STORYLINES FOR THE PROTON TUCSON OPEN (February 5-9, 2025)

OVERALL TOP 5: 

• THEY’RE BAAAAACK: Matt Wright and Riley Newman are partners. Yes, you can get back together. 
• SINGLED OUT: Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns, and Catherine Parenteau are not playing singles. 
• BOOMERANG: How will the Carvana PPA Tour stars who played in Australia fare in Arizona?
• SUPER BOWLING: Parris Todd, Hunter Johnson, and Jaume Martinez Vich star in a Super Bowl ad (which you don’t want to miss, so Champ Sunday starts at 9am local time). 
• WIDE OPEN DESERT: 1,000 Carvana PPA Tour points for the winners. 

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• First Carvana PPA Tour visit to Tucson, at 2,389 feet above sea level.
• Event will be played at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club in mid 70s temps. 
• Event #4 of the 2025 Carvana PPA Tour season – features a traditional draw: Singles on Thursday, mixed Friday, men’s/women’s doubles Saturday and Championship Sunday.
• PickleballTV (and the app) will have the broadcast. 

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Fed looks to stretch out his points race lead as the 1 seed, coming off his victory at the Masters. 
• No Ben Johns in singles as he focuses on doubles. 
• Brother v. Brother showdown? Hunter (3) and Yates (13) Johnson could match up in the round of 16.
• Watch out for: Jaume Martinez Vich (4) – made the final at the Masters and continues to elevate his level. 

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• The major story here is Anna Leigh Waters is not in the singles draw (but playing doubles). 
• Kaitlyn Christian (1) grabs the top spot thanks to a red-hot start to the 2025 tour season (win at Daytona, final at Masters, and heavy favorite to win Australia). 
• Buckner (3) was upset by Bouchard (9) at the Masters – how will she respond?
• Watch out for: Kate Fahey (4) – lost to ALW at the Masters but poised for the podium in Tucson.

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Tourney #2 for the 2 seed Bright/Bar who grabbed bronze at Daytona in December. 
• No Jorja, so JW Johnson paired with Maggie Brascia as the 5 seed (and first-time partners). 
• New partners Patriquin/Rohrabacher are the 7 seed. 
• Watch out for: Black/Alshon (4) who could not cash 4 match points at the Masters vs. Waters/Johns. 

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Will we get another rematch in the rivalry between (1) Waters/Parenteau and (2) Bright/Rohrabacher on Championship Sunday?
• Wright is wrong – Etta will now go by her maiden name of Tuionetoa and is the 4 seed with Meghan Dizon. 
• Can Buckner and Wang (12) do some damage as a double-digit seed?
• Watch out for: Black/Todd (3) who last played together at the Las Vegas Pickleball Cup at the Fontainebleau, losing in the Final to Waters/Parenteau. 

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Ben Johns and Hayden Patriquin are the 1 seed in their first tourney together. 
• Matt Wright and Riley Newman (7) are in the top seed’s quarter. 
• Staksrud, #1 in the world in men’s doubles, is paired with CJ Klinger (5) for the first time. 
• Watch out for: Martinez Vich/Ge (8) – first two tourneys together made both semifinals, including at the Masters earlier this month.