The PPA CIBC Texas Open Tournament Recap: Wind, Upsets, and New Champions

The Courts of McKinney hosted the PPA Tour for the first time in history, and what an eventful tournament it turned out to be! From gusty winds wreaking havoc on play to surprising upsets and new champions crowned, the PPA CIBC Texas Open will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the 2025 pickleball season.

Top Storylines Beyond the Winners

Women’s Doubles Shakeup

For the first time in recent memory, neither of the top two women’s doubles teams made it to the finals. The dominant partnerships of Anna Leigh Waters/Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher/Anna Bright, who had made the previous 10 finals in tournaments where they both competed, were both eliminated before the championship match.

The windy conditions in McKinney played a significant role in these unexpected results. With gusts reaching up to 40mph on Saturday during gender doubles, even the most seasoned pros struggled to maintain their usual level of play. In a particularly notable upset, the 5th-seeded team of Callie Smith and Etta Tuionetoa took down Waters and Parenteau in the quarterfinals with a score of 11-4, 8-11, 8-11.

This win marks a significant milestone for Smith and Tuionetoa as a first-time partnership. On the other side of the bracket, “The Girlies” (Rohrabacher and Bright) narrowly escaped an early exit in the quarterfinals before falling to Parris Todd and Hurricane Tyra Black in the semifinals.

These unexpected results have injected new excitement into the women’s doubles scene, which had begun to feel predictable in early 2025. The question now is whether these breakthrough performances will lead to sustained challenges to the established order or if they were merely a product of the unusual playing conditions.

Wind Becomes the Unexpected Star

The extreme wind conditions in McKinney became a major storyline of the tournament, affecting play across all events. Friday saw sustained winds in the 20mph range with gusts up to 30mph, while Saturday’s conditions worsened with sustained winds of 26-27mph and gusts reaching a staggering 40mph.

The PPA Tour’s decision to continue outdoor play despite these challenging conditions sparked debate among players, fans, and officials. With the recent removal of the rule mandating play stoppage for sustained winds above 17mph, tournament directors now have more discretion in these situations.

While some argued for moving play indoors or postponing matches, the PPA ultimately decided to proceed with outdoor competition. This decision prioritized maintaining the tournament schedule and preserving the viewing experience for both on-site spectators and streaming audiences.

The wind’s impact was visually evident throughout the weekend, with players struggling to control their shots and serves. Some creative athletes even incorporated the wind into their strategy, using it to their advantage on certain shots.

For tournament organizers or pickleball enthusiasts looking to be prepared for windy conditions, this simple windsock on Amazon (currently 50% off at $7.95) could be a useful tool for gauging wind direction and intensity.

Video Replay System Debuts

The PPA Tour introduced its new video replay system, dubbed “SpotON replay,” during Championship Sunday. This technology represents a significant advancement in officiating accuracy and transparency for professional pickleball.

The system provides a visual representation of where the ball landed in relation to the line, along with a color-coded indication of whether the ball was in or out. A green dot signifies that at least part of the ball touched the line (therefore “in”), while a red dot indicates the ball was entirely outside the line.

This implementation addresses concerns that arose after the PPA chose not to renew its contract with Close Call Replay at the end of the previous year. The successful debut of SpotON replay was well-received by players and fans alike, marking an important step forward in the sport’s technological evolution.

Ben Johns’ Controversial Celebrations

Ben Johns, one of pickleball’s biggest stars, found himself at the center of debate due to his on-court behavior during the tournament. On two separate occasions, Johns appeared to mock opponents for their enthusiastic “Yeah!” celebrations.

The first incident occurred during his singles match against Zane Ford on Thursday, where Johns mimicked Ford’s celebrations twice during the second game. Despite Johns’ antics, Ford went on to win the match in three games.

The second instance took place during a mixed doubles match on Friday, where Johns appeared to mock either Kate Fahey or Noe Khlif (or possibly both) for their vocal celebrations. This behavior occurred during the final two points of the match, which Johns and his partner Anna Leigh Waters won.

These actions sparked discussion within the pickleball community about sportsmanship and the line between competitive fire and disrespect. A poll conducted on social media showed mixed reactions, with 56% of respondents supporting Johns’ behavior, 34% disapproving, and 10% offering varied opinions.

Championship Performances

Johns and Tardio Claim First Gold Together

In just their second tournament as partners, Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio secured their first gold medal in men’s doubles. Their path to victory was far from easy, facing tough competition throughout the bracket.

