PPA Atlanta Men’s Singles Review: This past weekend, the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) descended on Life Time Peachtree Corners in the northern Atlanta suburbs for its third “Slam” event of the season, the 2024 CIBC Atlanta Slam. This venue has proven to be a hotspot for pickleball action, and this year’s event was no exception, particularly in the men’s singles category, where a series of surprising developments unfolded.
Men’s Singles: A Weekend of Withdrawals and Early Exits
Ahead of the Atlanta Slam, the field was shaken by news that #5 ranked Alshon would withdraw from singles due to an injury. His spot was filled by lucky loser Mick Ray. The upsets continued as #7 Duong withdrew after the event started, granting #28 Alex Neumann a walkover into the round of 16. Additionally, #15 James Hewett was knocked out by #17 John Bellamy in the 32s. In a significant surprise, qualifier Jack Foster defeated #9 Jack Sock in the round of 64, marking Sock’s earliest exit of the year.
Another standout was Grayson Goldin, a qualifier who recently earned a silver medal at the APP Chicago Open. Goldin’s impressive performance included victories over #14 Shick and #19 Brown to advance to the 16s. Meanwhile, #10 Tellez was defeated by qualifier #54 Alexander Crum. These early round upsets highlighted the value of protected entries for the top-ranked players.
Final Four: A Battle of the Johnsons
The round of 16 saw all three Johnsons—JW, Yates, and Hunter—advance, with Hunter’s dominant performance against #4 Tyson McGuffin standing out. The semifinals featured a notable clash between #1 Federico Staksrud and #3 Connor Garnett. Staksrud had previously bested Garnett in four encounters, including three gold medal matches. However, Garnett delivered a complete game on Saturday and moved into the final.
The other semifinal pitted brothers Hunter and JW Johnson against each other in a gripping match. Hunter won game one 11-3, only to be pickled 11-0 in game two. He then rebounded with a decisive 11-1 victory in game three, securing his place in the final.
Hunter Johnson Claims Gold in Dramatic Fashion
The final saw Hunter Johnson take an early lead, winning the first game against Garnett 11-2. Garnett fought back to win game two 11-8. The deciding game saw Garnett initially lead 7-0 before Hunter mounted a remarkable comeback, eventually securing the gold medal with an 11-9 win. This victory marks Hunter’s first gold medal on the PPA tour, following his ascent to the #1 spot on the APP earlier in the season. Federico Staksrud secured the bronze, adding to his impressive tally of 17 medals in 18 PPA singles events this year.
- Gold: Hunter Johnson
- Silver: Connor Garnett
- Bronze: Federico Staksrud
News in Brief: PPA Atlanta Men’s Singles Review
The 2024 CIBC Atlanta Slam saw Hunter Johnson capture his first gold medal on the PPA tour with a dramatic comeback victory over Connor Garnett in the final. After losing the first game, Johnson rallied from a 0-7 deficit in the deciding game to win 11-9. This victory comes on the heels of Johnson’s rise to #1 on the APP tour earlier this season.
Ben Johns, the #2 seed, retired early due to an ankle injury, solidifying Federico Staksrud’s position as the top-ranked player in men’s singles. The tournament showed the growing competitiveness within the field.
ALSO READ: PPA Atlanta Slam Men’s Singles Preview: Draws and Key Matchups
