San Clemente Shines as Premier Pickleball Venue: PPA Orange County Cup Recap

The picturesque coastal town of San Clemente, California once again proved why it’s considered one of the top destinations for professional pickleball tournaments. The recent PPA Orange County Cup, held at the Life Time Rancho San Clemente, delivered an unforgettable week of world-class competition, perfect weather, and enthusiastic crowds. As the pickleball community continues to grow, events like this showcase the sport’s rising popularity and the incredible talent of its top players.

Anna Leigh Waters Dominates with Another Triple Crown

The undisputed queen of pickleball, Anna Leigh Waters, continued her reign of dominance by securing her 35th triple crown on the PPA Tour. This remarkable achievement puts her well ahead of her closest competitor, Ben Johns, who holds 21 triple crowns. Waters’ performance at the Orange County Cup was nothing short of spectacular, as she went undefeated across all three events (women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles).

Waters’ dominance was evident in the stats, with a combined record of 32-1 in her games throughout the week. Her opponents struggled to keep up, averaging less than five points per game against the young phenom. This marks Waters’ second consecutive triple crown and her third straight at the Orange County Cup, solidifying her status as the player to beat in professional pickleball.

As Waters continues to elevate her game, the gap between her and the rest of the field seems to be widening. Her ability to excel in all three disciplines of pickleball sets her apart and raises questions about just how far she can push the boundaries of the sport.

Hunter Johnson Stakes His Claim as Top Singles Player

In the men’s singles division, Hunter Johnson made a strong case for being considered the world’s top player with a convincing victory over Federico Staksrud in the final. Johnson’s 11-2, 11-5 win marked his third gold medal of the 2025 calendar year, the most among men’s players.

While Staksrud currently holds the official #1 seed, Johnson’s recent performances have many in the pickleball community ranking him as the top player in current power rankings. Over the last four events, Johnson has secured two gold medals and a bronze, with only one tournament where he failed to reach the semifinals.

Johnson’s impressive run includes victories over a who’s who of top pickleball talent, including Quang Duong, Jack Sock, Noe Khlif, Dylan Frazier, James Ignatowich, Connor Garnett, and Federico Staksrud. His consistent high-level play and ability to perform under pressure have solidified his position as a force to be reckoned with in men’s singles.

Qualifiers Make Deep Runs

One of the most exciting aspects of the Orange County Cup was the success of several qualifier players who made deep runs in the tournament. These performances highlight the depth of talent in pickleball and the potential for upsets at any given event.

Rafael Lehnard’s Cinderella Run

Perhaps the most impressive qualifier story came from Rafael Lehnard, who fought his way through three qualifying rounds just to make it to the main draw. Once there, Lehnard continued to turn heads with a series of upsets:

• Round of 64: Defeated 4th seed Ben Johns 11-6, 14-12
• Round of 32: Defeated 31st seed Zane Navratil 11-4, 10-12, 11-3
• Round of 16: Defeated 13th seed Noe Khlif 7-11, 11-0, 11-7
• Quarterfinal: Lost to 8th seed Christian Alshon 9-11, 2-11

Lehnard’s background as a five-star tennis recruit and Division I college player at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo demonstrates the crossover potential for athletes from other racquet sports. His success as a relative newcomer to professional pickleball is a testament to his natural talent and adaptability.

Riley Inn and Luke Williams: Lucky Losers Make Good

In the men’s doubles draw, Riley Inn and Luke Williams took advantage of their “lucky loser” status to make an impressive run to a fifth-place finish. After initially losing in the final round of qualifying, they were given a spot in the main draw due to the withdrawal of the 5th seeded team of Dekel Bar and Dylan Frazier.

Inn and Williams made the most of their opportunity, defeating the 31st seeded team in the Round of 32 and then upsetting the 12th seeds in the Round of 16. Though they fell to the 2nd seeded team of Staksrud and Patriquin in the quarterfinals, their performance earned them valuable ranking points and proved they can compete with the best in the world.

Yufei Long and Ting Chieh “Jamie” Wei: International Success Story

The women’s doubles qualifiers Yufei Long and Ting Chieh “Jamie” Wei provided another inspiring storyline. As part of the UPA Asia Trailblazers program, these players are on a mission to elevate pickleball in Asia. Their quarterfinal run in just their third pro event is a remarkable achievement and bodes well for the global growth of the sport.

