OVERALL TOP 5:
- RACIN’ TO THE FINALS: Last chance to earn points to qualify for the PPA Finals in San Clemente
- PICTONA PART DEUX: PPA returns to Holly Hill for the 2nd time in ’23 (1st time was in March)
- NO POPPA JIMMY: Sitting this one out
- J DUB: JW Johnson looks for more medals after great results in Dallas (gold singles/silver men’s)
- DURA-BALL: Players will have to adjust back to using the Onix Dura Fast 40 (X-40 in Dallas)
BROADCAST & VENUE HIGHLIGHTS (all times Eastern):
- Thursday-Saturday: Prime Video and Pickleballtv.com 10am-6pm
- Championship Sunday: Prime Video and Pickleballtv.com 10am-6pm; Tennis Channel 230-430pm
- The Pictona location in Holly Hill gets its name from combining Pic(kleball) and (Day)tona.
MEN’S SINGLES:
- MEDALISTS IN MARCH at Pictona: Ben Johns, Collin Shick, Pablo Tellez
- Over 100 players competing – will we get another Shick-like performance?
- Wow top half of the draw: Johns (1), JW Johnson (5), Garnett (4), Martinez Vich (9), Tellez (8)
- WATCH OUT FOR: Potential Frazier (11) vs. Alshon (6) matchup in the round of 16
WOMEN’S SINGLES:
- MEDALISTS IN MARCH: Catherine Parenteau, Lea Jansen, Salome Devidze
- Parenteau beat Waters in March in the semis here but is sitting out singles, playing doubles
- WATCH OUT FOR: Mary Brascia (3) – full of confidence after reaching the women’s doubles final in Dallas
MIXED DOUBLES:
- MEDALISTS IN MARCH: Waters/Johns, Parenteau/McGuffin, Devilliers/Irvine
- Big fella Siljestrom takes Big Poppa’s place next to Bright (7).
- Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson (3) – the only team to beat ALW/Ben Johns this year.
- WATCH OUT FOR: Smith/Frazier – can they rebound from a tough Dallas event?
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
- MARCH MEDALISTS: Waters/Parenteau, Schneemann/Jade Kawamoto, Jansen/Jones
- A rested Lea Jansen plus Hurricane Tyra Black (7) are a dangerous duo.
- Allyce Jones/Lauren Stratman (5) – unique pairing, how will they fare?
- WATCH OUT FOR: Bright and Jardim (4) – can they make a run?
MEN’S DOUBLES:
- DEFENDING MEDALISTS: Johns/Johns, Arnold/Wilson, Johnson/Frazier
- Dekel Bar is this week’s audition next to Riley Newman as the 4 seed
- McGuffin/Long running it back – they won the St. George event in April
- WATCH OUT FOR: Matt Wright and Travis Rettenmaier (3) – how will the “old” guard gel?
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