The Johnsons Get Double Gold, Gladiator Ge Earns His First – PPA Daytona Beach Recap

The Florida Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open brought the curtain down on what has been a remarkable 2025 season on the PPA Tour. With the tournament scheduled so close to the holiday season and many players opting to rest before The Masters in January, the field was notably thinner than usual. This absence of several top-ranked competitors created unique opportunities for different player partnerships to step into the spotlight, secure valuable tournament wins, and accumulate crucial PPA Points that will shape their rankings heading into the new year.

What unfolded in Daytona Beach was a tournament that showcased both established dominance and breakthrough performances. The Johnson siblings continued their reign across multiple disciplines, while newer partnerships proved they could compete at the highest level. Perhaps most notably, some players finally broke through to earn their first-ever gold medals on tour, marking career milestones that had been years in the making.

The Johnson Siblings Dominate Across Multiple Disciplines

Jorja and JW Johnson have become synonymous with excellence in professional pickleball, and their performance at Daytona Beach only reinforced that reputation. Both siblings managed to secure double gold medals, demonstrating the kind of versatility and consistency that separates elite players from the rest of the pack. Their ability to perform at the highest level across different formats speaks volumes about their all-around skill sets and competitive mentality.

Mixed Doubles: The Johnsons Continue Their Partnership Success

Entering the mixed doubles draw as the number one overall seed, Jorja and JW Johnson carried the weight of expectations on their shoulders. This marked their fourth mixed doubles gold medal together in 2025, establishing them as one of the most formidable mixed doubles partnerships on tour. However, the path to gold was far from easy, despite their seeding and reputation.

The early rounds saw the Johnsons in complete control. They dominated their first two matches with a combined scoreline of 44-11, dispatching their opponents with clinical efficiency. Their chemistry was evident, their shot selection sharp, and their court positioning impeccable. But the quarterfinals brought their first real challenge of the tournament when they faced Rachel Rohrabacher and Federico Staksrud.

This match forced the Johnsons into a three-game battle that tested their resilience. After winning the first game 11-1, they stumbled in the second, losing 3-11. The momentum shift was palpable, but the siblings regrouped and found their rhythm again to take the deciding game 11-4. It was exactly the kind of adversity that championship teams need to overcome, and they did so convincingly.

The semifinals presented another stern test, this time against Jessie Irvine and Gabe Tardio. Once again, the Johnsons dropped the opening game 5-11, forcing them to dig deep and battle back. They took the second game 11-7 before sealing the match with an 11-5 victory in the third. These back-to-back three-game matches could have drained their energy and confidence, but instead seemed to sharpen their focus heading into the finals.

The championship match pitted them against Kaitlyn Christian and Andrei Daescu, who had navigated their own difficult path to the finals. Christian and Daescu had survived a particularly intense quarterfinal battle against Catherine Parenteau and Dekel Bar, winning 13-11 in the third game. However, whatever energy they expended in that match seemed to catch up with them in the finals.

The Johnsons were relentless from the first point. They won the final in three games with a scoreline of 11-5, 11-1, 11-4. The middle game was particularly dominant, with Christian and Daescu managing to score just a single point. The Johnsons’ ability to raise their level when it mattered most demonstrated why they remain the gold standard in mixed doubles competition.

Men’s Doubles: JW Johnson and Augie Ge Break Through Together

With notable absences from the men’s doubles draw—specifically Ben Johns and Hayden Patriquin—the tournament represented a golden opportunity for other partnerships to make their mark. JW Johnson, fresh off his mixed doubles victory, teamed up with Augie Ge as the third-seeded team. What they accomplished together would become one of the tournament’s most memorable storylines.

Johnson and Ge were nothing short of dominant throughout the early rounds. Interestingly, the team that gave them the most trouble before the finals was their very first opponent. In the opening round, they faced Etienne Blaszkewycz and Carlos Di Laura, winning 11-9, 11-8. From that point forward, they steamrolled through the bracket, dropping minimal points and looking increasingly unstoppable with each match.

The finals, however, transformed into an epic battle that will be remembered as one of the tournament’s defining moments. Johnson and Ge faced Riley Newman and Noe Khlif in what became a five-game marathon lasting over two hours and twenty minutes. These matches are the ones that test not just physical conditioning but mental fortitude, tactical flexibility, and the ability to perform under immense pressure.

