2025 PPA Points Update: A Comprehensive Analysis After Seven Events

As we approach the midpoint of the 2025 Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour season, it’s time to take a deep dive into the current standings and analyze the points race. With seven events completed and numerous tournaments on the horizon, the competition for spots in the PPA Finals is heating up across all divisions. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of the current standings, highlight key players to watch, and offer insights into potential outcomes for the remainder of the season.

Understanding the PPA Points Race

The PPA Tour’s season-long points race determines which players qualify for the prestigious PPA Finals, typically held in early December. While the exact details for the 2025 Finals are yet to be announced, the format generally remains consistent year to year. Here’s a breakdown of how the qualification process works:

• Top 8 women’s singles players
• Top 8 men’s singles players
• Top 16 women’s doubles players
• Top 16 men’s doubles players
• Top 8 women in mixed doubles
• Top 8 men in mixed doubles

The disparity between the number of qualifiers for gender doubles (16) and mixed doubles (8) is designed to ensure that eight total teams compete in each doubles event at the Finals. Once the eligible players are determined, a draft-style selection process occurs, with top-seeded players choosing their partners for the Finals.

PPA Tour Events and Point Structure

The PPA Tour features three types of events, each carrying different point values:

• Slams: 2,000 points for winners
• Cups: 1,500 points for winners
• Opens: 1,000 points for winners

Points are awarded based on a player’s finish in each event, with a sliding scale that rewards deeper runs in the tournament. For example, in an Open event, reaching the quarterfinals would earn a player 200 points.

2025 Season Progress

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

1. Daytona Beach Open (late December 2024, counts towards 2025)
2. The Masters (Slam)
3. Proton PPA Australia Open
4. Proton PPA Tucson Open
5. Carvana PPA Mesa Cup
6. VEOLIA Cape Coral Open
7. CIBC Texas Open

With these events completed, we’re approximately 35-40% through the 2025 season in terms of tournaments held. The PPA Tour calendar currently lists 11 more events for the year, with the possibility of additional tournaments being announced for the latter half of the season.

Women’s Singles: The Battle at the Top

The women’s singles division has seen intense competition, with some surprising developments in the early stages of the season:

1. Anna Leigh Waters
2. Kaitlyn Christian
3. Kate Fahey
4. Lea Jansen
5. Brooke Buckner
6. Parris Todd
7. Helena Jansen
8. Catherine Parenteau

Anna Leigh Waters, despite her dominance in previous years, found herself in second place until a recent victory propelled her to the top spot. Kaitlyn Christian’s hot start to the year, winning two golds and two silvers in early events, initially gave her the lead. However, the competitive landscape remains fluid, with several players vying for top positions.

Notable absences from the top rankings include Jorja Johnson and Lacy Schneemann, who played as substitutes in last year’s Finals but currently lack sufficient points to crack the top 16. Australian players Andie Dikosavljevic and Somer Dalla Bonna made strong showings in their home event but may see their rankings slide as the tour progresses, given their limited participation in other PPA events.

Men’s Singles: Parity and Emerging Talents

The men’s singles division showcases the incredible depth and parity in professional pickleball:

1. Federico Staksrud
2. Christian Alshon
3. Hunter Johnson
4. Jaume Martinez Vich
5. Tyson McGuffin
6. Connor Garnett
7. Ben Johns
8. Zane Ford

Federico Staksrud has maintained his position as the top men’s singles player for over a year, demonstrating remarkable consistency. Christian Alshon’s back-to-back victories mark a significant breakthrough, while Ben Johns’ relatively low ranking (7th) is largely due to his limited participation in singles events this year.

The emergence of newcomer Zane Ford in the top eight highlights the dynamic nature of the men’s field. Tyson McGuffin’s fifth-place standing, bolstered by strong finishes including a silver in Australia, may be tested as the season progresses, particularly if lingering injuries affect his performance.

The extreme competitiveness of men’s singles means that the final standings could look significantly different by year’s end. Players like Noe Khlif (17th) and JW Johnson (20th), currently outside the top 16, have the potential to make late-season pushes for Finals qualification.

Women’s Doubles: Established Partnerships and Rising Challengers

The women’s doubles division features a mix of established powerhouses and emerging partnerships:

1. Anna Leigh Waters
2. Catherine Parenteau
3. Anna Bright
4. Rachel Rohrabacher
5. Hurricane Tyra Black
6. Parris Todd
7. Jorja Johnson
8. Etta Wright
9. Lea Jansen
10. Meghan Dizon
11. Tina Pisnik
12. Lacy Schneemann
13. Lucy Kovalova
14. Jackie Kawamoto
15. Vivian Glozman
16. Allyce Jones

The top five pairs in women’s doubles appear to have solidified their positions for Finals qualification, barring any unforeseen circumstances or injuries. The competition for the remaining spots is intense, with only 200 points separating those on the bubble from missing out on the Finals.

