PPA Daytona Beach Tournament Recap: A Thrilling End to 2024

The final PPA Tour event of 2024 (or perhaps the first of 2025, depending on your perspective) has concluded, marking a significant milestone in the pickleball calendar. This tournament stood out for several reasons, creating a unique atmosphere and set of circumstances for players and spectators alike.

What made this event particularly intriguing were the following factors:

• The tournament results counted towards the 2025 PPA Points standings
• Players received credit for a 2024 event in terms of contract fulfillment
• Many top-ranked players opted out, opening up opportunities for rising stars

Let’s dive into the most compelling storylines and outcomes from this exciting event.

Top Storylines

Leigh Waters’ Triumphant Return with Daughter Anna Leigh

In a heartwarming comeback story, Leigh Waters secured gold in women’s doubles alongside her daughter, Anna Leigh Waters. This marked Leigh’s first competitive appearance since suffering an ACL tear two years ago at Nationals. Since her injury, Leigh has been focusing on coaching Anna Leigh and the New Jersey 5s team.

The mother-daughter duo seized the opportunity to compete together, given the tournament’s proximity to their home. Anna Leigh participated solely in women’s doubles for this event, allowing them to concentrate their efforts on Saturday and Sunday.

Throughout the tournament, Leigh steadily regained her form. Naturally, being paired with the world’s top-ranked player meant Leigh was often targeted by opponents. Anna Leigh noted that her mother tends to perform better when actively engaged in rallies, so they initially adopted a straightforward approach, alternating sides after each point scored – a strategy common in recreational play.

In the later stages of the tournament, Leigh primarily played on the right side during semifinals and finals. Her counter-attacks were impressive, and her dinking skills remained top-notch. Based on this performance, it’s reasonable to rank Leigh among the top 20 women’s doubles players, considering her movement and counter-attacking abilities.

The Waters team’s journey to gold was not without challenges. They defeated the Brascia sisters in the quarterfinals with a convincing 11-3, 11-7 scoreline. The semifinals proved more competitive, with the Waters duo overcoming Tyra Black and Allyce Jones 11-6, 3-11, 11-3.

The finals showcased their resilience. After dropping the first game 7-11 to Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black, Leigh and Anna Leigh found themselves in a precarious position, trailing 2-8 in the second game. However, they mounted an incredible comeback, winning 11 consecutive points to take the game 11-8. This momentum carried them through the next two games, which they won decisively at 11-3 and 11-4.

Kaitlyn Christian’s Breakthrough PPA Gold

Kaitlyn Christian, a consistent top performer in singles throughout the year, finally clinched her first PPA gold medal in Daytona. This victory marked a significant milestone in her pickleball career, adding to her impressive tally of six medals on the PPA Tour in 2024.

Christian’s path to gold required her to overcome formidable opponents, including Mary Brascia in the semifinals and Dominique Schaefer in the finals. Her performance throughout the tournament was nothing short of dominant, as she won every single game across her five matches. The cumulative score of 113-50 in her favor underscores the extent of her superiority on the court.

This victory solidifies Christian’s position as a rising star in the pickleball world. Her background as a former tennis player has undoubtedly contributed to her rapid ascent in pickleball. Kaitlyn’s journey from junior tennis in Orange, California, to pickleball prominence is a testament to her athletic versatility and dedication.

Looking ahead to 2025, Christian is poised to establish herself as a top-five singles player. Moreover, her continuous improvement in doubles suggests that she will be a force to be reckoned with across multiple disciplines in the coming year.

CJ Klinger and Andrei Daescu’s Doubles Dominance

In a breakthrough performance, CJ Klinger secured his first PPA Tour gold medal in men’s doubles, partnering with the experienced Andrei Daescu. This tall duo proved to be a formidable force on the court, leveraging their height and skills to great effect.

Two key factors contributed to their success:

1. Their imposing presence at the kitchen line, allowing them to intercept dinks and rob opponents of time and space
2. An exceptional ability to advance to the kitchen line while serving, enabled by their outstanding third-shot execution

At just 19 years old, Klinger shows immense potential for growth as he continues to develop physically and refine his game. Daescu, known for his consistency and reliability on the left side, provided the perfect complement to Klinger’s emerging talents.

The pair’s journey to gold was marked by dominance in the early rounds, where they dispatched their opponents in the Round of 32, Round of 16, and quarterfinals with a combined score of 66-19. Their true test came in the semifinals, where they faced the top-seeded team of Hayden and Fed, emerging victorious with a score of 11-2, 4-11, 11-7.

In the finals, Klinger and Daescu maintained their high level of play, defeating Tellez and Bar in straight sets: 13-11, 11-2, 11-9. This performance suggests that if Klinger and Daescu continue their partnership into 2025, they could become a regular fixture on the podium.

