STORYLINES FOR THE VEOLIA LA OPEN PRESENTED BY DEEP EDDY VODKA

GREAT 8: Federico Staksrud goes for a jaw dropping 8^th consecutive men’s singles final.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: 3^rd of 4 consecutive weekends in April: NC to TX to Cali – Utah next week.
MERRY GO ROUND: So many new partnerships – who will mesh and who will crumble?
MARY GO TO WHICH ROUND?: Mary Brascia is the #1 seed in singles (no AL or CP) – will she play on Sunday on her home courts?
OPEN OPPORTUNITIES: Traditional Draw (singles on Thursday, mixed Friday, women’s and men’s doubles Saturday, finals Sunday).

Event #8 of the year – one of 15 Opens in 2024, with 1000 points up for grabs for the winners.
Second visit to Los Cab where many pros train – was The Takeya Showcase at this venue last year, played in August.
Coverage on Prime Video, PickleballTV, and Tennis Channel.
Broadcast start times are 11AM Pacific Thursday through Sunday.

Defending medalists: Black, Newell, Stratman
Welcome to the number 1 seed Mary Brascia, 2.0 – upset by Samantha Parker in Houston.
Can Lea Jansen (2) go back-to-back after grabbing gold in Houston for her first win since 2021?
Is this the week Lauren Stratman (3) makes a deep run?
WATCH OUT FOR: Brooke Buckner (5) – took Houston off so she will be ready.

Defending medalists: Joseph, Staksrud, JW Johnson
Martinez Vich (5) vs. Joseph (9) in consecutive weeks is possible – Joseph is defending his crown.
Duong (8) grabbed his first ever PPA medal in Houston, can he back it up?
Donald Young (29) raced his way to the semis in Houston and is improving every week.
WATCH OUT FOR: Federico Staksrud (2) is the man — can he make an 8^th final?

Etta Wright won her first mixed title with Ben Johns, she’s the 12 seed with Connor Garnett.
Is this Wimbledon? Sam Querrey and Genie Bouchard pair up as the 32 seed.
Tina Pisnik has made two mixed finals in a row with Big D Dekel Bar, she’s the 8 seed with Collin Johns.
WATCH OUT FOR: Anna Bright and Ben Johns (1) as they pair up for the first time – look out.

Defending medalists: Waters/Bright, Smith/Kovalova, Jones/Black
Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright (1) grabbed title #3 in Houston in dominating fashion.
Vivienne David tries to make a final with yet another different partner – this time Emily Ackerman – they are the 7 seed.
Can the Brascias defend home turf as the 8 seeds? They may face an early battle with team mom: Buckner and Pagegimaite (9).
WATCH OUT FOR: Lea Jansen/Lucy Kovalova – lots of firepower and versatility.

Defending medalists: Frazier/Johnson, Johns/Johns, Arnold/Wilson
The standard is the Johns brothers as they steamrolled their way to the Houston title, dropping but 4 points in the final.
Fun pairing alert: Martinez Vich and McGuffin (4).
Fun pairing alert 2: Garnett and Ge (7).
Fun pairing alert 3: Doc and talk – Shick and French (15).
WATCH OUT FOR: Matt Wright and Thomas Wilson – Wright is right on the right and Wilson has the offense to dictate on the left.