STORYLINES FOR THE FASENRA VIRGINIA BEACH CUP PRESENTED BY JOOLA (OCTOBER 6-12, 2025)

OVERALL TOP 5: 

• FLYING: How will the players who competed in Asia over the last two weeks fare?
• KINDLING: Wooden paddles are out, today’s paddles are in.  
• SOARING: Despite the different location and equipment, will winners in Asia and Sacramento (with the wooden paddles) be fueled with confidence? 
• PARTNERING: New partnerships look to gel as high seeds in mixed and women’s doubles. 
• CUPPING: One of just 4 Cups during 2025 with 1,500 points going to the winners.  

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Tourney #16 on the campaign – year two in Virginia Beach.  
• Progressive Format: Round of 64 Tuesday, Round of 32 Wednesday, Round of 16 Thursday, Quarterfinal Friday, Semifinal Saturday, and Championship Sunday.  
• PickleballTV (and the app) will have the coverage, starting each day at 10am Eastern, with Tennis Channel coverage on Friday & Saturday (1pm-5pm) plus Sunday (11am – 4pm). 

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending Medalists: Anna Leigh Waters, Brooke Buckner, Kate Fahey
• Can anyone stop Anna Leigh Waters (1) who is undefeated in 2025? 
• Kate Fahey, winner in Sacramento, and #2 in the world, is out – getting married on 10/4.  
• Tough round of 16 potential battle: Catherine Parenteau (5) vs. Judit Castillo (9)
• Genie Bouchard (8) grabbed her first ever medal in Sacramento (silver) – can she hit the podium 2 weeks in a row?
• Watch out for: Kaitlyn Christian (2) – won in Malaysia – can she make a big run to Sunday?

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending Medalists: Ben Johns, Hunter Johnson, Jaume Martinez Vich
• Ben Johns will not defend his title as he is not playing singles in Virginia Beach. 
• Hunter Johnson (1) has yet to win since claiming the top of the rankings. 
• John Lucian looks to get Goins to Championship Sunday again as the 8 seed. 
• Watch out for: Federico Staksrud (2) – ascended back to the top of the podium with a wooden paddle win last week, can he grab gold 2 weeks straight?

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, Jorja and JW Johnson, Jackie Kawamoto/Riley Newman
• Are the top two seeds Waters/Johns (1) and Johnsons (2) on a collision course to the final?
• Catherine Parenteau and Riley Newman (8) pair up for the first time since Worlds in ’24. 
• Mixed is so deep — Tyson McGuffin and Brooke Buckner are the 18 seed. 
• Watch out for: first time partners Anna Bright and CJ Klinger (3) look to make a smashing debut.

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Waters/Parenteau, Rohrabacher/Bright, Humberg/Jorja Johnson
• Bright and Waters (1) were upset by the Kawamotos in Cincy, can they grab gold by the beach?  
• LA Mad Drops MLP teammates Catherine Parenteau and Jade Kawamoto (3) pair up on the Carvana PPA Tour for the first time. 
• Tina Pisnik returns from injury that forced her to miss Sacramento – she is paired with Meghan Dizon as the 8 seed. 
• Watch out for: Jorja Johnson and Rachel Rohrabacher (2) – look to hit the podium again in their 3^rd tournament together. 

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Staksrud/Patriquin, Johns/Johns, JW Johnson/Frazier
• Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio (1) have 4 straight wins in tournaments they have entered together. Will they get 5?
• Potential OG Round of 16 “Battle of Wichita” matchup: Devilliers/Wright (8) vs. Pat Smith/Newman (9). 
• Dekel Bar and Tyson McGuffin (5) will be fighting jet lag from playing in Asia and look to improve on 4^th place finishes in Cape Coral and North Carolina earlier this year. 
• Watch out for: JW Johnson/CJ Klinger (4) – they are the last team to beat Johns and Tardio (at the Atlanta Slam).