The PPA Men’s Singles Race to the 2024 Tour Finals: The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) introduced its tennis-style “Tour Finals” in 2023, giving the top eight players and teams across each pro pickleball discipline a chance to compete in a year-end, top-tier competition. The 2023 event featured top players like Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, who each claimed a triple crown. However, their victories weren’t without significant challenges along the way.
As the 2024 CIBC Tour Finals in San Clemente approaches, the pressure is mounting for players to secure their spots. The final spots for the 2024 event will be determined by rankings that combine both rolling 365-day and “Race” year-to-date points, with qualification determined by a player’s performance in this year’s tournaments.
There are only two more opportunities for players to earn crucial points: this weekend’s 2024 Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships, offering 2000 points to the winners, and the Veolia Milwaukee Open in two weeks, a 1000-level tournament.
Men’s Singles Standings: The Race for the Top Spots
Locks for the Tour Finals:
The top six men’s singles players have already solidified their spots for the 2024 Tour Finals. These players are the current dominant forces in the game:
- No.1 – Federico Staksrud
- No.2 – Ben Johns
- No.3 – Riley Newman
- No.4 – Quang Duong
- No.5 – Dylan Frazier
- No.6 – Jaume Martinez Vich
These players have maintained consistent performances throughout the year, making them virtually unassailable in the standings heading into the final events of the season.
Hunter Johnson and Tyson McGuffin Holding Strong
As of now, No.7 Hunter Johnson and No.8 Tyson McGuffin hold the final two spots in the top eight, with Johnson leading McGuffin by just 350 points. However, Johnson is currently in a precarious position, clinging to his spot with just a small margin over the following players. McGuffin has 5075 points, while Johnson has 4725 points.
Johnson’s position is under pressure from some of the chasing players in the rankings, including No.9 Christian Alshon, No.10 Jack Sock, and No.11 Chris Haworth, though Johnson’s status is secured for now—especially since Alshon haven’t played singles in Dallas due to injury.
Lurking: The Contenders
- No.9 – Christian Alshon (4700 points)
- No.10 – Jack Sock (4475 points)
- No.11 – Chris Haworth (3575 points)
The players in this group are within striking distance of qualifying for the finals, but each faces their set of challenges.
- Christian Alshon has been sidelined due to injury but is still in the mix for qualification, though his absence from the Dallas tournament could hurt his chances.
- Jack Sock began the season strong but has struggled in singles recently, Sock’s path to qualification is anything but secure.
- Chris Haworth, who earned a notable PPA gold medal this season by defeating Staksrud and Johns, could have been a dark horse to qualify. However, since he is not competing in singles at Dallas, his chances are essentially dashed.
News in Brief: The PPA Men’s Singles Race to the 2024 Tour Finals
With just two tournaments remaining in the season, the race to qualify for the 2024 CIBC Tour Finals in San Clemente is heating up. The top eight men’s singles players will be determined by their performance in the remaining events, with Hunter Johnson and Tyson McGuffin holding on to the final spots as of now.
But players like Christian Alshon, Jack Sock, and Chris Haworth are lurking just behind, each hoping to make a late push and secure their place at the prestigious event. The next two weeks will be crucial in shaping the final field for December’s competition.