The match swung back and forth, with both teams having moments of brilliance and stretches of struggle. Finally, in the fifth and deciding game, Johnson and Ge found the extra gear they needed, winning 11-8 to claim the gold medal. The victory was particularly special because regardless of which team won, there was going to be a first-time gold medalist on the PPA Tour. Neither Ge nor Khlif had ever won gold at this level before.

For Augie Ge, who has earned the nickname “Gladiator” for his competitive spirit and fighting mentality, this represented the culmination of years of hard work and near-misses. To earn his first gold medal alongside JW Johnson, his Dallas Flash teammate, added an extra layer of meaning to the achievement. The bond between teammates at the professional level goes beyond just tournament partnerships, and this victory solidified their chemistry and mutual trust.

Women’s Doubles: A Dream Partnership Delivers

In one of the most anticipated partnerships of the tournament, Jorja Johnson teamed up with Anna Leigh Waters for the first time ever in women’s doubles. Waters, who typically dominates across all three disciplines, chose to focus exclusively on women’s doubles for this event. She had won this tournament the previous year partnering with her mother, Leigh, making her return to Daytona Beach particularly meaningful.

The combination of Jorja and Anna Leigh created exactly the kind of firepower you would expect from two of the best women’s doubles players in the world. They were utterly ruthless throughout the tournament, never losing a single game across their five matches. Their combined scoreline read 121-38, which averages out to roughly 11-3.5 per game. This level of dominance is rare even among the sport’s elite players.

What made their partnership so effective was the complementary nature of their games. Both players possess powerful serves, aggressive returns, and the ability to finish points at the net. Their court coverage was exceptional, and they communicated seamlessly despite being first-time partners. The chemistry was instant, suggesting that if they choose to partner together more frequently in the future, they could become one of the most feared teams on tour.

The finals saw them face Catherine Parenteau and Hurricane Tyra Black, two players with whom they both have extensive experience playing alongside but less experience competing against. Parenteau and Black are themselves elite competitors, but on this day, they simply had no answer for the firepower coming from the other side of the net. Johnson and Waters won 11-3, 11-8, 11-5, never allowing their opponents to gain any momentum.

Watching two teenage prodigies operate at this level was a reminder of how quickly the sport of pickleball is evolving. Both Jorja Johnson and Anna Leigh Waters have grown up in the professional pickleball environment, and their maturity on the court belies their young ages. This first-time partnership may have been experimental, but the results suggest it could be something more permanent if they choose to pursue it.

Catherine Parenteau’s Long-Awaited Singles Gold

The number that defined Catherine Parenteau’s singles victory was 855—the number of days since she had last won gold in singles on the PPA Tour. Her previous singles championship came at the 2023 Vulcan Tournament of Champions in August 2023, more than two years before this Daytona Beach triumph. For a player of Parenteau’s caliber, such a lengthy drought was both frustrating and motivating.

Seeded third overall, Parenteau entered the tournament with something to prove. She proceeded to deliver a masterclass in singles play, not dropping a single game throughout the entire event. This kind of dominance in singles competition is extraordinarily difficult to achieve, as singles matches are typically more physically demanding and offer fewer opportunities to rely on a partner’s strengths.

In the semifinals, Parenteau faced Lea Jansen in what shaped up to be a competitive match. Jansen has been steadily improving her singles game and presented a legitimate threat. However, Parenteau was in complete control, winning 11-8, 11-6. Her shot placement was precise, her movement efficient, and her mental game was rock solid. She advanced to the finals having yet to lose a game.

Her finals opponent was qualifier Kat Stewart, who had pulled off the tournament’s biggest upset in her semifinal match. Stewart defeated the number one seed Kaitlyn Christian in a thrilling three-game battle, losing the first game 10-12 before roaring back to win 11-7, 11-7. Stewart’s giant-killing performance set up a finals showdown with Parenteau that had the potential to be another upset special.

Parenteau, however, was not about to let this opportunity slip away. She won the finals 11-4, 12-10, maintaining her perfect game record throughout the tournament. The second game was closer, with Stewart pushing hard and nearly forcing a third game. But Parenteau’s experience and composure in the crucial moments made the difference.

The emotion displayed by Parenteau in her post-match interview revealed just how much this victory meant to her. Professional athletes often talk about the mental and emotional toll of extended droughts between victories. Every tournament that passes without a win adds weight to the next opportunity, creating pressure that can become suffocating. For Parenteau to break through after 855 days represented not just a tournament victory but a personal triumph over doubt and frustration.

