Top Pickleball Seeds Shut Out of Gold: For the first time in PPA Tour history, no #1 seeded teams or players won a gold medal at a tournament. This surprising outcome unfolded on Sunday, marking a major shakeup in pro pickleball. The PPA Tour has been active since 2019, but never before have all top seeds fallen short.
A Weekend of Upsets
The tournament saw several unexpected results. In women’s singles, Anna Leigh Waters withdrew just before the competition began. In men’s singles, top-seeded Federico Staksrud lost in the semifinals to Gabe Tardio.
Mixed doubles saw more surprises when Anna Leigh and Ben Johns were defeated by Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson. In women’s doubles, Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh were beaten by Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black. The men’s doubles #1 seeds, Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud, lost to Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns.
Why It Matters
This level of unpredictability is rare in PPA tournaments. Top seeds usually win or reach the finals. The results may point to rising talent across the league. Still, many believe it’s not likely to become a pattern.
A special thanks was given to “pickleball superfan (and D.C. Pickleball Team superfan) Jake Gelvar, for putting in the time to double check this is an accurate statement.”
What Comes Next
While this weekend’s results were shocking, most expect top seeds to bounce back. Still, fans are paying closer attention. The competition is getting tougher, and no player or team can afford to underestimate their opponents. The PPA Tour continues to surge, and so does the talent pool.
News in Brief: Top Pickleball Seeds Shut Out of Gold
No top seeds won gold at this weekend’s PPA Tour event, marking a first since the tour began in 2019. Big names like Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns, and Federico Staksrud were all defeated. Fans wonder if this is a sign of growing parity or just a rare upset.