2025 PPA Points Race Update: A Comprehensive Analysis

As we approach the midpoint of the 2025 Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour season, it’s time to take a closer look at the current standings in the points race. With 11 events completed and potentially 9 more to go, the competition for spots in The Finals is heating up across all categories. Let’s dive into the details and examine how the top players are faring in their quest for pickleball glory.

Understanding the PPA Points Race

For those new to the world of professional pickleball, the PPA Points Race is a season-long competition that determines which players qualify for The Finals – the prestigious year-end tournament featuring the top performers in each category. Points are awarded based on players’ performances in PPA Tour events throughout the year, with more points available at higher-tier tournaments like Slams.

The race spans five categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. In each category, players accumulate points individually, even in doubles events. The top performers in each category earn the coveted spots in The Finals, where they compete for substantial prize money and the title of season champion.

Events Completed So Far

To date, 11 PPA Tour events have contributed to the 2025 Points Race standings:

Upcoming Events

According to the PPA Tour calendar, there are nine more tournaments scheduled for 2025:

VEOLIA Atlanta Pickleball Championships (Slam)
Select Medical Orange County Cup
VEOLIA Bristol Open
VEOLIA Cincinnati Cup
CIBC Toronto Open
Fasenra Virginia Beach Cup
VOELIA Lakeland Open
Rate Vegas Open
Pickleball World Championships (Slam)

These events offer a combined total of 12,500 points to the winners, ensuring plenty of opportunities for players to climb the rankings and secure their spots in The Finals.

All-Around Performers

As it stands, five players are currently on track to qualify for The Finals in all three events they compete in:

Anna Leigh Waters
Catherine Parenteau
Federico Staksrud
Christian Alshon
Gabe Tardio

Notably absent from this list is Ben Johns, a perennial favorite who has dominated the sport in recent years. This unexpected development adds an intriguing layer of suspense to the ongoing points race.

Women’s Singles

The women’s singles category has seen minimal changes in the top rankings over the past month. The only notable shift has been Parris Todd and Lea Jansen swapping the 4th and 5th positions. Anna Leigh Waters and Kaitlyn Christian appear to have already secured their spots in The Finals, given their substantial point totals.

An interesting case to watch is Salome Devidze, who qualified for The Finals last year but chose not to participate. While she typically performs well when she competes, Devidze enters fewer events than many of her peers, which could impact her standing as the season progresses.

Predicted qualifiers for The Finals in Women’s Singles:

Anna Leigh Waters
Kate Fahey
Kaitlyn Christian
Lea Jansen
Brooke Buckner
Parris Todd
Helena Jansen
Catherine Parenteau

Men’s Singles

The men’s singles category has experienced more significant shifts in recent weeks. Hunter Johnson and Jaume Martinez Vich have surpassed Christian Alshon, while Tyson McGuffin has dropped from 5th to 8th place after two challenging events. His continued slide seems likely unless his health improves in the latter half of 2025.

Jack Sock and Gabe Tardio are both on upward trajectories, with Sock securing silver at the Red Rock Open and Tardio clinching victory at the most recent event in North Carolina.

Perhaps the most surprising development is Ben Johns’ position outside the top 8, currently leaving him unqualified for The Race. However, given his track record and competitive nature, it’s anticipated that Johns will increase his participation in singles events at upcoming Cups and Slams to secure his place in The Finals.

Predicted qualifiers for The Finals in Men’s Singles:

Federico Staksrud
Christian Alshon
Ben Johns
Hunter Johnson
Jaume Martinez Vich
Connor Garnett
Jack Sock
Zane Ford

Women’s Doubles

The landscape of women’s doubles has been dramatically altered by the recent announcement of Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh Waters ending their partnership. This shake-up has created a state of flux in the category, with potential ripple effects throughout the rankings.

Parris Todd appears to be a major beneficiary of this development, with sources indicating that both Rachel Rohrabacher and Catherine Parenteau have reached out to her as a potential partner. This situation could lead to a series of partner swaps among the top-ranked women as they seek to solidify their positions for The Finals.

