PPA Tour Veolia Bristol Open Highlights: The Veolia Bristol Open kicks off its main draw on Wednesday, August 6, with both men’s and women’s singles matches. The matches will be played through the quarterfinals and broadcast live on PickleballTV from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. The tournament offers key matchups and player returns that could shape the rest of the season.
Anna Bright Returns to Singles Court
Anna Bright is playing singles for the first time since the 2024 Milwaukee Open. She is entering singles again as she prepares for the Major League Pickleball playoffs, where her team, the St. Louis Shock, may count on her in high-pressure DreamBreaker points.
Bright will open against the No. 26 seed Martina Frantova. If she wins, she will go up against No. 4 seed Lea Jansen in the next round. Her singles return adds excitement to the women’s bracket as fans look forward to seeing her form ahead of team competition.
Alex Crum Looks for Another Surprise Run
Alex Crum is back in singles after his quarterfinal finish in Atlanta, where he made headlines by upsetting Federico Staksrud in the first round. Crum, who gained attention off the court with his “Anna Bright” rap, is seeded No. 36 at the Veolia Bristol Open.
He begins his run against No. 27 seed Jay Devilliers. Crum has shown he can win big matches, and many will be watching to see if he can make another strong push this week.
Possible Showdown Between Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio
Men’s doubles partners Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio could meet in the singles Round of 16, but both face tough paths to get there. Ben Johns will need to beat either Max Freeman or James Ignatowich in the opening rounds.
Gabe Tardio will likely need to defeat Grayson Goldin, who reached the quarterfinals in 2024. If both players win their early matches, this would be their first singles meeting since 2023, adding another layer of interest to Wednesday’s action.
Broadcast and Tournament Schedule
The singles matches on Wednesday are followed by mixed doubles on Thursday, August 7, also from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET on PickleballTV. Doubles matches will take place on Friday, August 8, with highlights shown on FS1 later that evening. Semifinals and finals continue through the weekend, leading up to Championship Sunday.
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What Comes Next
Wednesday’s singles matches set the stage for the rest of the tournament. The return of Anna Bright, the potential of Alex Crum, and the possible clash between Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio are all key storylines. Strong performances here could build momentum ahead of the MLP playoffs and give fans a preview of what’s to come.
News in Brief: PPA Tour Veolia Bristol Open Highlights
The Veolia Bristol Open begins Wednesday, August 6, with singles matches streamed on PickleballTV. Anna Bright returns to singles play, Alex Crum looks for another deep run, and Ben Johns may face Gabe Tardio in a possible Round of 16 showdown. All matches run through the quarterfinal stage.
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