Historic Victory: The Kawamoto Twins Claim Their First PPA Gold Medal in Cincinnati A Breakthrough Moment in Professional Pickleball The professional pickleball landscape witnessed a historic moment at the PPA Tour’s return to Cincinnati, Ohio, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s evolution. The tournament, hosted at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, showcased how dramatically the sport has progressed in just two years, with the highlight being Jade and Jackie Kawamoto’s groundbreaking first gold medal victory. The Kawamoto Twins’ Journey to Gold Former University of Dayton tennis stars Jade and Jackie Kawamoto demonstrated exceptional skill and resilience in their path to victory. Despite balancing full-time careers with the NCAA alongside their professional pickleball pursuits, the twins showcased remarkable chemistry on the court. Their limited tournament appearances in 2025 make their achievement even more impressive, having competed together in only three events this year. Their championship match against Hurricane Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson proved to be a masterclass in perseverance. After losing the first two games and facing early deficits, the Kawamotos mounted an impressive comeback, securing victory with scores of 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7. Their path to gold included defeating top seeds Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters in the semifinals, demonstrating their ability to compete at the highest level. Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio: Dominance in Men’s Doubles The men’s doubles competition highlighted the continued dominance of Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio, who secured their fourth consecutive gold medal. Their performance in the final against Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu was particularly noteworthy, with a commanding victory of 11-2, 11-6, 11-9. Equipment Controversy: The Paddle Certification Drama A significant subplot of the tournament centered around paddle certification requirements. The September 1st deadline for UPA-A certification created considerable disruption, with major manufacturers like Pikkl and Proton facing certification challenges. This situation forced numerous professional players to compete with unfamiliar equipment, highlighting the growing pains of professional pickleball’s standardization efforts. Singles Competition Highlights In men’s singles, Christian Alshon captured his third gold medal of the year, showcasing exceptional skill in victories over highly-ranked opponents. Anna Leigh Waters continued her impressive run in women’s singles, securing gold without dropping a single game throughout the tournament. Mixed Doubles Excellence The partnership of Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns proved unbeatable in mixed doubles, maintaining their dominant position with straight-set victories throughout the tournament. Their final match against Andrei Daescu and Anna Bright demonstrated their superior coordination and strategy. Looking Ahead: The PPA Sacramento Vintage Open The tour now moves to Sacramento for a unique wooden paddle event, scheduled for September 25-28, promising to add an interesting historical twist to modern professional pickleball competition. Tournament Results Summary Women’s Singles: – Gold: Anna Leigh Waters – Silver: Kate Fahey – Bronze: Catherine Parenteau Men’s Singles: – Gold: Christian Alshon – Silver: Connor Garnett – Bronze: Hunter Johnson Mixed Doubles: – Gold: Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns – Silver: Anna Bright/Andrei Daescu – Bronze: Jorja Johnson & JW Johnson Women’s Doubles: – Gold: Jade & Jackie Kawamoto – Silver: Jorja Johnson/Hurricane Tyra Black – Bronze: Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters Men’s Doubles: – Gold: Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns – Silver: Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu – Bronze: CJ Klinger/JW Johnson
