Storylines for the Guaranteed Rate PPA Championships presented by Thorlo!

The Race to San Clemente

PPA players vie for spots at year-end championships

With just two events left in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour season, players are battling for coveted spots at the year-end PPA Championships in San Clemente, California this December. Only the top competitors in each bracket will qualify, putting immense pressure on the hopefuls during the final tournaments.

1. The Amazing Race (0:26)

With the clock ticking down, PPA players are scrambling to rack up points and solidify their positions. "There are just two events left for players to qualify for the PPA championships," said broadcaster Dave Fleming during the event preview show. "They get points by how well they play in their 16 best events during calendar year 2023."

In the men's singles bracket, Fed leads the pack, outpacing second place Ben Johns in points accrued this season. However, the battle for the last few spots in the top 8 is intense. Pablo Tellez sits just 50 points shy of the cutoff line, while others hover dangerously close to the edge.

The women's singles competition is equally fierce, with no surprises at the top. "Anna Leigh Waters gets are dubs in women's singles," Fleming noted, as the dominant star has lost only twice this year. Further down the list, Mary Brascia and Yana Newell are fighting to remain above the cutoff.

Mixed doubles follows a similar format, with the top 8 men and top 8 women qualifying as pairs. Ben Johns has sealed the top spot, but the remaining positions fluctuate after each event. Defending champions Matt Wright and Lucy Kovalova sit just above the cutoff line, desperately needing points to avoid a stunning exclusion from the finals.

For the men's and women's doubles brackets, competitors are vying for 16 coveted spots. Reigning champs Ben and Colin Johns lead the men's standings, while red-hot JW Johnson and Dylan Fraser have surged up the ranks after top finishes in recent tournaments. In the women's field, Anna Leigh Waters holds the top spot with different partners, remaining undefeated so far this season.

For those on the bubble, the next two events represent all or nothing opportunities to qualify for the PPA Championships in December. As Fleming summarized, "There's just two tournaments left on the PPA tour where you can qualify...that's where the race stands."

2. Spotless: ALW is Undefeated in Women's Doubles in 2023 (5:42)

As the PPA Tour enters its final events, one player stands head and shoulders above the rest in women's doubles: Anna Leigh Waters. Teamed up with different partners, Waters has simply dominated the field, going undefeated so far this season.

"Anna Leigh Waters has not lost in women's doubles all year long. That is ridiculous," Fleming remarked. The sheer consistency and excellence Waters has displayed with teammates like Anna Bright and Catherine Parenteau is practically unheard of in a sport as unpredictable as pickleball.

Can anyone dethrone the undefeated doubles queen before the season ends? With just two tournaments left, the odds are slim. But pressure can create upsets, especially with so much on the line in the final PPA events. Expect Waters' opponents to come at her with everything they have left. Still, betting against Waters in 2023 seems foolish - she has simply been untouchable.

3. Another Benjamin? Ben Hits Century Mark, Now Starts Trek Towards 200 Golds (6:09)

The greatest male player in pickleball history, Ben Johns hit a massive milestone by securing his 100th gold medal at the recent Cincinnati Open. Johns reached the century mark playing alongside his brother Colin, a special moment with his family present.

"This is what number 100 looked like," Fleming described, as Johns coolly put away a routine volley to clinch victory #100. "Grandma and Grandpa are in the crowd, Hannah Johns is there, all the family members." Johns received a golden paddle to commemorate the achievement.

With the triple-digit barrier broken, the GOAT now sets his sights on 200 gold medals and beyond. But the next Benjamin will be difficult, as Johns has never won the upcoming Las Vegas Open, even with his brother Colin. Still, with many prime years left in his legendary career, few would bet against Ben Johns claiming another 100 titles and cementing his dominance of professional pickleball.

4. Rohr-ing Into Vegas: Rachel Shines in Atlanta After Cincinnati Breakthrough (6:55)

Emerging professional Rachel Rohrabacher made her presence known by winning bronze in singles at the Cincinnati Open, her first career PPA medal. The University of South Carolina standout followed up that breakthrough performance with an even bigger bang.

At the recent MLP Atlanta, Rohrabacher helped her team The Squeeze claim the Major League Pickleball title in stunning fashion. "These players make their big appearance," Fleming said. "I want to see if they can keep stacking big wins."

For Rohrabacher, the early returns are overwhelmingly positive. With her confidence sky-high, the young star now heads to Las Vegas to compete against the world's best. After proving herself a dangerous upstart in Cincinnati and Atlanta, can Rohrabacher carry that momentum forward?

5. Before the Breakup: Defending Champs Now Split as Rivals (7:32)

Last year's men's doubles championship match in Las Vegas contained plenty of drama as underdogs Matt Wright and Riley Newman upset the Johns brothers to claim the title. Wright and Newman embraced triumphantly after the stunning victory over the dominant siblings.

But don't expect a title defense from that championship pair this year. "Riley and Matt beat the Johns brothers to win this title in 2022," Fleming explained. "But they aren't going to be defending anything together."

Indeed, Wright and Newman have since split as partners on the PPA Tour. The 2022 champs remain fierce rivals, however, and will be competing individually this year to etch their names again on the Las Vegas Open trophy. With no repeat champions possible in 2023, the men's doubles field is wide open.

After shocking the pickleball world last year, Wright and Newman will now try to win more Vegas gold alone. But capturing lightning in a bottle twice will prove extremely difficult.

Conclusion

With intense qualification battles, red-hot contenders, and wide-open brackets, the final two events of the PPA Tour season promise to provide thrilling drama. All eyes turn to Las Vegas this week, as the best pickleball players in the world compete for titles, points, and coveted spots at the PPA Championships. With so much at stake, expect dazzling shot-making and edge-of-your-seat excitement.

0:26 The Amazing Race - Just Two Tournaments Left To Earn Points To Qualify For The PPA Finals In December 5:42 Spotless - ALW is undefeated in Womens Doubles in 2023 6:09 Another Benjamin - Ben Hit The Century Mark In Cincy, Now Starts The Trek Towards 200 Golds 6:55 Rohr-Ing Into Vegas - Rachel Rohrabacher Grabbed Bronze In Singles At The PPA In Cincy And Won MLP In Atlanta 7:32 Before The Breakup - Riley And Matt Beat The Johns Brothers To Win This Title In 2022