STORYLINES FOR THE RATE VEGAS CUP PRESENTED BY HOLLAND AMERICA

OVERALL TOP 5: 

• STRATOSPHERE: Anna Leigh Waters has now earned 3 dozen triple crowns, extending her seemingly untouchable record – does she get number 37 in Vegas?
• NO SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: Men’s singles has produced 7 different winners in the past 8, who will have lady luck on their side and take this title? 
• PAR(R)IS: Todd hopes to leave Vegas with some gold.  
• ENCORE: Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio go for their 6^th win in a row as a team.
• GRAND & A HALF: 1,500 points going to the winners of this Cup.  

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Tourney #17 on the campaign – return to one of the original spots on the PPA tour at Darling Tennis Center – first time was October of 2020. NOTE: Hayden Patriquin won 4.5 singles that year as a 15-year-old. 
• 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 Pacific, with Tennis Channel coverage on Saturday & Sunday (10am-1pm Pacific).

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending Medalists: Kate Fahey, Brooke Buckner, Catherine Parenteau
• Can anyone stop Anna Leigh Waters (1) who hasn’t lost a singles match in over 500 days? 
• The newly married Kate Fahey (2) returns as the defending champion.
• Tough round of 16 potential battle: Catherine Parenteau (7) vs. Genie Bouchard (11) – Parenteau beat Genie in the Bronze match here last year. 
• Watch out for: Brooke Buckner (6) – had game point in the Finals vs. Waters in Va Beach – but could face Fahey in the quarters. 

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending Medalists: Quang Duong, Connor Garnett, Federico Staksrud
• Ben Johns is back in singles as the…7 seed.  
• Hunter Johnson still searching for that elusive win since claiming the top spot in the rankings. 
• Jack Sock (6) was terrific in Virginia – had match points to reach the Final, will this be his week?
• Watch out for: Chris Haworth (12) – was brilliant in Virginia Beach in earning his first title as a signed player on the Carvana PPA Tour.

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, Jorja and JW Johnson, Etta Tuionetoa/Christian Alshon
• Will the top two seeds Waters/Johns (1) and Johnsons (2) run it back from last week AND last year?
• Fun new partners alert: Staksrud/A. Truong (7) and Oncins/Parenteau (9).
• Mixed is so deep – Jade Kawamoto and Hunter Johnson are the 22 seed. 
• Watch out for: Shock teammates Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin (3) looking to make a run to the medal stand. 

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Waters/Parenteau, Rohrabacher/Bright, Jansen/Kovalova
• They’re baaaack…Bright and Waters (1) were dominant in winning gold in Virginia Beach. 
• LA Mad Drops MLP teammates Catherine Parenteau and Jade Kawamoto (3) would like another shot at the top seed, having lost 11-1, 11-3 in the Va Beach semis. 
• First time partners Meghan Dizon and Jackie Kawamoto are a dangerous 5 seed . 
• Watch out for: Black and Todd (3) – did not get to play the semi-finals in Va Beach due to the injury suffered by Parris in the singles semis – they have golden plans in the desert.  

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Johns/Johns, JW Johnson/Frazier, Staksrud/Wright
• Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio (1) would play new partners CJ Klinger and Jay Devilliers (5) in the quarters if seeds hold. 
• Can Matt Wright make another deep run? This week he’s back with Eric Oncins as the 7 seed – earlier this year in the first Vegas event they lost to Patriquin/Staksrud in the bronze match.  
• Fu Fighters – Ryan Fu/Tyson McGuffin are the 9 seed as new partners. 
• Watch out for: JW Johnson/Dylan Frazier (4) – back together, won the wooden paddle tourney in Sacramento and look to go 2 for 2 in 2025.