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. This update comes after 11 events that count towards the 2025 PPA Race Points standings, providing valuable insights into the performances of top players across various categories. For those new to the world of professional pickleball, the Points Race determines which players qualify for the prestigious end-of-year Finals tournament, making it a crucial aspect of the competitive landscape.

Understanding the PPA Points Race

The PPA Points Race is a season-long competition where players accumulate points based on their performance in PPA Tour events. These points determine rankings and ultimately decide who qualifies for The Finals, the tour’s culminating event. For newcomers to pickleball, think of this as similar to tennis’s ATP or WTA Tour Finals, where only the top performers of the season get to compete.

Points are awarded based on a player’s finish in each tournament, with more points given for higher placements and at more prestigious events like Slams. This system ensures that consistent performance throughout the year is rewarded, rather than just success in a few big tournaments.

Events Completed So Far

The 2025 season has already seen several major tournaments, each contributing to the current standings:

Daytona Beach Open – Kicking off the 2025 points race in late December 2024
The Masters (Slam) – A prestigious event with higher point allocations
Proton PPA Australia Open – Expanding the tour’s international presence
Proton PPA Tucson Open
Carvana PPA Mesa Cup
VEOLIA Cape Coral Open
CIBC Texas Open
Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open
VEOLIA North Carolina Open

Upcoming Events

According to the PPA Tour calendar, nine more tournaments are scheduled for 2025, though there are rumors of potential additions. The remaining events include:

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)

With 12,500 points available for winners across these events, the race is far from over, and significant changes in standings are still possible.

Multi-Event Qualifiers

As of now, five players are on track to qualify for The Finals in all three events (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles):

Anna Leigh Waters
Catherine Parenteau
Federico Staksrud
Christian Alshon
Gabe Tardio

Notably absent from this list is Ben Johns, a dominant force in previous seasons, highlighting the competitive nature of this year’s tour.

Women’s Singles

The women’s singles category has seen minimal changes in the top rankings over the past month. Anna Leigh Waters and Kaitlyn Christian appear to have secured their spots in the finals, while the battle for the remaining positions remains intense.

Current standings:

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

Salome Devidze presents an intriguing case, having qualified for The Finals last year but choosing not to participate. Her selective tournament participation makes her a wildcard in the rankings.

Predictions for Women’s Singles Finals Qualifiers

Based on current performance and trends, the likely qualifiers for The Finals in women’s singles are:

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 seen more volatility, with significant changes in rankings over recent events:

Federico Staksrud
Hunter Johnson
Jaume Martinez Vich
Christian Alshon
Connor Garnett
Jack Sock
Gabe Tardio
Tyson McGuffin

Notable movements include Hunter Johnson and Jaume Martinez Vich surpassing Christian Alshon, while Tyson McGuffin has dropped from 5th to 8th place. The rise of Jack Sock and Gabe Tardio, following strong performances in recent tournaments, adds excitement to the race.

Perhaps the most surprising development is Ben Johns’ position outside the top 8, putting his qualification for The Finals at risk. However, given his track record, many expect him to surge in the rankings during the latter half of the season.

Predictions for Men’s Singles Finals Qualifiers

Considering current form and potential late-season pushes, the projected qualifiers for The Finals in men’s singles are:

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

Women’s Doubles

The women’s doubles category is experiencing significant upheaval following the announced split of the formidable duo Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh Waters. This development has created a fluid situation among top players, with potential new partnerships forming.

Current standings remain relatively stable, with minimal changes in the top 20. However, the landscape is likely to shift dramatically in upcoming tournaments as new partnerships solidify.

Players to watch include Parris Todd, who may benefit from the partnership reshuffling, and Viv Glozman, whose ranking may suffer due to contractual issues limiting her PPA participation. The pairing of Tina Pisnik and Kate Fahey also shows promise for climbing the rankings.

Predictions for Women’s Doubles Finals Qualifiers

Given the current standings and potential partnership changes, the projected qualifiers for The Finals in women’s doubles are:

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

The men’s doubles category shows more stability at the top, with the leading six pairs seemingly secure in their positions. However, the competition for the remaining spots in The Finals is intense.

Current standings:

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

Collin Johns’ drop to 8th place raises questions about his ability to maintain a top-16 position by year’s end. Meanwhile, players like Matt Wright, currently in the last qualifying spot, face pressure from challengers including Jaume Martinez Vich, Noe Khlif, Tyler Loong, Zane Navratil, Eric Oncins, and Riley Newman.

Predictions for Men’s Doubles Finals Qualifiers

Based on current form and potential late-season performances, the projected qualifiers for The Finals in men’s doubles are:

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

The women’s mixed doubles category shows 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, suggesting they are likely to secure their spots in The Finals.

Current standings:

Anna Leigh Waters
Anna Bright
Jorja Johnson
Hurricane Tyra Black
Catherine Parenteau
Jessie Irvine
Tina Pisnik
Kate Fahey

A notable storyline is the rapid ascent of Parris Todd, who has surged from 29th place to 10th in just one month, following a victory at the Red Rock Open with partner Dekel Bar. Her potential to continue climbing the rankings adds excitement to the category.

Predictions for Women’s Mixed Doubles Finals Qualifiers

Considering current standings and recent performances, the projected qualifiers for The Finals in women’s mixed doubles are:

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 category has seen minimal changes in the past month, with the top positions remaining relatively stable. The competition appears to be primarily for the final two spots in The Finals, as the top six seem securely positioned.

Current standings:

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

James Ignatowich remains a player to watch, as his ability to string together strong performances in the upcoming events could see him break into the top eight. Riley Newman, currently outside the top 10, is another contender who could make a late push for qualification if he secures strong partnerships in the latter half of the season.