The Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open is set to bring five days of high-stakes pickleball action to St. George, Utah, from March 26-30, 2025. With a new tournament format, national television coverage, and a field of over 900 players, this event is one of the most anticipated stops on the Carvana PPA Tour.
New Tournament Format Brings Major Changes
A reformatted competition structure will debut at the Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open, featuring all semifinal matches on Saturday and Championship Sunday for every discipline. This change ensures that the most intense matches are played during prime viewing hours, maximizing excitement for fans and players.
With matches played at 2,800 feet above sea level, Utah-based players may benefit from the altitude, adding intrigue. Meanwhile, several top-ranked players, including Ben Johns, Anna Bright, Tyson McGuffin, and Kate Fahey, will be absent, opening up opportunities for rising stars to break through.
Champions at the Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open will earn 1,000 valuable Carvana PPA Tour points, which could significantly impact rankings as the season progresses.
Where to Watch: FOX, FS1, and PickleballTV
Fans can catch all the action across multiple platforms:
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PickleballTV (and its app) will provide comprehensive coverage throughout the tournament.
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FS1 will broadcast Saturday’s semifinals in a prime-time slot from 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM ET.
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FOX will air the Championship matches on Sunday from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM ET, bringing the sport to a national audience.
With pickleball’s popularity skyrocketing, the national broadcast ensures that more fans than ever will witness the sport’s top athletes competing for gold.
Women’s Singles: Can Anyone Stop Anna Leigh Waters?
Anna Leigh Waters enters the tournament as the top seed, remaining undefeated in singles competition in 2025. With defending gold medalist Mary Brascia, Lea Jansen, and Kaitlyn Christian also in the mix, the battle for the title will be fierce. Fifth-seeded Catherine Parenteau returns to singles play, where she could face Parris Todd (4) in a quarterfinal showdown.
Meanwhile, former tennis star Genie Bouchard (8) has struggled to build momentum after her early-season success and could face a tough quarterfinal match against Jansen (3). A key player to watch is Kaitlyn Christian (2), who is seeking a return to peak form and a spot in the Sunday finals.
Men’s Singles: Can Christian Alshon Make It Three in a Row?
Defending gold medalist Federico Staksrud will face tough competition in Christian Alshon (6), who has won back-to-back PPA Tour titles and is aiming for a third straight victory.
Second-seeded Hunter Johnson’s health remains a question mark, as he withdrew mid-match due to an ankle injury in Texas. Meanwhile, Jack Sock (7) will be looking to make another deep run in Utah.
An intriguing name to watch is Zane Ford (14), who pulled off a stunning upset over Ben Johns in McKinney, Texas. If he can carry that momentum into St. George, he could shake up the tournament.
Mixed Doubles: Wide-Open Draw with Key Players Missing
With Anna Leigh Waters absent from the mixed doubles draw, the field is more open than usual. Defending champions Etta Tuionetoa and Ben Johns will not be competing together, while Tuionetoa and Federico Staksrud (3) will look to make a deep run as they continue building their chemistry.
The team of Riley Newman and Lea Jansen (7) will be looking for redemption after losing a heartbreaking 14-12 tiebreaker against the Johnson siblings last week despite having three match points.
Meanwhile, JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson (1) have been dominant when playing together, making back-to-back finals and winning gold in Mesa. However, their last tournament saw them run into a tough loss against Waters and Johns in McKinney.
Women’s Doubles: Can Waters and Parenteau Bounce Back?
Top-seeded Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau are coming off a surprising semifinal loss in McKinney—the first time they failed to reach a final. They will be motivated to reclaim their dominance in Utah.
Parris Todd, fresh off winning gold in McKinney, will team up with Rachel Rohrabacher as the No. 2 seed, while Tyra Black, another McKinney gold medalist, will pair with Jorja Johnson as the No. 3 seed.
Fourth-seeded Etta Tuionetoa and Allyce Jones will have the home-court advantage, as Utah-based players have historically performed well at this event.
Men’s Doubles: High-Powered Partnerships and New Teams
Defending champions Dylan Frazier and JW Johnson will look to repeat, but they’ll face stiff competition from the No. 1 seeded team of Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud, who are back together as a strong duo.
This year’s tournament also features some exciting new partnerships, including Matt Wright and Jaume Martinez Vich (5) and Riley Newman and Augie Ge (7).
One of the most dangerous teams in the draw is Andrei Daescu and Christian Alshon (2), who have won the last two events they played together (Tucson and Mesa). They will be looking to continue their winning streak in St. George.
News in Brief: Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open
The Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open returns to St. George, Utah, from March 26-30, 2025, featuring a new format with Semifinals on Saturday and Championship Sunday. The tournament will be broadcast nationally on FOX, with additional coverage on FS1 and PickleballTV. With several top-ranked players absent, expect new stars to emerge in one of the season’s most exciting pickleball events.
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