The 2025 Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour Finals are rapidly approaching, marking a significant event in the sport's burgeoning landscape. This year's tournament, held at the San Clemente Life Time fitness club, features top-tier athletes competing across various categories. With player drafts concluded and pools established, anticipation is high for exhilarating matches and potential upsets. The event's history has seen dominant performances, particularly from Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters, who have previously achieved Triple Crowns. However, recent developments, including player withdrawals and new team formations, suggest that this year's finals could bring fresh challenges and unexpected outcomes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
The PPA Tour Finals have grown in prominence since their inception in 2020, becoming a critical annual fixture for professional pickleball players. The 2025 edition follows a pivot to a fall-to-spring season model, shifting the finals from December 2025 to May. This change, combined with a meticulous player draft process, has shaped the competitive landscape. Notably, Anna Leigh Waters, a dominant force in women's singles, has withdrawn from that particular draw due to fitness concerns, opening up the field significantly. This decision, influenced by recent knee issues, highlights the physical demands of the sport and creates a void that other top contenders are eager to fill. Waters, however, is still expected to compete in other categories.
In Men's Singles, the pools are intensely competitive. Pool A features Haworth, Alshon, Garnett, and Sock, while Pool B includes Staksrud, H. Johnson, Bellamy, and Goins. Experts are largely predicting that the top three seeds — Haworth, Staksrud, and Hunter — will continue their dominant run, having secured 13 out of the last 14 singles gold medals. The key question in this category revolves around whether Bellamy's rising talent can surpass Hunter's consistent performance for the second qualifying spot in Pool B, which is considered the more challenging group. My prediction is Haworth will ultimately prevail over Staksrud in the final match.
The Women's Singles draw, now without Anna Leigh Waters, presents a clearer path for other strong contenders. Pool A comprises Fahey, Jansen, Parenteau, and Truluck, while Pool B hosts Christian, Buckner, Wang, and Castillo. There's a noticeable gap between the sport's top five women and the rest of the field, with Parenteau, ranked sixth, having secured only one medal since last September. It is highly anticipated that Christian and Buckner will advance from Pool B, and Fahey and Jansen from Pool A. The final is predicted to be a high-stakes encounter between Fahey and Christian, showcasing the depth of talent even in Waters' absence.
Men's Doubles has seen the formation of strong, established pairings through the player draft. The top five teams, including Johns/Tardio, Alshon/Patriquin, Daescu/Staksrud, Johnson/Klinger, and Oncins/Frazier, are expected to dominate. The draft also led to some intriguing 'leftover' teams, such as McGuffin/Khlif and Devilliers/Vich, who have the potential to surprise. Despite Pool A featuring tougher competition with Oncins/Frazier, the "big four" teams are overwhelmingly favored to advance to the semifinals. My forecast points to a Johns/Tardio victory over Alshon/Patriquin in the championship match, reinforcing their status as a formidable duo.
Women's Doubles also features robust pairings, with Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright leading the charge in Pool A. Other notable teams include Black/Johnson, Todd/Rohrabacher, and Pisnik/Schneemann. While some newer combinations like Fahey/Wei and Wang/Christian could provide upsets, the established duos are expected to maintain their strong positions. The group stage is anticipated to proceed without major upsets, culminating in another championship title for Waters and Bright, showcasing their consistent high performance and synergy on the court.
Mixed Doubles is perhaps the most intriguing category, with top male players drafting their female partners. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters form an undeniable top seed in Pool A, while Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin anchor Pool B. The draft resulted in both established and newly formed partnerships, such as Alshon/Rohrabacher and Daescu/Black. While the top two seeds are clear favorites, there's significant potential for upsets, especially with teams like Daescu and Black showing strong form. The finals are projected to be a clash of titans, with Waters and Johns ultimately defeating Bright and Patriquin, reaffirming their status as the sport's premier mixed doubles team.
This year's PPA Tour Finals promise a captivating display of professional pickleball, despite some high-profile player withdrawals. The strategic player drafts have created compelling matchups across all categories, with strong contenders and potential dark horses vying for titles. The structured group play, leading to intense knockout rounds and national television finals, ensures maximum excitement for fans. The outcomes of these matches will undoubtedly shape the narratives and rankings for the upcoming pickleball season, highlighting the evolving dynamics and increasing competitiveness of the sport.
