Top Moments from the Milwaukee Open: On Sunday, November 17th, the 2024 PPA Tour finished the Veolia PPA Milwaukee Open, Presented by Miller Lite, at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee. While this was an Open-level event offering 1,000 PPA Points, some top players skipped it because it wasn’t as big as other events. Still, the tournament was exciting with spots for the CIBC Finals still available.
St. Louis Shock Finds Momentum Ahead of MLP Semifinals
As the MLP Semifinals and Finals approach—set for November 22nd to 24th—teams are looking to enter the event with momentum. The St. Louis Shock, fresh off impressive performances in Milwaukee, have certainly built up theirs.
Leading the charge was Anna Bright, who claimed two golds: one in women’s doubles with Rachel Rohrabacher and another in mixed doubles with Dylan Frazier. Gabriel Tardio also contributed with a gold in men’s doubles alongside Federico Staksrud and a silver in mixed doubles with Jessie Irvine. Kate Fahey, who cemented her place as one of the top women’s singles players, claimed a gold in singles, while also securing an impressive fifth-place finish in women’s doubles with Andrea Koop.
Hayden Patriquin, a recent World’s winner alongside Riley Newman, continued to build on his success with a fourth-place finish in mixed doubles and a quarterfinal finish in men’s doubles. The St. Louis Shock, with every player having earned at least one gold medal recently, heads into the weekend as a team to watch closely.
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Adam Harvey: The Breakout Star of Milwaukee
The men’s singles bracket has been the most unpredictable event of the year on the PPA Tour, and Milwaukee only added to the chaos. Among the unexpected stars was Adam Harvey, a 23-year-old from Minnesota, who—until recently—had been a relative unknown in the pro pickleball scene. With a previous best PPA finish of 27th at the Houston Open, Harvey was given the 30th seed in Milwaukee and certainly made the most of it.
His impressive run included wins over seasoned competitors like Dylan Frazier, Blaine Hovenier, and Rafa Hewett. Though Harvey ultimately lost to world No. 1 Federico Staksrud in the semifinals, he rebounded to claim the bronze medal, defeating Pablo Tellez. With his unexpected rise, expect Harvey to be a name to follow in 2025.
Hunter Johnson and Kate Fahey: Climbing the PPA Ranks
A few months ago, neither Hunter Johnson nor Kate Fahey were even close to being in the conversation for a spot in the CIBC Finals. Fast-forward to November, and both have surged up the rankings in impressive fashion.
Johnson’s victory over Federico Staksrud in the Milwaukee finals pushed him from 11th place to 4th in the standings, surpassing notable names like Chris Haworth and Dylan Frazier. Meanwhile, Fahey, who won her second gold in Milwaukee by defeating Zoey Wang, vaulted into 5th place in the standings, despite playing in only a fraction of the events.
Locked Spots for the CIBC Finals in San Clemente
With the CIBC Finals fast approaching, certain players have secured their spots in San Clemente. Rachel Rohrabacher narrowly squeezed into the women’s mixed doubles final, edging out Jessie Irvine for the final spot. Meanwhile, James Ignatowich, with a silver medal performance alongside CJ Klinger in men’s doubles, solidified his place in the finals.
In one of the tightest battles, Riley Newman clinched the eighth and final spot in men’s mixed doubles. Despite strong showings from Gabriel Tardio and Hayden Patriquin, it was Newman who came out on top, while Tardio and Patriquin—who both had their chances—fell just short. In an unfortunate twist, Hayden Patriquin missed out on his mixed doubles spot with Anna Bright, after a series of close matches in the tournament. Instead, it will be Gabriel Tardio who pairs with Anna in San Clemente.
News in Brief: Top Moments from the Milwaukee Open
The 2024 PPA Tour’s Veolia PPA Milwaukee Open wrapped up on November 17th, with high-stakes drama despite several top players opting to skip the event. The St. Louis Shock emerged with momentum ahead of the MLP Semifinals, while breakout star Adam Harvey made an unexpectedly deep run in men’s singles. Hunter Johnson and Kate Fahey surged up the PPA rankings, while several players locked in their spots for the CIBC Finals in San Clemente.
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