PPA Tour Walgreens Open Highlights: The Walgreens Open at the Las Vegas Convention Center delivered big surprises, led by Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black’s gold medal in women’s doubles. They ended the unbeaten run of Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright in the semifinal before defeating Catherine Parenteau and Parris Todd in the final.
Ben Johns Keeps His Crown
The spotlight was also on Ben Johns and Andrei Daescu in men’s doubles. Daescu, who impressed at the MLP Playoffs, was seen by many as closing the gap with Johns for the world’s top spot.
Johns and Gabe Tardio reached the final without losing a game, winning by an average of 11-3. Daescu and Christian Alshon also reached the final but faced a scare against Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in the semifinal, rallying from 2-10 to win.
In the final, Daescu and Alshon edged the first game 12-10. Johns and Tardio answered with a 12-10 win of their own, then cruised to victories of 11-3 and 11-2 to claim the gold medal. Johns showed he remains the top player, though the competition is getting closer.
The Evolution of Pro Pickleball
The qualifier rounds at PPA events highlight the rise of new players and changing styles. At the Walgreens Open, three clear trends stood out.
First, power is now dominant. Third-shot drives, speedups, and strong serves are more common than ever. Second, many players are moving from the continental grip to a western or semi-western grip, giving more topspin on forehands. Third, the two-hand backhand has become the standard. Even long-time one-hand players like Federico Staksrud, Andrei Daescu, and Tyra Black now use two hands for certain shots.
Placement Over Power
Power draws attention, but smart shot placement still wins matches. In Las Vegas, Alex Crum and Juan Benitez brought heavy serves and drives against veterans Altaf Merchant and Steve Deakin. They dominated game one 11-2.
But Merchant and Deakin changed tactics. They slowed the pace, focused on dinks and soft shots, and forced errors. Their careful placement paid off as they won the next two games 11-5 and 11-6. The result showed that strategy and precision can still outlast raw power.
A New Rivalry?
The biggest shock came with Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black defeating Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright. While Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher had earlier tested Waters and Bright, Johnson and Black showed the right mix of powerful counters to break through.
The win raises the possibility of a new rivalry at the top of women’s doubles. Johnson and Black’s ability to counter on both sides sets them apart as real challengers to Waters and Bright.
What’s Next
The Walgreens Open showed how much the pro game is evolving, with new talent, fresh tactics, and rising rivalries. The PPA Tour will now take a break before returning with the Veolia Cincinnati Showcase on September 8, where fans will see these storylines continue.
News in Brief: PPA Tour Walgreens Open Highlights
Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black shocked the field by winning women’s doubles at the Walgreens Open in Las Vegas. Ben Johns held off Andrei Daescu in men’s doubles to remain on top. Power, grip changes, and two-hand backhands highlighted pro pickleball’s evolution. The tour resumes September 8 in Cincinnati.