PPA Tour Veolia Cincinnati Showcase Results: The Veolia Cincinnati Showcase presented by Six Zero ended this past weekend at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Players and fans praised the venue as one of the best facilities used for a PPA Tour stop. Good weather added to the success of the event, making it a likely future host.
Waters and Bright Fall Again
Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright came into 2025 as a powerful doubles pair, but they suffered another upset in Cincinnati. After losing in Las Vegas to Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black, Waters and Bright were knocked out in the semifinals by sisters Jade Kawamoto and Jackie Kawamoto. The Kawamotos went on to beat Johnson and Black in a five-game final.
The Kawamotos’ strong defense and counterpunching proved too much. Waters and Bright often tried to speed up balls from three or four feet behind the kitchen line, and the Kawamotos turned those risky attacks into winning shots. One key tactic was the Kawamotos stepping back from the kitchen line to gain extra time against the constant attacks.
After the loss, questions spread online about whether Anna Leigh Waters would change partners again. She left Catherine Parenteau earlier for Anna Bright, believing it gave her the best chance to win. But the gap between Waters and the other top women has narrowed. Players like Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson are now seen on the same level as Anna Bright.
Observers believe Anna Bright may need to soften her game and focus more on defense, leaving the attacking role to Waters. Keeping Bright on the right side might also allow Waters to take control more often. Despite the loss, the result is healthy for the sport, showing real competition in women’s doubles.
Alshon Shines in Men’s Singles
Men’s singles remained as unpredictable as ever. Even top-ranked Hunter Johnson struggles to win consistently, with new names often rising quickly. This time, Christian Alshon came out on top.
Predictions favored Alex Crum after he had beaten Federico Staksrud twice in a row. Instead, Staksrud handled Crum, while Alshon went on to win gold. The victory supported a rare accurate prediction, but even then, picking men’s singles winners remains one of the toughest calls in pickleball.
Men’s Doubles Stability
While singles has been full of surprises, men’s doubles is beginning to look predictable. The four top teams—Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns, Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu, Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin, and CJ Klinger and JW Johnson—all made the semifinals in Cincinnati.
The highlight was the clash between Staksrud/Patriquin and Alshon/Daescu. Game one went 14-12 to Staksrud/Patriquin, but they missed chances to close out game two. Alshon/Daescu held on 13-11 before dominating game three 11-1. Patriquin smashed his paddle in frustration at the end.
Alshon and Daescu’s strategy of targeting Staksrud with dinks paid off. It exposed Patriquin’s impatience, as he often forced risky speedups that Alshon and Daescu countered. Analysts suggest he needs to show more patience, learning from veterans like Andrei Daescu or Ben Johns.
Looking Back at the Week
Predictions were mixed for the event. Wins by Anna Leigh Waters in singles, Waters and Ben Johns in mixed doubles, and Ben Johns with Gabe Tardio in men’s doubles were correct. However, silver medal picks went 0-5. Still, a long-shot prediction of Christian Alshon winning singles at 100-1 odds would have paid off well for anyone betting on it.
Why It Matters
The Cincinnati event highlighted major shifts in pickleball. Women’s doubles now looks wide open, men’s singles continues to be unpredictable, and men’s doubles is showing clear dominance by a few top teams. As new venues and tournaments are added, fans can expect even more storylines in the months ahead.
News in Brief: PPA Tour Veolia Cincinnati Showcase Results
The Veolia Cincinnati Showcase ended with big surprises. Jade and Jackie Kawamoto upset Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright, while Christian Alshon claimed men’s singles gold. Men’s doubles saw the “Big Four” teams reach the semifinals. The event showed rising parity in women’s play, ongoing unpredictability in singles, and stability in doubles.
ALSO READ: Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters Dominate Cincinnati Showdown With Unstoppable Doubles Victory