Select Medical PPA Orange County Cup Tournament Preview
The Select Medical PPA Orange County Cup presented by Reign Storm is set to begin on Monday, June 16, at the Life Time Rancho San Clemente, in San Clemente, California. This iconic PPA Tour venue will host one of the most anticipated events of the season, with the vast majority of top players in attendance.
As one of only two PPA Tour stops during the Major League Pickleball (MLP) season, this tournament carries extra weight. Its status as a Cup event means players can earn 1.5x the normal PPA Tour points, with winners receiving 1,500 points in each event. Many players will remain in San Clemente for nearly two weeks, as the MLP San Clemente tournament begins shortly after the PPA event concludes.
How to Watch the Select Medical PPA Orange County Cup
All matches on Championship Court and Grandstand Court will be broadcast on PickleballTV and the PickleballTV app. Here’s the full broadcast schedule (all times Eastern):
- Tuesday, June 17 – 1pm – 9pm – Round of 64
- Wednesday, June 18 – 1pm – 9pm – Round of 32
- Thursday, June 19 – 1pm – 9pm – Round of 16
- Friday, June 20 – 1pm – 9pm – Quarterfinals
- Saturday, June 21 – 1pm – 9pm – Semifinals
- Sunday, June 22 – 1pm – 7pm – Finals and Bronze
- Sunday, June 22 – 10pm – Midnight – ESPN2 (Tape Delay)
Weather Outlook
San Clemente’s ideal pickleball conditions are a major draw for the tour. Players can expect lows in the low 60s and highs in the mid 70s throughout the tournament. Wind should not be a significant factor, with only Saturday forecasted to have winds reaching double digits in mph.
Top Storylines
Anna Leigh Waters Plays Without Pressure
After securing her 34th triple crown and 151st gold medal on the PPA Tour at the Atlanta Pickleball Championships in May, Anna Leigh Waters has hit a remarkable milestone. Having surpassed 150 gold medals, she can now compete in San Clemente without the added pressure of chasing records. The prospect of the world’s top female pickleball player competing freely is daunting for her opponents.
The Life Time Ball Makes Its Second Appearance
The unique Life Time ball will be used again at this PPA Tour stop. With 48 holes and a patented design, this ball is not USA Pickleball certified but is approved for use by the UPA-A, which governs the PPA Tour. Players noted its increased bounciness compared to the Vulcan ball during its first appearance, potentially giving an edge to those who excel at speeding up play off the bounce.
Notable Absences
Several high-profile players will be missing from the tournament:
- Dekel Bar – Withdrew due to illness
- Riley Newman – Still recovering from a groin injury sustained during MLP Phoenix
- Quang Duong – Suspended for this event due to participation in an unsanctioned tournament in Vietnam
The Four-Way Battle in Men’s Doubles
2025 has seen remarkable parity at the top of men’s doubles. Four teams have consistently dominated:
- Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu – 🥇🥇🥇🥉🥉
- Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns – 🥇🥇🥈🥈
- Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud – 🥈🥈🥈🥉
- CJ Klinger/JW Johnson – 🥇🥉🥉
The question remains: can any other team break through and challenge these top contenders?
Men’s Singles: Who Will Make a Deep Run?
Five men have each won two gold medals in singles on the 2025 PPA Tour:
- Federico Staksrud
- Christian Alshon
- Ben Johns
- Gabe Tardio
- Hunter Johnson
Ben Johns, having won the Atlanta event which also used the Life Time ball, enters as the favorite. However, players like Connor Garnett and Jaume Martinez Vich, who haven’t claimed gold yet this year, could be poised for a breakthrough.
Bracket Analysis
Women’s Singles
Top storylines:
- (1) Anna Leigh Waters aims to extend her year-long undefeated streak in singles
- (10) Judit Castillo, newly signed as a full-time PPA Tour player, looks to make a deep run
- Utah Black Diamonds teammates (32) Mehvish Safdar and (33) Allyce Jones face off in the Round of 64
Upset potential:
- 15-year-old (29) Cailyn Campbell could challenge (8) Zoey Wang in the Round of 32
- (34) Felicity Di Laura may test (4) Parris Todd
- (27) Jalina Ingram, showing strong singles form, faces (5) Brooke Buckner
Predictions:
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters, (3) Kailtyn Christian, (2) Kate Fahey, and (4) Parris Todd
- Finals: Anna Leigh Waters defeats Kate Fahey
Men’s Singles
Top storylines:
- (1) Federico Staksrud seeks his first win in over six months
- (8) Christian Alshon, despite two wins this year, faces a tough draw due to previous injury
- Podcasters (31) Tyler Loong and (37) Zane Navratil clash in the Round of 64
Upset potential:
- Newly signed (17) Grayson Goldin could face (3) Connor Garnett in the Round of 16
- (47) Eric Oncins may challenge (11) JW Johnson in the Round of 32
- (49) Tom Protzek looks to upset (13) Noe Khlif in the Round of 64
Predictions:
- Semifinalists: (1) Federico Staksrud, (4) Ben Johns, (5) Jaume Martinez Vich, and (17) Grayson Goldin
- Finals: Ben Johns defeats Jaume Martinez Vich
Mixed Doubles
Top storylines:
- (5) Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin team up as St. Louis Shock teammates
- (8) Hurricane Tyra Black and James Ignatowich seek their first medal as a duo
- (22) Matt Wright and Lucy Kovalova could face (15) Callie Smith and Jay Devilliers in a throwback matchup
- (10) Andrei Daescu and Parris Todd debut as a PPA Tour team
Upset potential:
- (60) Felicity Di Laura and James Delgado could surprise (31) Erokhina/Hewett
- (17) Kate Fahey and Noe Khlif pose a threat to higher seeds
Predictions:
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, (5) Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin, (2) Jorja & JW Johnson, and (3) Etta Tuionetoa/Christian Alshon
- Finals: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns defeat the Johnson siblings in four games
Women’s Doubles
Top storylines:
- (1) Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters aim to continue their dominant form
- (2) Rachel Rohrabacher and Catherine Parenteau play together before potentially parting ways
- (4) Lacy Schneemann and Jorja Johnson reunite after previously upsetting top seeds
- (16) Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite team up as California Black Bears
Predictions:
- Semifinalists: (1) Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters, (4) Jorja Johnson/Lacy Schneemann, (2) Rachel Rohrabacher/Catherine Parenteau, and (3) Parris Todd/Hurricane Tyra Black
- Finals: Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters defeat Parris Todd and Hurricane Tyra Black in four games
Men’s Doubles
Top storylines:
- The four-way race at the top continues
- (16) Jay Devilliers now partners with Grayson Goldin
- (9) Matt Wright teams up with Roscoe Bellamy
- Potential quarterfinal match between brothers (1) Ben Johns and (6) Collin Johns
- Connor Garnett and Tyler Loong play with new partners
Upset potential:
- (22) Ryan Fu/Max Freeman could challenge (11) Travis Rettenmaier/Connor Garnett in the Round of 32
Predictions:
- Semifinalists: (1) Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns, (3) Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu, (2) Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud, and (4) CJ Klinger/JW Johnson
- Finals: Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud defeat Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns for their first title of 2025
This tournament marks the last PPA Tour event until the PPA Bristol Open in August, with five MLP events scheduled in the interim. The Orange County Cup promises to be a thrilling showcase of top-tier pickleball talent in an ideal Southern California setting.