Zane Ford’s Surprising Singles Run

While Federico Staksrud continued his dominance in men’s singles, securing his ninth victory of the year, the real story was the unexpected rise of Zane Ford. The 20-year-old Ford, seeded 21st in the tournament, made a remarkable run to claim his first PPA Tour medal – a silver in singles.

Ford’s journey to the finals was nothing short of impressive:

• Round of 32: Defeated 9th seed Ross Whittaker 11-3, 11-3
• Round of 16: Overcame 5th seed Grayson Goldin 11-6, 11-4
• Quarterfinals: Bested 4th seed Rafa Hewett 11-2, 11-6
• Semifinals: Edged out 2nd seed Michael Loyd in a thrilling match 11-7, 9-11, 12-10

The semifinal against Loyd was particularly grueling, pushing Ford to his limits in a match that went to overtime in the decisive third game. Although Ford ultimately fell to Staksrud in the final (7-11, 3-11), his performance throughout the tournament was a clear announcement of his arrival on the big stage.

Ford’s physical attributes – his lanky frame and exceptional reach at the kitchen line – combined with his ability to generate significant spin on both forehand and backhand drives, make him a player to watch. His youth and athleticism suggest that he has ample room for growth and improvement, potentially positioning him as a rising star in the 2025 PPA Tour.

Jorja Johnson and Hayden Patriquin’s Mixed Doubles Triumph

The mixed doubles competition saw an exciting new partnership between Jorja Johnson and Hayden Patriquin strike gold. This victory further cements Johnson’s status as one of the most versatile and talented players in professional pickleball. Her success across multiple disciplines – including her Major League Pickleball championship with Dallas, strong singles performances, and now this mixed doubles gold – makes a compelling case for her being considered among the top three female players in the sport.

Patriquin, often referred to as “Big H,” has been on a hot streak lately, showcasing his skills in men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and singles. Their partnership, despite being a first-time pairing, proved to be a winning combination from the start.

Johnson and Patriquin’s path to gold was marked by dominance:

• In their first three matches, they outscored their opponents 66-19, including two “pickles” (11-0 wins)
• They secured a comfortable 11-8, 11-5 victory over Pablo and Tyra in the semifinals
• The final saw them triumph over Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu in three games: 11-3, 11-8, 11-3

This performance suggests that Johnson and Patriquin could become a formidable mixed doubles team if they choose to continue their partnership in future tournaments.

Full Results

Women’s Singles

• 🥇 Kaitlyn Christian
• 🥈 Dominique Schaefer
• 🥉 Mary Brascia

Men’s Singles

• 🥇 Federico Staksrud
• 🥈 Zane Ford
• 🥉 Michael Loyd

Mixed Doubles

• 🥇 Jorja Johnson/Hayden Patriquin
• 🥈 Tina Pisnik/Andrei Daescu
• 🥉 Anna Bright/Dekel Bar

Women’s Doubles

• 🥇 Leigh Waters/Anna Leigh Waters
• 🥈 Allyce Jones/Hurricane Tyra Black
• 🥉 Anna Bright/Jackie Kawamoto

Men’s Doubles

• 🥇 CJ Klinger/Andrei Daescu
• 🥈 Pablo Tellez/Dekel Bar
• 🥉 Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud

Looking Ahead

The Daytona Beach Tournament provided an exciting conclusion to the 2024 pickleball season while simultaneously setting the stage for 2025. The emergence of new talents like Zane Ford and the successful return of veterans like Leigh Waters demonstrate the dynamic nature of the sport.

As we look forward to the 2025 season, several questions arise:

• Will Kaitlyn Christian build on her singles success and challenge for the top spot?
• Can CJ Klinger and Andrei Daescu establish themselves as a dominant force in men’s doubles?
• How will Jorja Johnson’s continued development impact the women’s and mixed doubles landscapes?
• Will Zane Ford’s breakthrough performance translate into consistent success at the highest level?

These storylines, among others, promise an exciting year ahead for pickleball enthusiasts. The sport continues to evolve rapidly, with new stars emerging and established players constantly refining their games. As the PPA Tour moves into 2025, fans can look forward to more thrilling matches, unexpected upsets, and the continued growth of this dynamic sport.

For those looking to improve their own pickleball skills, events like the Daytona Beach Tournament offer valuable insights into high-level strategy and technique. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer to the sport, there’s always something to learn from watching the pros in action.

As we wrap up our coverage of this exciting tournament, it’s clear that pickleball’s future is bright. The blend of established stars and rising talents, combined with the sport’s growing popularity, suggests that 2025 will be another landmark year for pickleball. Stay tuned for more exciting developments, both on and off the court, as we continue to follow the thrilling world of professional pickleball.