PPA Tour Sacramento Vintage Open: The PPA Tour is going back in time this week as top professionals compete with wooden paddles at the Pickleball Central Sacramento Vintage Open in Sacramento, California. The event begins this week and will feature only 1970s-style paddles, removing the power and spin of today’s modern equipment and forcing players to adjust to a slower, softer game.
A Return to Old-School Pickleball
Wooden paddles look similar in size and shape to modern paddles but lack the internal core that provides power and the textured surface that adds spin. Because of this, shots will travel slower, third-shot drops will be more common, and speed-based attacks will be harder to execute. No one in the field started their careers with wooden paddles, so the key will be how quickly players adapt. Technicians and soft-game experts are expected to benefit the most from this change.
Women’s Doubles Preview
The women’s doubles draw is smaller than usual with only 16 teams. Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson hold the top seed. Their power-focused style may be challenged by the wood paddles, but they remain heavy favorites due to their overall skill. Allyce Jones and Mari Humberg are seeded second, Tina Pisnik and Kate Fahey are third, and Etta Tuionetoa and Lacy Schneemann are fourth. Teams to watch include the sixth seeds Callie Smith and Jessie Irvine and the seventh seeds Meghan Dizon and Lucy Kovalova, both of whom have games better suited to a softer style.
Men’s Doubles Favorites
Andrei Daescu and Collin Johns are the top seeds in men’s doubles. Collin Johns is expected to excel with the wooden paddles, which favor his steady and controlled play. Daescu can adjust to any style, making them a strong team. Second seeds Federico Staksrud and Matt Wright should also benefit from the slower pace. Other notable teams include fourth seeds JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier, who reunite for this event, and third seeds Gabe Tardio and Noe Khlif. Sixth seeds Riley Newman and Jay Devilliers are also strong contenders.
Mixed Doubles Matchups
The top three mixed doubles seeds are familiar names. Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson lead the field as the number one seeds, followed by Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu at number two, and Jessie Irvine and Gabe Tardio at number three. Fourth seeds Lea Jansen and Federico Staksrud, fifth seeds Etta Tuionetoa and Jay Devilliers, and sixth seeds Tyra Black and Pablo Tellez round out the top contenders. Tyra Black will play the left side with Pablo Tellez, where she is stronger. An intriguing early matchup features 12th seeds Callie Smith and Jaume Martinez Vich against 20th seeds Angie Walker and Jack Sock. Jack Sock’s usual power advantage will be reduced, while Jaume Martinez Vich’s athletic play should remain effective, making Smith and Martinez Vich the favorites.
Women’s Singles Outlook
The women’s singles draw includes 19 players, with Kate Fahey seeded first. Brooke Buckner is the second seed, and Lea Jansen is third. Lea Jansen’s quick net game may give her an edge over Fahey and Buckner, who rely more on passing shots that are harder to execute with wooden paddles. A key early match is fifth seed Genie Bouchard versus tenth seed Layne Sleeth in the Round of 16. Genie Bouchard’s tennis background could help her adapt to the wood paddle.
Men’s Singles Challenge
The men’s singles draw features a mix of power and finesse players. Top seed Hunter Johnson, fifth seed Jack Sock, and seventh seed Roscoe Bellamy bring power, while second seed Federico Staksrud and ninth seed Noe Khlif prefer a softer, tactical game. Third seed Connor Garnett and fourth seed Jaume Martinez Vich add explosive athleticism to the mix. Thirteenth seed Chris Haworth remains a dangerous dark horse thanks to his ability to play multiple styles.
What It Means for Pickleball
The Sacramento Vintage Open is more than just a tournament. It is a test of skill, creativity, and patience as pros leave behind modern technology and return to pickleball’s roots. Fans can expect longer rallies, slower points, and a showcase of strategy over power. The event will reveal which players can thrive when modern equipment is no longer an advantage.
News in Brief: PPA Tour Sacramento Vintage Open
The PPA Tour heads to Sacramento for the Pickleball Central Sacramento Vintage Open, where all players must use wooden paddles. This change favors soft-game specialists and promises slower, more strategic matches. Top seeds include Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson in women’s doubles and Andrei Daescu and Collin Johns in men’s doubles.
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