The Stratusphere Gin Virginia Beach Cup Tournament Preview

The Stratusphere Gin Virginia Beach Cup will take place from Tuesday, October 1st, through Sunday, October 6th at Pickleball Virginia Beach. This location has 38 dedicated outdoor courts for the PPA Tour to use.

As a Cup, this event is worth 1,500 PPA Points to the winners of each event. There are 1.5 times more points than ordinarily available in an open tournament. With the points race really heating up toward the end of the season, every point is important.

Also, being a Cup, this is a Progressive Draw. The Progressive Draw seems to be a fan and player favorite - a maximum of three matches per day for players and fans know when their favorite players are on court.

How to Watch the Virginia Beach Cup

*All times are Eastern*

Tuesday, 10/1 - Rd of 64

• Championship Court - 2pm - 7pm - PPA YouTube
• Grandstand Court - 9am - 7pm - PPA YouTube

Wednesday, 10/2 - Rd of 32

• Championship Court - 11am - 7pm - PickleballTV
• Grandstand Court - 11am - 7pm - PPA YouTube

Thursday, 10/3 - Rd of 16

• Championship Court - 11am - 7pm - PickleballTV
• Grandstand Court - 11am - 7pm - PPA YouTube

Friday, 10/4 - Quarterfinals

• Championship Court - 11am - 7pm - PickleballTV
• Grandstand Court - 11am - 7pm - PPA YouTube

Saturday, 10/5 - Semifinals

• Championship Court - 11am - 7pm - PickleballTV
• Championship Court - 1pm - 5pm - Tennis Channel (simulcast)

Sunday, 10/6 - Championship Sunday

• Championship Court - 11am - 5pm - PickleballTV
• Championship Court - 1pm - 5pm - Tennis Channel (simulcast)
• GrandStand Court - Bronze Matches - 10am - 2pm - PPA YouTube

Weather Outlook

Tuesday’s weather looks like it could cause the most havoc. On the one hand, that’s good because it isn’t near the day of the finals. On the other hand, it’s during the Round of 64, and quick math tells me there are over 100 pro matches scheduled in the Round of 62, give or take a few for byes.

Player Availability

Most of the regular players are available in the Virginia Beach Cup. The notable missing players include:

• Jay Devilliers (who is out for the year)
• Yates Johnson (groin injury)
• Jack Sock
• Matt Wright
• Lucy Kovalova

Women’s Singles

Top Storylines - Women’s Singles

• (1) Anna Leigh Waters leads the field as the top seed in a full women’s singles draw.
• (2) Catherine Parenteau is still seeking her first singles win of the year, having struggled to find success in 2024.
• (11) Kate Fahey, who recently came through the qualifiers, now enjoys a bye into the Round of 32.
• (6) Kaitlyn Christian and (26) Jessie Irvine, who were just traded for each other at the MLP Trade Deadline, could meet in the Round of 32.

Tice’s Takes

• (13) Zoey Wang has been playing excellent singles and could face (2) Catherine Parenteau in the Round of 16. I'm predicting an upset.
• Another player to watch is (23) Milan Rane. I can see her upsetting (9) Lacy Schneemann in the Round of 32 for a deep run.

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters, (3) Lea Jansen, (6) Kaitlyn Christian, and (4) Brooke Buckner.
• Finals: Anna Leigh Waters defeats Kaitlyn Christian.

Men’s Singles

Top Storylines - Men’s Singles

• (2) Ben Johns retired mid-match in Atlanta two weeks ago due to an ankle issue. It remains to be seen if this will affect his play in Virginia Beach.
• (7) Quang Duong and (5) Christian Alshon withdrew from Atlanta with injuries but are expected to compete here.
• (35) Zane Navratil, who hasn’t played much singles this year, seems to be ramping up for the tail end of the season.
• (13) Roscoe Bellamy could face (23) Blaine Hovenier, his former UCLA Bruins Men’s Tennis teammate.

Tice’s Takes

• (3) Connor Garnett lost to (10) Hunter Johnson in the Atlanta finals two weeks ago. If they meet in the semifinals, I’m picking Connor for the win this time.
• In what I think is the toughest part of the bracket, (16) Grayson Goldin could upset (2) Ben Johns and (9) JW Johnson to make the semifinals.

