CIBC PPA Tour Finals 2024: Over 55,000 enthusiastic spectators packed the Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, to witness the CIBC PPA Tour Finals 2024, the culminating event of the pickleball season. Touted as the “Super Bowl of Pickleball”, the week-long celebration showed over 4,200 competitors from 49 states and 30 countries. Combining professional excellence with amateur passion, the finals capped off the PPA Tour’s most memorable season yet.
“What we did at Worlds was something beyond anything that’s ever been done in pickleball before. The PPA is always one to really push the boundaries and take the next step. We went into it with the intent of putting on the best pickleball event that’s ever been had, the be-all, end-all, and Worlds 100 percent did just that.” – (Kristen Russell)
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Champions Shine on Pickleball’s Biggest Stage
The CIBC PPA Tour Finals 2024 featured world-class performances from the top players, starting with Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher’s stunning gold medal victory in women’s doubles.
The duo won over perennial favorites Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau in a decisive Championship Sunday match. Bright described the win as a dream come true.
Mixed doubles also delivered fireworks, as Anna Leigh Waters teamed with Ben Johns to reinforce their dominance. They defeated Etta Wright and Christian Alshon in a commanding performance.
“It’s a very special tournament. The crowd’s the biggest here out of all the tournaments, and I think it means a little more to each player. It’s a major, it’s the same amount of points, but there’s definitely something special. I mean, it’s the World Championships.” – (Ben Johns)
One of the most remarkable storylines happened in the men’s singles division, where No. 21 seed Michael Loyd shocked the field. Loyd eliminated Ben Johns in the Round of 16 before beating JW Johnson and Quang Duong en route to the gold medal match against Federico Staksrud. Although Staksrud ultimately emerged victorious, Loyd relished the experience.
“Between the venue and the crowds, it felt like the biggest tournament of the year. On that center court, I felt like I was a professional athlete in the middle of it, kind of reaping the rewards of everybody in the stands with all the energy.” – (Loyd)
“I kept saying it throughout the week, I was like, ‘How lucky am I? It’s crazy that God put me in this spot at a time where pickleball is at the level that it’s at’ because there are a lot of people that have come before us and paved the way for events like this, guys that stuck around like Ben and Tyson McGuffin. They were there when this wasn’t the case.” – (Loyd)
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Amateur Players Find Their Moment
The CIBC PPA Tour Finals 2024 wasn’t just about the professionals. Nearly 4,000 amateur players, aged 8 to 89, took to the courts in what organizers described as a celebration of pickleball at all levels. Careful planning ensured amateurs had an unforgettable experience, with family-friendly viewing areas and streamlined scheduling to prevent long waits.
Amateur player Wonda Uy, a Dallas native competing in 3.5 mixed doubles, praised the tournament’s welcoming environment.
“It was my first “big” tournament, and it wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be, especially with it being the PPA Tour. It was so well organized with letting us know what court we needed to be on and the referees. It was just so welcoming and social out there, even though it was still a competitive environment.” – (Wonda Uy)
“After we were done, I told my partner that I couldn’t wait to try and play again and compete to do better because we were so close to medaling in the bronze-medal match. That gave me a kick in the butt to drill a little more, practice my craft, and come back next fall. If you’re thinking about coming to Worlds, just go for it!” – (Wonda Uy)
Kristen Russell, the event’s lead organizer for the PPA Tour, emphasized that the amateur experience was a priority from the start.
“Amateurs were at the forefront from the beginning. We started off by adding viewing areas onto all courts. We wanted somewhere for friends and family to get cozy right next to the court, cheer them on, and watch every great play from their loved one. We also made sure that courts weren’t overbooked. We didn’t want players to have long waiting times, so they weren’t stuck there from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. We had really great court turnover. It was a nearly flawless system.” – (Kristen Russell)
A Festival of Activities for All Ages
The action wasn’t limited to the courts. Pickleball Boulevard, the tournament’s central hub, offered more than 45 programming events to ensure attendees of all ages and interests could immerse themselves in the experience.
Highlights included the Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown, featuring sports legends like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Terrell Owens, Adrian Peterson, and John Isner. These stars competed alongside pickleball professionals in front of a packed house.
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Beyond celebrity matches, the finals offered educational clinics led by top players, glow-in-the-dark pickleball sessions, pickleball speed dating, a wooden paddle contest, and a parent-child tournament.
“The goal was really to create something for everyone, from the six-year-old coming with mom and dad who could get their face painted and get an airbrush tattoo, to the teenager who could get customized sneakers done, to the guy in his mid-30s wanting a guys’ trip. We really wanted something for every single age, activity level, interest level, all of it. We wanted people to walk away from Worlds with 20 stories to tell, and the programming on Pickleball Boulevard made that a possibility.” – (Kristen Russell)
Country music concerts featuring artists like Justin Moore and Morgan Evans added to the festival atmosphere, while interactive games like “Fill Santa’s Stocking” on the demonstration court kept fans engaged. Maxwell Cowley, manager of the Pickleball Central store, noted the buzz around merchandise and activities.
“People always want memorabilia and they want the chance to try out new paddles and talk to an expert. There was all that energy and excitement of going into this pickleball Disneyland gift shop, but it was combined with different interactive activities on our demo court to drive traffic and bring people over. That just elevated the experience.” – (Maxwell Cowley)
“This was a level we haven’t had before. There were people lining up to play games like “Fill Santa’s Stocking” and “Deal or No Deal” and to meet players like Anna Leigh Waters, Connor Garnett, and Collin Johns for autograph signings and photos. It was electric energy. Once people got a taste for it, they didn’t want it to end.” – (Maxwell Cowley)
Looking Ahead to 2025
The impact of the CIBC PPA Tour Finals 2024 extended far beyond the courts, with over 1,000 social media posts generating 28 million impressions and 510,000 interactions. The event showed pickleball’s rapid rise in popularity, solidifying its place as one of the nation’s most beloved sports. For Ben Johns, the significance of the tournament was clear.
“This is a major event that means so much to the players and the fans. It’s incredible to see how far the sport has come.” – (Ben Johns)
Kristen Russell echoed his sentiments, teasing even greater things for next year.
“In true PPA fashion, 2025 is going to blow 2024 out of the water. That’s the story of the PPA. Conversations have already started to find new ways to make Worlds the ultimate experience for every pickleball fanatic. We want people to mark this week off their calendar a year in advance because they just can’t wait to get back.” – (Kristen Russell)
The CIBC PPA Tour Finals 2024 will be remembered as a landmark event in pickleball history, bringing together players and fans from around the world for a week of unparalleled excitement.
News in Brief: CIBC PPA Tour Finals 2024
The 2024 CIBC PPA Tour Finals drew 55,000 fans to Brookhaven Country Club in Texas, showing pickleball’s growth. Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher claimed gold in women’s doubles, while Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters dominated mixed doubles.
Michael Loyd’s Cinderella run to the men’s singles final captivated fans before falling to Federico Staksrud. Nearly 4,000 amateurs also competed, as festival attractions like celebrity showdowns and concerts delighted attendees. Organizers promise an even bigger spectacle for 2025.
ALSO READ: 2024 CIBC PPA Tour Finals Senior Open: A Day of Unforgettable Senior Matches!
