Carvana Mesa Cup

The Tour is back at the beloved Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, AZ, a spot that both fans and pros absolutely adore. It feels like we just wrapped up the last tournament in Cape Coral, and that quick turnaround definitely shook things up with some surprising upsets, unexpected withdrawals, and early exits for some past underdogs. Today kicks off the quarterfinals, and we're here to fill you in on all the action you've missed. Get set for a weekend packed with thrilling pickleball matchups!

Brackets & Storylines

Women’s Singles

• The women's brackets are really starting to shine with fresh talent and young rising stars emerging from the Junior PPA and Challenger series events.

• Kiora Kunimoto (18) is one of those rapidly rising newcomers, who finished 5th in Cape Coral. In Mesa, she has beat Jorja Johnson and Catherine Parenteau on her path to quarters. Next, she faces Anna Leigh Waters.

• #25 Mari Humberg upset #3 Kaitlyn Christian in three games, then beat #19 Ting Chieh Wei in two in R16. She’ll next face #7 Chao Yi Wang.

• Genie Bouchard (8) who double-pickled Judit Castillo (10) in R16 yesterday to advance to QF. However, as of this morning she has withdrawn (she was set to face Kate Fahey) for undisclosed reasons. Of course, the rumor mill (aka our Discord) says it’s a refusal to play on a court without replay cameras available. But… who knows. Instead, Kate with advance to semis where she’ll face either #4 Brooke Buckner or #11 Mary Brascia.

Men’s Singles

• #1 Hunter Johnson is making his way easily through the brackets, and in QF will face a surprising new face: #72 (yes!) Matthew Barlow. And Barlow, who placed first in qualies, beat #57 Will Shaffer, #6 Roscoe Bellamy, #30 Mota Alhouni, and #21 (also qualifier) Matt Burkhardt.

• The other “Matty B”, Matt Burkhardt, finished #13 in qualies and filled Grayson Goldin’s #21 spot, after suffering a stroke last month. [Grayson remains hospitalized and we all wish him well.] He had a solid run himself, beating Tyler in R64 & #9 Gabe Joseph in R32.

• #11 John Lucian Goins is having another solid tournament, beating #8 Jaume Martinez Vich in R16, and will face #4 Chris Haworth next in quarters.

• Ben Johns, who has slipped in seeding to #10, is in quarters playing Federico Staksrud (2). The winner of that matchup will have to play either Christian Alshon or Jack Sock in semis.

Mixed Doubles

• The biggest surprise of the event so far is the loss of JW & Jorja Johnson (2) to Jack Sock & Lacy Schneemann (24). Something seems off lately in both JW and Jorja’s performances; hopefully something they shake off as they remain one of the most likely pairs to give Ben & ALW a run for their money.

• Jack & Lacy will face #9 Noe Khlif & Tina Pisnik, who beat Fed Staksrud & Kate Fahey (7) in R16.

• Speaking of Ben & ALW, they face #6 Catherine Parenteau & Gabe Tardio in QF, and if they win, will face either the #4 or #5 seed in semis (Andrei & Tyra or Rachel & Christian, respectively).

Women’s Doubles

• Early rounds saw some exciting and interesting upsets, but few that passed through R16. Young up & comers Ella Cosma & Jaeda Minniefield (34) took down #29 Cleo Bond (formerly known as Helena Spiridis) & Alli Phillips. Unfortunately, they met #1 ALW & Anna Bright next, losing 3-11, 0-11.

• #20 Judit Castillo & Genie Erokhina had a strong run, beating #15 Mya Bui & Liz Truluck in R32, then knocking off #3 (!) Rachel Rohrabacher & Catherine Parenteau in three games (11-7, 4-11, 11-8) of R16. They advance to QF and face #8 Brooke Buckner & Chao Yi Wang. 

• Also advancing to QF in an upset is #10 Allyce Jones & Ting Chieh Wei, who beat #7 Jessie Irvine & Kaitlyn Christian in 3 games. Next, they face #2 Hurricane Tyra Black & Jorja Johnson.

Men’s Doubles

• Ben Johns & Gabe Tardio cut it close yesterday, winning in a tight battle — 12-10, 11-9 — against Wyatt Stone and Jonathan Truong. In quarters, they’ll take on Connor Garnett & Augie Ge.

• In a surprising upset, #18 Julian Arnold & Martin Emmrich knocked off #6 Jay Devilliers & Dekel Bar in a tight three-game set: 9-11, 11-9, 11-8. Marty & Julian will next take on Hayden Patriquin & Christian Alshon (#2).

Coverage for the Mesa Cup will be broadcast on pickleballTV (now available on YouTube TV), with side court streaming on YouTube. Broadcast moves to FS1 on Friday 6-8 p.m. and catch Championship Sunday on Tennis Channel from 12-4 p.m.

Coverage begins daily at 12 p.m. ET.

Episode 183: Cape Coral Recap & Mesa Preview

Tyler & Jimmy go over the latest pickleball tournament that just happened in Cape Coral and preview the next tournament in Mesa. Plus— your questions, answered!

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