The PPA Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open: A Comprehensive Recap

The pickleball world recently witnessed an exhilarating display of skill and competition at the PPA Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open in St. George, Utah. This iconic tournament, held at the Little Valley Sports Complex, brought together top players and showcased intense matches, unexpected upsets, and continued dominance from certain stars. Let’s dive into the key highlights and storylines that emerged from this exciting event.

Anna Leigh Waters: Extending Her Reign in Singles

The undisputed queen of pickleball singles, Anna Leigh Waters, continued her remarkable streak by clinching her 50th singles title on the PPA Tour. Waters’ last defeat in singles came against Salome Devidze on May 30th, 2024, marking an astounding 304-day unbeaten run. Her performance in St. George was nothing short of dominant, as she cruised through the tournament with relative ease.

Waters’ path to victory included:

Round of 16: Defeated Marcela Hones 11-3, 11-2
Quarterfinal: Overcame Cailyn Campbell 11-2, 11-2
Semifinal: Bested Lea Jansen 11-3, 11-2
Final: Triumphed over Parris Todd 11-2, 11-7

Waters’ combined score against her opponents was an impressive 88-23, averaging 11-2.875 per game. This includes victories over top-ranked players like Jansen and Todd, solidifying her status as the player to beat in women’s singles.

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Parris Todd’s Triple Medal Triumph

Parris Todd showcased her versatility and skill by achieving “The Cycle” of medals in Red Rock, earning gold, silver, and bronze across different events. Despite facing challenges, including painful blisters that required medical timeouts, Todd’s performance was noteworthy throughout the tournament.

In women’s doubles, Todd partnered with Rachel Rohrabacher, securing a bronze medal. Their journey included:

Defeating Mya Bui and Millie Rane 11-7, 11-4
Overcoming Lea Jansen and Lucy Kovalova 11-9, 11-4
Falling to Allyce Jones and Etta Tuionetoa in the semifinals
Bouncing back to beat Christa Gecheva and Kaitlyn Christian 11-5, 11-4 for bronze

Todd’s singles performance earned her a silver medal, despite struggling in the final against Anna Leigh Waters. Her path to the final included victories over Hannah Blatt, Catherine Parenteau, and a dominant win against Kaitlyn Christian (11-1, 11-4).

The highlight of Todd’s tournament came in mixed doubles, where she partnered with Dekel Bar to claim gold. This first-time pairing proved formidable, overcoming tough competition including:

Eric Oncins and Mya Bui in the Round of 32
Dylan Frazier and Viv David
Fed and Etta
Jorja and JW Johnson in a close semifinal (11-6, 6-11, 12-10)
A grueling five-game final victory (11-9, 12-14, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8)

This gold medal marks a significant milestone for both Todd and Bar, being their first on the PPA Tour. Todd’s performance across all disciplines cements her status as a rising star in the pickleball world.

Hunter Johnson’s Hard-Fought Singles Victory

The men’s singles competition was fiercely contested, with Hunter Johnson emerging victorious after a series of challenging matches. Johnson’s path to gold demonstrated the depth and competitiveness of the men’s field:

Round of 32: Defeated Wyatt Stone 8-11, 11-5, 11-7
Round of 16: Overcame Cason Campbell 10-11, 11-2, 11-6
Quarterfinal: Bested Gabe Joseph 11-6, 11-2
Semifinal: Triumphed over Quang Duong 9-11, 11-3, 11-8
Final: Outlasted Jack Sock 11-4, 8-11, 11-7

Johnson’s victory, with four out of five matches going to three games, highlights the intense competition in men’s singles. These hard-fought wins will undoubtedly serve as valuable experience for future high-pressure situations.

Jack Sock’s silver medal performance is also noteworthy, as he upset top seeds Federico Staksrud and Connor Garnett en route to the final, showcasing the unpredictable nature of men’s singles in current pickleball.

Christian Alshon and Catherine Parenteau’s Dual Medal Success

Both Christian Alshon and Catherine Parenteau had impressive showings, each securing a gold and a silver medal in different events.

Parenteau claimed gold in women’s doubles alongside Anna Leigh Waters. The pair dominated throughout the tournament, never dropping a game and defeating their opponents by a combined score of 99-47. Their gold medal match against Allyce Jones and Etta Tuionetoa ended 11-9, 11-3, 11-8.

Alshon mirrored this success in men’s doubles with partner Andrei Daescu. Their semifinal performance against Dylan Frazier and Dekel Bar was particularly memorable, resulting in an astounding 11-0, 11-1 victory.

In mixed doubles, Alshon and Parenteau teamed up to earn silver medals. They breezed through their first four matches with a combined score of 88-31 but fell just short in a thrilling five-game final, losing 8-11 in the deciding game.

New Hybrid Tournament Format Proves Successful

The PPA Tour introduced a new hybrid tournament format for this event, combining elements of traditional and progressive draws. This format received positive feedback from players, fans, and organizers alike. Key benefits included:

High-quality matches throughout the entire tournament
Better preparation for media and commentary teams
Improved player recovery time, especially for singles competitors
Enhanced potential for TV and media rights deals

The success of this format has led to its planned implementation in the upcoming PPA North Carolina Open.

Inaugural PPA Challenger Series Event

Concurrent with the Red Rock Open, the first-ever PPA Challenger Series event took place in Columbia, South Carolina. This new series, announced in December 2024, aims to provide a pathway for aspiring pros to the main PPA Tour.

The event was a resounding success, featuring:

Over 300 participants
Participation from UPA signed players
Live streaming of the Championship Court on the PPA Tour YouTube channel

A standout performance came from newly drafted Texas Ranchers player Helena Jansen, who achieved the triple crown by winning singles, women’s doubles (with Pierina Imparato), and mixed doubles (with James Delgado).

Full Results Summary

Women’s Singles

🥇 Anna Leigh Waters
🥈 Parris Todd
🥉 Lea Jansen

Men’s Singles

🥇 Hunter Johnson
🥈 Jack Sock
🥉 Connor Garnett

Mixed Doubles

🥇 Parris Todd/Dekel Bar
🥈 Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon
🥉 Jorja and JW Johnson

Women’s Doubles

🥇 Catherine Parenteau/Anna Leigh Waters
🥈 Allyce Jones/Etta Tuionetoa
🥉 Rachel Rohrabacher/Parris Todd

Men’s Doubles

🥇 Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu
🥈 Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud
🥉 CJ Klinger/JW Johnson

The PPA Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open showcased the ever-evolving landscape of professional pickleball. From dominant performances to nail-biting finishes, the tournament offered something for every pickleball enthusiast. As the sport continues to grow, events like these serve as important milestones in its development and popularity.

For those inspired by the action and looking to improve their own game, remember that practice, dedication, and the right equipment can make a significant difference. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, there’s always room for growth in this exciting sport.

As we look forward to upcoming tournaments, including the PPA North Carolina Open, the pickleball community can expect more thrilling matches, potential upsets, and continued evolution of the game at the highest level.

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