PPA Kansas City Women’s Singles Recap: The 2024 Selkirk Kansas City Open concluded an intense week and a half for many tour professionals. Held in Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City, the event presented a challenge with the sweltering mid-summer Midwest heat for the second consecutive weekend. As a PPA 1000 event, it adhered to the “normal” schedule of one event per day.
Women’s Pro Singles: Surprises and Breakthroughs
With #1 Anna Leigh Waters absent, along with her long-time partner Ben Johns, the singles draw was wide open, presenting significant opportunities for the women’s singles pros. The tournament didn’t disappoint, with early upsets shaking up the standings.
Top Seeds Upset Early
The surprises began quickly. #2 Lea Jansen was knocked out by #31 Kate Fahey in a tense tiebreaker, while #4 Lauren Stratman fell to #30 Mari Humberg 12-10 in the third game. While neither Fahey nor Humberg are typical 30-something-ranked players, both have shown their skills in the MLP premier league. Nonetheless, it’s unusual to see two top-four seeds eliminated so early.
Fahey and Humberg’s Continued Surge
Both Fahey and Humberg, who had to qualify for the draw, continued their impressive runs by defeating higher-ranked opponents. They faced off in the semifinals of the winner’s bracket, where Fahey delivered a commanding performance, defeating Humberg 4,5 to guarantee her first PPA pro medal.
Top Half: Seeded Players Advance
In contrast to the lower half of the draw, the top half proceeded according to seeding. The top four ranked players advanced to the quarterfinals, where #5 Kaitlyn Christen upset #1 seed Catherine Parenteau. However, it was #3 Brooke Buckner who emerged from the top half to reach the gold medal match, decisively defeating Christen 3,6 after a dominant Thursday where she did not drop a game.
Final Match: Buckner’s Victory
In the final, Kate Fahey challenged the veteran Brooke Buckner fiercely but ultimately fell 11-8 in the third game. Buckner claimed her second pro singles gold medal of 2024 with this victory. Mari Humberg earned the bronze medal by defeating Kaitlyn Christen, marking her first PPA singles medal and only her second career podium finish on the PPA tour.
Final Standings
- Gold: Brooke Buckner
- Silver: Kate Fahey
- Bronze: Mari Humberg
News in Brief: PPA Kansas City Women’s Singles Recap
At the Selkirk Kansas City Open, the Women’s Pro Singles saw significant surprises. With #1 Anna Leigh Waters absent, #2 Lea Jansen and #4 Lauren Stratman were unexpectedly defeated by lower-ranked players: Kate Fahey and Mari Humberg, respectively. Fahey and Humberg advanced to the semifinals, where Fahey emerged victorious and secured her first PPA pro medal.
In the top half, #5 Kaitlyn Christen upset #1 Catherine Parenteau, but #3 Brooke Buckner ultimately reached the final, dominating Christen. Buckner claimed her second gold medal of 2024 by defeating Fahey in the final, while Humberg earned bronze with a win over Christen.
ALSO READ: Top Pickleball Players Arriving Naperville: An Exclusive Event
