PPA San Clemente: Preview

Select Medical Orange County Cup

We’ve been in MLP la-la land the last several weeks, so who isn’t ready for another PPA event? PPA Atlanta in May was the last event that brought its own heap of drama (first event post-breakup for ALW-CP-AB-RR), and this one is shaping up to bring its own interesting plot lines.

This progressive-draw tournament is already underway with qualifiers completed on Monday, and Round of 64 kicks off Tuesday at a fan- and player-favorite venue: Lifetime Rancho San Clemente.

Storylines:

• In case you forgot, Quang Duong is suspended from this event, for breach of the exclusivity clause of his contract after participating in a competitive event in Vietnam.

• Withdrawals: Dekel Bar has withdrawn from all events due to illness. He was scheduled to play with Rachel Rohrabacher in mixed, and Dylan Frazier in men’s doubles. This opens a nice path for Tyler & Spencer Smith to the semis. Riley Newman has also withdrawn due to his lingering injury from MLP.

• Newly PPA-signed Grayson Goldin is partnering with Jay Devilliers for men’s dubs, and opens against John Cincola in singles. His toughest hurdle will be facing Connor Garnett in R16, but he has potential to go all the way to Championship Sunday.

• Since this event is hosted at Life Time, they will be using the official Life Time branded ball.

Possible Upsets

If you love a good underdog story, catch these players’ matches:

• John Lucian Goins— who upset Ben Johns in Cape Coral (eventually taking bronze) and Gabe Tardio at the Texas Open— returns and faces Ross Whittaker (#44) in R64 (whom he beat in Atlanta last month). Federico Staksrud lies in his path to finals, which isn’t impossible.

• Anyone beating Anna Leigh in singles is considered an upset, regardless of their seed. Our best guesses: Kaitlyn Christian (3), Parris Todd (4), Brooke Buckner (5). And while Genie Bouchard (11) hasn’t seen a lot of success in recent MLP outings, women’s singles is her strong suit, so if you really want to root for the underdog in this bracket, she’s our bet.

• Mixed is a massive bracket, and another with very little likelihood of toppling the giants Ben & ALW. But our ones to watch (aside from the Johnsons who have been on fire together in MLP): Jessie & Gabe (6), Parris Todd & Andrei Daescu (10) or Anna & Hayden (5).

• A team that’s all heart is Mari Humberg & CJ Klinger (28) have a solid path to quarters with Dekel & Rachel not playing.

• Coming up out of qualies is Alix’s little brother Jonathan Truong as well as Aryaan Bhatia, younger brother of India’s #1 PB player, Armaan Bhatia. Recent KOTC guest star Alex Crum, and partner Christine Maddox, finished 2nd in mixed qualies.

Women’s Singles

Men’s Singles

Mixed Doubles

Women’s Doubles

Men’s Doubles

Episode 147: An interview with Alex Crum

Meet Alex Crum, the upcoming Pickleball Pro who has made his way onto the scene and caused quite an uproar. They discuss his background, his pickleball career so far, his music career and what’s coming. This is an episode you do not want to miss, wait until the end!  

PLUS! Check out this tour of our new podcast studio at the Lehi Picklr (opening this coming weekend)