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Federico Staksrud, (3) Connor Garnett, (16) Grayson Goldin, and (8) Jaume Martinez Vich.
• Finals: Federico Staksrud defeats Grayson Goldin.

Mixed Doubles

Top Storylines - Mixed Doubles

• With Anna Bright and James Ignatowich no longer partnered, the Virginia Beach mixed doubles draw is shaping up with new pairings:
  • (3) Anna Bright/Andrei Daescu
  • (4) Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon
  • (5) Meghan Dizon/James Ignatowich
  • (6) Dylan Frazier/Viv David
  • (18) Hurricane Tyra Black/Max Freeman
• While it’s a long shot, a match between (27) Quang Duong/Kate Fahey and (7) Tina Pisnik/Dekel Bar in the Round of 16 would be entertaining. Quang and Tina are mixed partners for the Texas Ranchers in MLP.
• (8) Rachel Rohrabacher/Federico Staksrud have been consistent quarterfinalists but have yet to reach the podium—could Virginia Beach be their breakthrough?

Tice’s Takes

• I’m picking (20) Parris Todd/Hunter Johnson to make the quarterfinals, defeating (18) HTB/Max Freeman, (9) Jessie Irvine/Gabe Tardio, and (6) Viv David/Dylan Frazier.
• (5) Meghan Dizon/James Ignatowich have been off their game lately, and I’m predicting (12) Jade Kawamoto/Tyson McGuffin will upset them in the Round of 16.

Predictions

• Semifinalists (Straight Chalk): (1) Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, (4) Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon, (2) Jorja & JW Johnson, and (3) Anna Bright/Andrei Daescu.
• Finals: Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns defeat Anna Bright/Andrei Daescu for some revenge after PPA Austin.

Women’s Doubles

Top Storylines - Women’s Doubles

• The biggest question: can (2) Rohrbacher/Bright defeat (1) Catherine Parenteau/Anna Leigh Waters again after their Atlanta upset three weeks ago?
• (16) Tammy Emmrich/Martina Frantova are former Florida Smash teammates.
• (9) Jorja Johnson/Mari Humberg, silver medalists in Utah last month, are a strong team looking to make another podium finish.

Tice’s Takes

• (12) Brooke Buckner/Zoey Wang have been in great form, and I’m picking them to upset (6) Tina Pisnik/Viv David and (4) Lea Jansen/Callie Smith to reach the semifinals.
• (14) Alix Truong/Milan Rane are a formidable duo, and I’m predicting they will upset (3) Meghan Dizon/Etta Wright.

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Catherine Parenteau/Anna Leigh Waters, (12) Brooke Buckner/Zoey Wang, (2) Rachel Rohrabacher/Anna Bright, and (9) Jorja Johnson/Mari Humberg.
• Finals: Catherine Parenteau/Anna Leigh Waters avenge their Atlanta loss to Rohrbacher/Bright to win gold in four games.

Top Storylines - Men’s Doubles

• After five months without a gold, Ben and Collin Johns ended their drought with a win in Atlanta. They return as the top seed in Virginia Beach.
• (1) Dylan Frazier and JW Johnson haven’t been as dominant since securing their top seeding. Can they turn it around?
• (9) Rafa Hewett/Riley Newman is a unique partnership. Expect plenty of on-court chirping from this duo, but will it be a winning combination?

Tice’s Takes

• My biggest upset pick of the weekend: (13) Quang Duong/Michael Loyd will upset (2) Dylan Frazier/JW Johnson in the Round of 32.
• (21) Noe Khlif/Collin Shick are a dangerous pair. I’m predicting they’ll upset (14) Brandon French/Wyatt Stone.

Predictions

• Semifinalists: (1) Ben & Collin Johns, (6) Christian Alshon/James Ignatowich, (5) Gabe Tardio/Andrei Daescu, and (3) Federico Staksrud/Hayden Patriquin.
• Finals: (3) Federico Staksrud/Hayden Patriquin defeat the Johns brothers in four games.