weather is looking picture-perfect for pickleball in Lakeland. Mid 80s all week, with partly cloudy skies and very little chance of rain. The LifeTime LT Pro 48 ball should not be affected much by the conditions.

Let’s get into the action.

Women’s Singles 

PPA Tour

Top Storylines

• 538 - The number of days since Anna Leigh Waters lost in singles - she lost to Salome Devidze last, who she may play in the Round of 16
• Kaitlyn Christian is taking this tournament off, but the rest of the top 10 players are in the field

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters, (4) Brooke Buckner, (2) Kate Fahey, and (3) Parris Todd
• Finals: Anna Leigh beats Parris in the finals in two

Men’s Singles

PPA Tour

Top Storylines

• Fed is back on top! He is the #1 seed, after Hunter Johnson took it away from him about six months ago - Fed is only 200 points ahead, so he needs a good run in Lakeland to keep that #1 seed
• The matchup I am looking forward to most is in the quarterfinals - Christian Alshon vs. Chris Haworth
• Five early withdrawals from singles started the tournament off, and Ben Johns was one of them:

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Federico Staksrud, (3) Connor Garnett, (7) Jack Sock, and (6) Chris Haworth
• Finals: Haworth takes Fed down to earn another title in 2025

Mixed Doubles

PPA Tour

Top Storylines

• With Hayden Patriquin out, Anna Bright is playing this one with Eric Oncins, and they are the 4 seed - I expect them to go far in the draw
• (7) Catherine Parenteau and Riley Newman have been playing well, as of late, but will run into Ben and Anna Leigh in the quarters, if they both make it that far
• (6) Rachel Rohrabacher and Andrei Daescu are running it back, and are a very dynamic duo - they could face Alshon and Tyra in the quarters

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, (4) Anna Bright/Eric Oncins, (2) Jorja and JW Johnson, and (6) Rachel Rohrabacher/Andrei Daescu
• Finals: Anna Leigh and Ben beat the Johnsons in three

Women’s Doubles

PPA Tour

Top Storylines

• (4) Catherine Parenteau and Etta Tuionetoa is a new pairing and as the 4 seed, they have a good shot to make the semis
• Tyra and Parris are back playing together as the 2 seed - they are dangerous
• It has now been over two months since “The Annas” lost a match. They lost two events in a row and have now gone 67 days without a loss, during the toughest and most important stretch of the season

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters, (9) Tina Pisnik/Kate Fahey, (2) Parris Todd/Hurricane Tyra Black, and (3) Jorja Johnson/Rachel Rohrabacher
• Finals: The Annas beat Parris and Tyra in four

Men’s Doubles

PPA Tour

Top Storylines

• (4) Federico Staksrud is partnering with his 2024 Orlando Squeeze teammate, Tyson McGuffin - one more time for Fed on the left!
• The three other “big four” partnerships are all the #1, #2, and #3 seeds 
• Ben and Hayden lost for the first time in forever at Worlds to Hayden and Fed - they are looking for some revenge in Lakeland 

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns, (4) Tyson McGuffin/Federico Staksrud, (2) Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu, and (3) CJ Klinger/JW Johnson
• Finals: Gabe and Ben beat Alshon and Daescu in four