Long and Wei’s success extended beyond doubles, with both players reaching the Round of 16 in singles as well. Their performance demonstrates the rapid progress that dedicated athletes can make in pickleball, even when coming from regions where the sport is still developing.

The “Big Four” in Men’s Doubles

The Orange County Cup further solidified the emergence of a “Big Four” in men’s doubles pickleball:

1. Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns
2. Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud
3. Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu
4. CJ Klinger and JW Johnson

These four teams have dominated recent tournaments, with 11 out of the last 12 men’s doubles medals going to teams from this elite group. The partnership of Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio seems to have a slight edge, having reached five consecutive finals and accumulating three gold medals and two silvers in that span.

While the dominance of these teams creates exciting rivalries and high-level play, it also raises questions about the competitiveness of the men’s doubles field as a whole. As the sport continues to grow, it will be interesting to see if new partnerships can break into this top tier or if the gap between the “Big Four” and the rest of the field will continue to widen.

Newly Signed Players Make Their Mark

The Orange County Cup also saw impressive performances from two newly signed players to the PPA Tour:

Judit Castillo’s Triumphant Return

After a six-month absence from PPA events due to contract issues, Spanish player Judit Castillo made an immediate impact in her return as a UPA exclusive player. Seeded 10th in women’s singles, Castillo fought her way to a bronze medal finish, defeating several top players along the way.

Castillo’s performance, which included wins over Jessie Irvine, Cailyn Campbell, and Kaitlyn Christian, immediately places her in the conversation as one of the top 10 women on the PPA Tour. Her success in both singles and mixed doubles (where she secured an upset win with partner Wyatt Stone) suggests that Castillo will be a force to be reckoned with in future tournaments.

Grayson Goldin’s Doubles Prowess

Another newly signed player, Grayson Goldin, turned heads with his performance in men’s doubles. Partnering with Jay Devilliers, Goldin helped secure an upset win in the Round of 32 and pushed the eventual silver medalists Staksrud and Patriquin to three games in a closely contested Round of 16 match.

Goldin’s success in doubles, combined with a solid showing in singles where he reached the Round of 16 as the 17th seed, bodes well for his future on the PPA Tour. As a recent signee with UPA, Goldin will be looking to build on this performance and continue to improve his standing in the professional ranks.

The Ongoing Line Call Controversy

While the Orange County Cup provided plenty of thrilling moments, it also highlighted an ongoing issue in professional pickleball: the reliability of line calls. With only 36% of matches played on courts with video replay capabilities, the majority of pro matches still rely on player calls, which can lead to disputes and controversy.

A notable incident occurred in a men’s doubles match between Etienne Blaszkewycz/Callan Dawson and Connor Garnet/Travis Rettenmaier, where accusations of intentional “hooking” (making incorrect calls) led to heated exchanges both on and off the court. This situation underscores the need for a more comprehensive solution to ensure fair play and maintain the integrity of the sport at the highest level.

As pickleball continues to grow in popularity and professionalism, addressing the line call issue will be crucial for the sport’s credibility and player satisfaction. Potential solutions could include expanding video replay technology to more courts, implementing additional officials, or exploring new technologies for automated line calling.

Looking Ahead

The PPA Orange County Cup at San Clemente showcased the best of what professional pickleball has to offer: world-class athleticism, intense competition, and the sport’s unique blend of skill and strategy. As the tour moves forward, several storylines will be worth following:

• Can anyone challenge Anna Leigh Waters’ dominance across all three disciplines?
• Will Hunter Johnson solidify his claim as the top men’s singles player?
• Can any teams break into the “Big Four” of men’s doubles?
• How will newly signed players like Judit Castillo and Grayson Goldin impact the competitive landscape?
• What steps will be taken to address the ongoing line call controversies?

As pickleball continues its rapid growth, events like the Orange County Cup demonstrate why the sport has captured the hearts of players and fans alike. With a perfect blend of athleticism, strategy, and excitement, professional pickleball is poised for an even brighter future.