PPA Tour Veolia Cincinnati Showcase Draws: The PPA Tour is back after a Labor Day break with the Veolia Cincinnati Showcase presented by Six Zero. The event is being held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, which recently underwent a $260 million renovation. As one of only four Slam tournaments on the PPA Tour, it offers maximum ranking points, prestige, and draws all the top players.
Women’s Doubles
Fans are looking forward to a possible rematch between Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright against Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black. In Las Vegas, Johnson and Black handed Waters and Bright their first defeat. For this to happen in Cincinnati, both pairs must reach the gold medal final. Waters and Bright, seeded #1, are on the top side of the draw, while Johnson and Black, seeded #4, are on the bottom.
In the top bracket, Waters and Bright are expected to move past challenges from #3 seeds Rachel Rohrabacher and Lea Jansen or #6 seeds Jade Kawamoto and Jackie Kawamoto. In the lower bracket, #2 seeds Catherine Parenteau and Parris Todd will try to stop Johnson and Black, alongside strong early matchups like #5 seeds Etta Tuionetoa and Allyce Jones against #12 seeds Brooke Buckner and Zoey Wang, and #7 seeds Kate Fahey and Tina Pisnik against #9 seeds Mari Humberg and Lucy Kovalova. Johnson and Black are strong contenders but face a tough path.
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Men’s Doubles
Top seeds Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio are aiming to continue their winning streak. With JW Johnson returning, the “Big Four” of men’s doubles are all back. Johnson, teamed with CJ Klinger, holds the #4 seed and could meet Johns and Tardio in the semifinals.
The bottom half is led by #2 seeds Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin and #3 seeds Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu. Early matches include #21 seeds Jack Sock and Donald Young against #17 seeds Connor Garnett and Zane Navratil. Sock and Young bring heavy power, while Garnett and Navratil rely on skill and control. Another highlight is #7 seeds Riley Newman and Jay Devilliers against #9 seeds Eric Oncins and Matt Wright. This will be one of the few times Newman faces Wright since their 2024 partnership ended.
Other notable pairs include #10 seeds Pablo Tellez and Jonathan Truong, and #19 seeds AJ Koller and Yuta Funemizu, both looking for deep runs.
Mixed Doubles
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns enter as the #1 seeds. On their side of the draw, the biggest threats are #3 seeds Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon and #8 seeds Rachel Rohrabacher and Noe Khlif. Parenteau has struggled against Waters in the past, making an upset unlikely.
The lower half of the bracket looks more competitive. #2 seeds Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson have beaten Waters and Johns before. But to reach the final, they may need to beat either #4 seeds Anna Bright and Andrei Daescu or #6 seeds Tyra Black and Hayden Patriquin, who will face each other in the quarterfinals. Another early highlight is #5 seeds Etta Tuionetoa and Federico Staksrud likely against #9 seeds Tina Pisnik and Eric Oncins in the Round of 16.
Women’s Singles
Anna Leigh Waters is back in singles, and the question is whether anyone can stop her. #4 seed Parris Todd is in her half of the draw and may get a chance to challenge.
The bottom half is led by #2 seed Kate Fahey and #3 seed Kaitlyn Christian, with #5 Brooke Buckner, #6 Lea Jansen, and #10 Salome Devidze also competing for a semifinal spot. Still, Waters remains the heavy favorite.
Men’s Singles
The men’s singles bracket is packed with talent and surprises. Top seed Hunter Johnson leads the field, but every round is tough. Even Ben Johns is seeded only #5 and faces #57 Chris Haworth in the first round, a matchup worthy of a final.
Other Round of 64 battles include #25 Donald Young against #35 James Ignatowich, promising plenty of power. In the Round of 32, fans may see #15 Zane Ford against #22 Grayson Goldin, #14 Gabe Joseph against #17 JW Johnson, and #2 Federico Staksrud against #32 Alex Crum, who has beaten him twice recently.
Gold medalist John Lucian Goins enters as #8 seed and is expected to meet #3 seed Connor Garnett in a likely quarterfinal clash. With so many strong contenders, men’s singles remains unpredictable and thrilling.
Why It Matters
The Veolia Cincinnati Showcase is more than just another stop on the PPA Tour. As a Slam, it shapes the rankings and builds reputations. The women’s doubles final could bring a blockbuster rematch, while the men’s singles offers wide-open competition. With big names and new storylines, this event promises high drama and must-watch pickleball.
News in Brief: PPA Tour Veolia Cincinnati Showcase Draws
The Veolia Cincinnati Showcase, a PPA Slam, begins at the Lindner Family Tennis Center after Labor Day. With a $260 million venue upgrade, the event brings top players across doubles, mixed, and singles. Storylines include possible rematches, surprise runs, and one of the most competitive men’s singles brackets ever.
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