Key matches included:

• A nail-biting 11-5, 4-11, 12-10 victory over Ryan Fu and Zane Navratil in the Round of 16
• A comeback win against Tyson McGuffin and Quang Duong in the quarterfinals (4-11, 11-2, 11-1)
• Another three-game battle in the semifinals, defeating Dylan Frazier and Andrei Daescu 11-3, 12-14, 12-10

The finals against Christian Alshon and Federico Staksrud proved to be a rollercoaster, with Johns and Tardio dominating the first game 11-1 before dropping the next two. However, they regained their composure to close out the match 11-7, 11-4 in the final two games.

This victory was particularly emotional for Johns, who displayed more visible excitement than he had in over a year. The win demonstrated the team’s mental toughness and ability to grind out close matches, qualities that will serve them well as they continue to develop their partnership.

Alshon’s Singles Dominance Continues

Christian Alshon solidified his claim as one of the world’s top pickleball players by securing his second consecutive singles gold medal. This back-to-back victory is especially impressive considering Alshon had never won a singles title before this recent run.

Alshon’s path to gold included:

• Dominant early-round performances, winning by a combined score of 44-14 without dropping a game
• A comeback victory over rising star Zane Ford in the quarterfinals (3-11, 11-8, 11-5)
• A semifinal rematch against Jaume Martinez Vich, whom he had defeated for gold in Cape Coral the previous week
• A masterful performance in the finals, outplaying Federico Staksrud 11-4, 11-7

With two golds and a silver in his last four PPA Tour events, Alshon has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in men’s singles.

Waters and Johns Maintain Mixed Doubles Supremacy

Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns reaffirmed their status as the premier mixed doubles team, bouncing back from a rare loss three weeks prior in Mesa. Their road to gold included:

• A hard-fought semifinal victory over Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin (9-11, 11-6, 11-8)
• A commanding performance in the finals against Jorja and JW Johnson, winning 11-4, 11-3, 14-12

This victory cements Waters and Johns as the team to beat in mixed doubles, with their only real vulnerability appearing to be against teams featuring Anna Bright. As the 2025 season progresses, it seems likely that this powerhouse duo will continue their dominance, potentially losing only once more or even going undefeated for the remainder of the year.

Black and Todd’s Breakthrough in Women’s Doubles

The third-seeded team of Hurricane Tyra Black and Parris Todd captured their first gold medal together in women’s doubles, showcasing remarkable consistency throughout the wind-affected tournament. Their undefeated run to the title included:

• Not dropping a single game en route to gold
• A decisive semifinal victory over the second-seeded “Girlies” (11-7, 11-8)
• A dominant performance in the finals against Callie Smith and Etta Tuionetoa (11-5, 11-5, 11-4)

Black and Todd’s success, particularly their ability to adapt to the challenging wind conditions, positions them as a serious threat to the established order in women’s doubles. Their continued development as a partnership will be a key storyline to watch in upcoming tournaments.

Anna Leigh Waters’ Singles Dominance

Anna Leigh Waters continued her incredible run in women’s singles, showcasing why she’s considered the most dominant force in the sport. Her path to gold was nothing short of spectacular:

• Won all five matches without dropping a game
• Defeated opponents by a combined score of 114-45
• Achieved two “pickles” (11-0 wins) en route to the finals
• Overcame a strong challenge from Kate Fahey in the finals, winning 11-4, 15-13

Waters has now won 20 consecutive games in singles play across her last two tournaments, with opponents averaging just 4.1 points per game against her. This level of dominance raises the question of whether anyone can seriously challenge her in the near future.

For those curious about the equipment behind Waters’ success, her paddle of choice is available for $212.49 using the code “thedink”.

Full Results

Women’s Singles

• 🥇 Anna Leigh Waters
• 🥈 Kate Fahey
• 🥉 Lea Jansen

Men’s Singles

• 🥇 Federico Staksrud
• 🥈 Christian Alshon
• 🥉 Jaume Martinez Vich

Mixed Doubles

• 🥇 Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns
• 🥈 Jorja/JW Johnson
• 🥉 Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin

Women’s Doubles

• 🥇 Parris Todd/Hurricane Tyra Black
• 🥈 Callie Smith/Etta Tuionetoa
• 🥉 Rachel Rohrabacher/Anna Bright

Men’s Doubles

• 🥇 Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns
• 🥈 Christian Alshon/Federico Staksrud
• 🥉 Pablo Tellez/Hayden Patriquin

The PPA CIBC Texas Open proved to be a tournament of surprises, resilience, and extraordinary performances. As the 2025 season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how the storylines that emerged in McKinney continue to shape the competitive landscape of professional pickleball.