2024 PPA Men’s Mixed Doubles Draft: Following a thrilling 2024 season, the Professional Pickleball Association CIBC PPA Tour Finals are set to show the top-ranked athletes in the sport. The Men’s division, in particular, has raised eyebrows with its partner draft, which has made for some surprising pairings. As the countdown to the December 4th-8th event in San Clemente, California, continues, the players who qualified for the Tour Finals were called upon to select their partners in a unique draft process.
Men’s Field for the Tour Finals
The rankings for the Men’s division at season’s close look like this:
- Ben Johns – 22,500 points
- JW Johnson – 10,400 points
- Christian Alshon – 9,150 points
- James Ignatowich – 8,650 points
- Federico Staksrud – 6,250 points
- Dekel Bar – 5,750 points
- Riley Newman – 4,450 points
- Gabriel Tardio – 4,387.50 points
Ben Johns, the undisputed leader in the Men’s division, tops the field, followed closely by JW Johnson and Christian Alshon. However, there are some notable absences, including Thomas Wilson, who would have finished fifth had he not been sidelined with an injury. As a result, Gabriel Tardio took the last spot in the field, narrowly edging out players like Patriquin, McGuffin, and Matt Wright, who were unable to qualify.
Changes in the Draft Methodology
In a departure from last year’s draft format, the 2024 Tour Finals introduced a significant twist: women were given the chance to select their male partners for the event, rather than sticking strictly to the point rankings. This shift created plenty of intrigue as the selections were made.
Draft Picks for Men’s Division
The draft played out as follows:
- No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters selected No. 1 Ben Johns, her regular partner for over two years and the dominant mixed doubles team in the sport. No surprises here as the pairing has been incredibly successful.
- No. 2 Anna Bright selected No. 8 Gabriel Tardio, a surprising pick given that the two had not played together this season. Bright’s decision to pick Tardio over her usual partners, including Patriquin and Ignatowich, raised some eyebrows. The pair had teamed up for the MLP St. Louis Shock team, but this marks a new partnership. The question remains: Will Bright play the left side and allow Tardio to dominate on his right?
- No. 3 Jorja Johnson selected No. 2 JW Johnson, her brother and regular partner on tour. A predictable and strong choice, as the pair are used to playing together.
- No. 4 Catherine Parenteau selected No. 3 Christian Alshon, a partnership that has seen considerable success throughout 2024. The duo has reached multiple medal rounds and is expected to be a strong contender.
- No. 5 Tina Pisnik selected No. 6 Dekel Bar, a player she has teamed up with for much of the 2024 season. Together, they’ve been a force, with two consecutive gold medal-game appearances in April. This pairing is a sleeper team with the potential to upset some of the higher-seeded pairs.
- No. 6 Marietta “Etta” Wright selected No. 4 James Ignatowich, a player with whom she has never partnered before. Wright had been playing with Alshon, but with him already picked, she opted for Ignatowich, the highest-ranked male left.
- No. 7 Rachel Rohrabacher selected No. 5 Federico Staksrud, her regular partner in recent months. This pairing could be a dark horse in the tournament, as they enter the draft as the “7th seed.”
- No. 8 Jessie Irvine selected No. 7 Riley Newman, a veteran pairing that hasn’t played together in 2024 but still boasts a wealth of experience. The two have complementary styles and could surprise many in the mixed draw.
News in Brief: 2024 PPA Men’s Mixed Doubles Draft
The CIBC PPA Tour Finals will take place in San Clemente, CA, from December 4th-8th, 2024. In a new twist, the women selected their male doubles partners for the event, with some surprising picks in the Men’s division.
The top-ranked male players, including Ben Johns and JW Johnson, will team up with their regular partners, while newcomers like Anna Bright and Gabriel Tardio will be an intriguing team to watch. The field promises a competitive mix as the top-ranked players battle for the championship.
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