While the top 20 players in women’s doubles have remained consistent over the past month, there have been minor fluctuations in their relative positions. Vivienne Glozman’s ranking is expected to decline further if she’s unable to resolve contractual issues preventing her from competing in PPA events. Conversely, if Tina Pisnik and Kate Fahey continue their partnership, they’re likely to ascend the rankings.

Predicted qualifiers for The Finals in Women’s Doubles:

Anna Leigh Waters
Catherine Parenteau
Anna Bright
Rachel Rohrabacher
Hurricane Tyra Black
Parris Todd
Jorja Johnson
Etta Tuionetoa
Lea Jansen
Meghan Dizon
Tina Pisnik
Lacy Schneemann
Lucy Kovalova
Kate Fahey
Jackie Kawamoto
Jessie Irvine

Men’s Doubles

In the men’s doubles category, the top six seeds appear to be firmly established, barring any unforeseen injuries. The most intriguing storyline here revolves around Collin Johns, who has slipped to 8th place. The question remains whether he can maintain his position within the top 16 and secure a spot in The Finals by year’s end.

Matt Wright currently occupies the final qualifying position but faces stiff competition from a group of talented players including Jaume Martinez Vich, Noe Khlif, Tyler Loong, Zane Navratil, Eric Oncins, and Riley Newman, all of whom are vying to overtake him in the rankings.

Predicted qualifiers for The Finals in Men’s Doubles:

Andrei Daescu
Ben Johns
Gabe Tardio
Christian Alshon
Federico Staksrud
Hayden Patriquin
JW Johnson
CJ Klinger
Quang Duong
Pablo Tellez
Dylan Frazier
Dekel Bar
Tyson McGuffin
Riley Newman
Jaume Martinez Vich
Eric Oncins

Women’s Mixed Doubles

In the women’s mixed doubles category, there’s a clear divide between the top five players and the rest of the field. The leading quintet holds a substantial 1,500-point advantage over Jessie Irvine in sixth place. This gap suggests that the top five are virtually assured of their spots in The Finals, while the remaining competitors will battle for the last three qualifying positions.

One of the most compelling narratives in this category is the rapid ascent of Parris Todd. Just a month ago, Todd wasn’t even ranked in the top 25, sharing the 29th position with Etta Tuionetoa. However, following her victory at the Red Rock Open partnering with Dekel Bar, Todd has skyrocketed to 10th place. If she continues to secure partnerships with top-tier male players, her rise through the rankings could well continue.

Predicted qualifiers for The Finals in Women’s Mixed Doubles:

Anna Leigh Waters
Anna Bright
Jorja Johnson
Hurricane Tyra Black
Catherine Parenteau
Tina Pisnik
Kate Fahey
Parris Todd

Men’s Mixed Doubles

The men’s mixed doubles rankings have remained relatively stable over the past month, with minimal movement among the top contenders. The most significant question mark in this category is James Ignatowich, currently sitting just outside the top eight. His ability to string together a few deep runs in mixed doubles events over the coming tournaments could be crucial in securing a spot in The Finals.

The current standings suggest that the top six positions are likely locked in, with the remaining competitors vying for the final two spots. Among those outside the top 10, Riley Newman appears to have the best chance of breaking into the top eight, provided he can secure strong partnerships in the latter half of the season.

Predicted qualifiers for The Finals in Men’s Mixed Doubles:

Ben Johns
JW Johnson
Christian Alshon
Federico Staksrud
Dekel Bar
Hayden Patriquin
Andrei Daescu
Gabe Tardio

Conclusion

As the 2025 PPA Tour season progresses, the points race across all categories promises to deliver excitement and drama. With established stars looking to maintain their dominance and rising talents seeking to make their mark, the competition for spots in The Finals is fiercer than ever. Fans can look forward to intense battles on the court as players strive to accumulate points and secure their places among the elite at the year-end championship event.

The second half of the season will be crucial in determining the final standings, and unexpected developments – such as new partnerships or breakthrough performances – could yet shake up the rankings. As the tour moves forward, pickleball enthusiasts around the world will be eagerly watching to see how the points race unfolds and which players will emerge victorious in their quest for pickleball glory.

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