PPA Las Vegas Strip Tournament Recap: A Showcase of Upsets and Excellence
Introduction: Setting the Stage in Sin City
The bright lights of Las Vegas illuminated an extraordinary weekend of pickleball at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the PPA Tour delivered unexpected upsets, rising stars, and dramatic matchups that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. For those new to professional pickleball, this tournament represented a significant shift in the sport’s competitive landscape, featuring breakthrough performances and historic defeats that will shape the remainder of the 2025 season.
Major Tournament Developments
The Fall of an Unbeaten Dynasty
In what became the tournament’s most talked-about moment, the seemingly invincible partnership of Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters faced their first defeat of 2025. The Dallas Flash duo of Hurricane Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson accomplished what many thought impossible, securing a victory with scores of 5-11, 11-6, 11-3. This upset marks a pivotal moment in women’s doubles, demonstrating that even the most dominant teams can be vulnerable.
Tardio and Johns: The New Standard in Men’s Doubles
Despite Ben Johns’ known challenges with indoor lighting conditions, the partnership of Tardio and Johns continued their remarkable run. Their victory over Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu in the finals showcased their dominance, marking their third consecutive tournament win and fifth victory of 2025. Their performance throughout the tournament was particularly impressive, with most games ending in decisively one-sided scores.
Rising Stars and Notable Performances
The Emergence of John Lucian Goins
The 17-year-old phenomenon secured his second consecutive gold medal in singles, defeating a roster of established professionals including Connor Garnett, Christian Alshon, and ultimately Hunter Johnson in the finals. His victory, with scores of 11-4, 11-9, cements his position as one of pickleball’s most promising young talents.
Mixed Doubles Dominance Continues
Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters maintained their stronghold on mixed doubles, capturing their fourth consecutive gold medal and eighth overall for the year. While they showed moments of vulnerability, losing individual games to formidable opponents, their overall dominance remains unquestioned.
Women’s Singles: A Historic Final
Kaitlyn Christian’s victory over Kate Fahey in the women’s singles final produced one of the most compelling matches in recent memory. The 90-minute battle, ending with scores of 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, represented Christian’s first tournament win since January and her third gold medal of the year.
Complete Tournament Results
Women’s Singles
- Gold: Kaitlyn Christian
- Silver: Kate Fahey
- Bronze: Brooke Buckner
Men’s Singles
- Gold: John Lucian Goins
- Silver: Hunter Johnson
- Bronze: Jaume Martinez Vich
Mixed Doubles
- Gold: Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns
- Silver: Hurricane Tyra Black/Hayden Patriquin
- Bronze: Anna Bright/Federico Staksrud
Women’s Doubles
- Gold: Jorja Johnson/Hurricane Tyra Black
- Silver: Catherine Parenteau/Parris Todd
- Bronze: Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters
Men’s Doubles
- Gold: Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns
- Silver: Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu
- Bronze: Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud
Impact on the Sport
This tournament represents a significant moment in professional pickleball’s evolution. The upset victories and emerging talents demonstrate the sport’s growing competitive depth, while the historic matches and dramatic finishes showcase the increasing quality of play at the highest level. For newcomers to pickleball, these results highlight the sport’s dynamic nature and the constant possibility for exciting, unexpected outcomes.
