2024 CIBC PPA Tour Finals Day 1 Recap: Wednesday marked the start of pool play at the CIBC PPA Tour Finals, presented by ROAR Organic. The competition is fierce, with eight players in singles and eight teams in doubles, each divided into two pools of four. Only three pool play matches determine who will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, making every match crucial. One loss is manageable, but two may eliminate a player or team from contention.
As the event features only the very best players, the intensity of the matches is incredibly high, with each competitor knowing how important every game is. The level of play was impressive on Wednesday, and several key trends stood out.
1. The Rise of the Twoey
The two-handed backhand, or “Twoey,” continues to dominate in professional pickleball. Five years ago, it was a rarity, but now it’s widespread, with more pros using it either full-time or for certain shots.
Even players once known for their one-handed backhand, like Dylan Frazier and Federico Staksrud, have made the switch. As this trend gains momentum, expect players who don’t use the Twoey to be the exception in the near future.
2. Offense Is the New Norm
Old-school pickleball, characterized by long dink rallies, is fading. Today’s players are focused on offense from the start. While dinking will still be part of the game, many are looking for opportunities to generate offense early, particularly through forehand speedups off the bounce. Players like Andrei Daescu and JW Johnson, once known for their passive forehand dinks, are now aggressive, seeking winners at every opportunity.
3. The Importance of the Right Side
While the left side remains the favored position for many players due to its higher level of activity and ability to cover the middle, the right side is gaining in popularity.
Players like Tyson McGuffin, Pablo Tellez (thanks to being a lefty), and Christian Alshon are masters of the right side and highly sought after as partners. Being a skilled right-side player has become a significant advantage in the doubles game.
4. The Value of Practice
Even the best players need practice. Riley Newman admitted to struggling on Wednesday, citing a lack of high-level reps during the Thanksgiving holiday. With many pros involved in MLP events, there were fewer players available to practice with in Phoenix. It’s a reminder that consistent practice is essential, even for the top-tier players, and can make the difference when tournament time comes.
5. A New Rival for Waters and Johns?
Anna Bright and Gabe Tardio teamed up for mixed doubles at the CIBC PPA Tour Finals, and their strong performance on Wednesday raised questions: could they become a legitimate rival for Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, who have dominated mixed doubles?
A strong rivalry would benefit the event, similar to the women’s doubles, where teams like Anna Bright/Rachel Rohrabacher are challenging Anna Leigh Waters/Catherine Parenteau. If these teams continue to perform at this level, we could see them facing off in future finals.
News in Brief: 2024 CIBC PPA Tour Finals Day 1 Recap
Day 1 of the CIBC PPA Tour Finals showed high-level play, with critical pool matches determining who will advance to Saturday’s semifinals. Key trends included the growing dominance of the two-handed backhand (Twoey), the shift toward offensive play, and the rising importance of the right side in doubles.
Riley Newman highlighted the impact of inconsistent practice, while Anna Bright and Gabe Tardio’s strong start hinted at a potential rivalry with Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns in mixed doubles.
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