Several players have made significant strides compared to last year. Vivian Glozman, Jackie Kawamoto, and Lea Jansen, who didn’t qualify for the 2024 Finals, are currently in contention. Conversely, previous qualifiers Mari Humberg, Callie Smith, and Lucy Kovalova find themselves outside the top 16, highlighting the ever-changing landscape of professional pickleball.

Kate Fahey, currently ranked 17th, has shown impressive form recently partnering with Tina Pisnik. Their partnership could see Fahey make a substantial move up the rankings in the coming months.

Men’s Doubles: Consistency at the Top, Battles Below

The men’s doubles division showcases both established partnerships and evolving team dynamics:

1. Ben Johns
2. Andrei Daescu
3. Gabe Tardio
4. Christian Alshon
5. Federico Staksrud
6. Hayden Patriquin
7. JW Johnson
8. CJ Klinger
9. Quang Duong
10. Pablo Tellez
11. Dylan Frazier
12. Dekel Bar
13. Tyson McGuffin
14. Collin Johns
15. Matt Wright
16. AJ Koller

The top six players have demonstrated remarkable consistency, rarely missing out on semi-final appearances. However, the parity in men’s doubles and frequent partnership changes make this division particularly unpredictable.

Collin Johns presents an interesting case study. After winning 2,000 points with brother Ben at the PPA Masters, he has earned 950 points with various partners. His ability to find a consistent partner for deep tournament runs will likely determine his final ranking.

Partnership strategies vary among players. Jaume Martinez Vich and Augie Ge have committed to playing together regularly, which could lead to improved results. In contrast, Matt Wright has opted for a rotating cast of partners, a strategy that carries both risks and potential rewards.

The competitiveness of men’s doubles is further emphasized by the caliber of players currently outside the top 20, including Rafa Hewett, Connor Garnett, Riley Newman, Tyler Loong, and Zane Navratil. Any of these players could potentially make a late-season surge into Finals contention.

Mixed Doubles: The Most Competitive Field

Mixed doubles often presents the most challenging path to Finals qualification, with only eight spots available for each gender. The current standings reflect both established partnerships and emerging contenders:

Women’s Mixed Doubles

1. Anna Leigh Waters
2. Anna Bright
3. Jorja Johnson
4. Hurricane Tyra Black
5. Catherine Parenteau
6. Tina Pisnik
7. Kate Fahey
8. Rachel Rohrabacher

Men’s Mixed Doubles

1. Ben Johns
2. Christian Alshon
3. JW Johnson
4. Federico Staksrud
5. Hayden Patriquin
6. Dekel Bar
7. Andrei Daescu
8. Gabe Tardio

In women’s mixed doubles, there’s a significant gap of 1,000 points between the fifth and sixth-ranked players, suggesting that the top five may have already secured their Finals spots. The remaining three positions are likely to be hotly contested throughout the rest of the season.

Notable absences from the top rankings include Vivienne David, who qualified for last year’s Finals but chose not to compete, and is currently ranked 26th. Parris Todd and Etta Tuionetoa, both skilled mixed doubles players, find themselves tied for 29th and will need strong performances in the latter half of the season to have a chance at qualification.

The men’s mixed doubles field appears more settled, with the current top eight likely to maintain their positions. This stability is partly due to the tendency for successful mixed partnerships to remain intact throughout the season. However, the intense competition means that even small fluctuations in performance could have significant implications for Finals qualification.

Looking Ahead: Predictions and Potential Shifts

As we move into the second half of the 2025 PPA Tour season, several factors could influence the final standings across all divisions:

• Injury management and player health will be crucial, especially for those competing in multiple events at each tournament.
• Partnership dynamics in doubles events may evolve, potentially leading to shifts in the rankings.
• The addition of new tournaments to the schedule could provide opportunities for players to gain ground or solidify their positions.
• Emerging talents and seasoned pros returning from breaks could disrupt the current standings.

While making definitive predictions is challenging in such a dynamic sport, the current standings provide a solid foundation for anticipating the final qualifiers for the 2025 PPA Finals. However, pickleball’s rapid growth and the increasing depth of talent at the professional level mean that surprises are always possible.

Conclusion: A Season of Excitement and Evolution

The 2025 PPA Tour season has already delivered thrilling matches, breakthrough performances, and shifts in the competitive landscape. As the points race continues, players will face mounting pressure to perform consistently and strategically manage their tournament schedules.

For fans and analysts alike, the coming months promise exciting developments across all divisions. Whether you’re following the dominant performances of established stars like Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, or tracking the rise of newcomers like Zane Ford, the 2025 season is shaping up to be a landmark year for professional pickleball.

Stay tuned to The Dink for ongoing coverage and analysis as we approach the 2025 PPA Finals. The road to qualification is long and unpredictable, but one thing is certain: the level of play and competition in professional pickleball continues to reach new heights.