Beyond the personal satisfaction, this win has significant implications for the PPA Points standings. Parenteau has solidified her position as the seventh-ranked woman in PPA Points with 7,350 points. The gap between her and the eighth-ranked player, Zoey Wang, who has 4,550 points, is now substantial. This creates a clear separation between the top seven women in the sport and everyone else, suggesting that this elite group has established itself as the consistent contenders for medals at every major tournament.

Chris Haworth’s Meteoric Rise Continues

If Catherine Parenteau’s story was about ending a long drought, Chris Haworth’s narrative was about an unprecedented rise through the rankings. His performance at Daytona Beach was the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable 100-day stretch that has completely transformed his standing in professional pickleball.

Seeded fourth in men’s singles, Haworth entered the tournament riding a wave of confidence. His recent performances have propelled him to sixth overall in the PPA Points standings—a staggering achievement when you consider that just 100 days earlier, at the Cincinnati Cup, he was seeded 57th. This kind of rapid ascent is almost unheard of in professional sports, where ranking systems typically produce more gradual changes.

The numbers behind Haworth’s rise tell the story of sustained excellence rather than a brief hot streak. In that 100-day span, he has collected two gold medals, one silver medal at Worlds, and one bronze medal. He has also added $50,000 to his bank account after winning the LifeTime Open, which carried a substantial prize purse for the winners.

In his semifinal match at Daytona Beach, Haworth faced Zane Ford and made devastatingly quick work of him. The 11-5, 11-1 scoreline didn’t reflect a competitive match but rather a demonstration of superiority. Haworth was in complete control from the opening serve, never allowing Ford to establish any rhythm or build any confidence.

The finals matched Haworth against Gabe Joseph in what became one of the best singles matches of the entire year. Joseph came to play and demonstrated why he had earned his spot in the championship match. However, Haworth produced two games of pickleball that bordered on perfection. For two straight games, he barely missed a shot—every serve found its target, every return was placed precisely, every dink was controlled, and every speed-up was executed with purpose.

Joseph had no answers. Haworth won the finals with the same scoreline as his semifinal: 11-5, 11-1. To win a professional finals against a quality opponent while allowing just six total points across two games is almost unthinkable. It was a performance that announced Haworth as not just a rising star but a legitimate contender for the top of the men’s singles game.

What makes Haworth’s rise even more impressive is the consistency he has shown. This wasn’t a fortunate draw or a weak field—he has been beating top-ranked players in tournaments with full fields and has done so repeatedly. His game appears to have reached a new level of maturity, where his physical skills are now matched by tactical awareness and mental toughness.

Understanding the PPA Tour for Newcomers

For those who might be new to following professional pickleball or are just beginning to understand how the competitive structure works, the PPA Tour represents the premier professional circuit in the sport. Think of it as similar to the ATP or WTA in tennis, or the PGA Tour in golf—it’s where the best players in the world compete for prize money, points, and rankings that determine their status in the sport.

The tour consists of multiple tournaments throughout the year held in different cities across the United States. Players accumulate PPA Points based on their performance at each tournament, with better finishes earning more points. These points determine tournament seedings, qualification for major championships, and ultimately establish who the top-ranked players are in each discipline.

Professional pickleball differs from recreational play in several key ways. The serves are more precise and powerful, the returns are aggressive rather than defensive, and the strategy at the net is far more sophisticated. The athleticism on display at professional tournaments is remarkable, with players covering the court with speed and agility that casual players might not expect from a sport that uses a wiffle-style ball and paddles.

There are five main competitive disciplines at PPA tournaments: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Players can enter any or all of these events, though competing in multiple disciplines at the same tournament is physically demanding. This is why the Johnson siblings earning double gold (winning in two different disciplines) is particularly impressive—it requires maintaining peak performance across multiple days and multiple matches.

The tournament format typically involves pool play or a single-elimination bracket, depending on the field size. Matches are played to 11 points (win by 2), and championship matches are often best-of-five games, while earlier rounds might be best-of-three. The scoring system means that momentum shifts can happen quickly, and mental toughness becomes as important as physical skill.

Prize money at PPA tournaments has grown significantly as the sport has professionalized. Major tournaments now offer substantial prize pools, with winners taking home thousands of dollars. This financial component has allowed more players to pursue pickleball as a full-time career rather than just a hobby or side pursuit, which in turn has raised the overall level of competition.

The Daytona Beach Open, while featuring a thinner field due to its holiday timing, still offered valuable PPA Points and prize money. For players like Augie Ge, who had never won gold on tour, this represented a career-defining opportunity. For established stars like the