Drama and Triumph at Atlanta Pickleball Tournament
A Recap of the PPA Tour’s Atlanta Stop, Featuring Intense Matches and Unforgettable Moments
The Atlanta stop of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) tour unfolded like a summer blockbuster: high stakes, raw emotion, and a few unexpected plot twists. From a player flashing a middle finger to rain delays casting shadows—literally—over the court, the tournament delivered a mix of athletic brilliance and human theater. Amid the chaos, champions emerged, rivalries flared, and the sport’s growing pains were laid bare. Here’s how it all went down.
Middle Fingers
Summary: The weekend kicked off with a jolt of attitude when Don Stanley unleashed a middle finger explaining a technical warning to Christian Alshon for displaying his middle finger after a point. Sorry Not Sorry Podcast host Chris Cali dubbed it the “highlight of my weekend,” a fitting opener for a tournament dripping with passion. Stanley’s gesture wasn’t just a one-off—it set the stage for the emotional fireworks that followed.
Mixed Doubles
Matches and Highlights:
Round of 16: Anna Bright and Quang Dwang outlasted Big H and Kate Fahey in a marathon match, clinching game three 12-10 after a seesaw battle featuring lobs, resets, and a body bag from Big H.
Quarterfinal: Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon toppled the Johnson siblings in a Texas-sized showdown, taking game three 11-10 with Alshon’s Ernie sealing the upset over the No. 2 seed.
Gold Medal Match: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns steamrolled Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon, winning 11-3, 11-2, 11-7 in a display of sheer dominance, capped by Johns’ Bert and Waters’ pinpoint drops.
Summary: Mixed doubles was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns ultimately asserting their supremacy. Their gold medal romp left little doubt about their top-tier status, though Alshon’s fiery play hinted at future challenges.
Men’s Doubles
Matches and Highlights:
Quarterfinal: JW Johnson and CJ Klinger stunned top seeds Fed and Big H, winning 11-3, 10-11, 11-8, with Klinger’s ATP defense proving decisive.
Semifinal: Johnson and Klinger kept rolling, dispatching Dylan Frasier and Dekal Bar 11-6, 10-11, 11-8, thanks to Klinger’s filthy inside-out dinks.
Semifinal: Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio battled Andre Diescu and Christian Alshon under dim lights after a rain delay, prevailing 10-11, 11-3, 11-4 despite Johns missing shots in the shadows.
Gold Medal Match: Johnson and Klinger pulled off the upset of the weekend, toppling Johns and Tardio 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 in a match that showcased their tenacity and a clutch finish.
Summary: Men’s doubles turned into an upset factory, with JW Johnson and CJ Klinger emerging as improbable kings. Their run through the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, capped by a gritty final, signaled a shake-up in the rankings—and a triumph over adversity, from poor lighting to elite competition.
Women’s Doubles
Matches and Highlights:
Gold Medal Match: Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright overpowered Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Roarbacher 11-4, 11-7, 11-3, with Bright’s counters and Waters’ relentless pressure proving unbeatable.
Summary: The women’s doubles final was a coronation for Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright, whose straight-games victory underscored their chemistry and dominance. With ex-teammates Parenteau and Roarbacher unable to crack their armor, the question lingers: Who can stop this duo?
Men’s Singles
Matches and Highlights:
Round of 64: Alex Crum shocked No. 1 seed Fed, a win so unexpected that Fed blamed the Lifetime pickleball in a since-deleted tweet.
Round of 32: Christian Alshon edged Julian Arnold in a scream-filled slugfest, taking game three after Arnold’s late surge fell short.
Quarterfinal: Ben Johns outlasted Christian Alshon 14-12, 11-7, surviving a cat-and-mouse duel and Alshon’s mid-match shoe repair with crazy glue.
Semifinal: Johns dispatched Hunter Johnson, overcoming a 6-4 deficit in game one as a ball boy collapsed from heat exhaustion on the sidelines.
Gold Medal Match: Johns rallied past Connor Garnett 3-11, 11-9, 11-9, clawing back from a game-one rout with kitchen mastery and a final ATP defense.
Summary: Men’s singles was a cauldron of chaos and resilience. From Alex Crum’s stunner to Pablo’s referee meltdown (complete with two technicals), the drama peaked with Ben Johns’ hard-fought gold. His victory, once a foregone conclusion, now feels refreshingly earned.
Women’s Singles
Matches and Highlights:
Gold Medal Match: Annalie Waters crushed Kate Fahey 11-1, 7-11, 11-2, securing the triple crown with a barrage of winners despite Fahey’s game-two resistance.
Summary: Anna Leigh Waters reigned supreme in women’s singles, her triple crown at this slam event cementing her as pickleball’s unstoppable force. Kate Fahey’s brief rally offered hope, but Waters’ 11-2 clincher silenced any doubts about her dominance.
Hooks Of The Week
Summary: Controversy swirled around the lines, with “hooks”—questionable calls—piling up. Ben Johns topped the list with a blatant miss off an ATP, joined by Christian Alshon, Kate Fahey, and others in a chorus of disputed decisions. The week’s tally underscored a glaring need for sharper officiating or replay tech as pickleball’s stakes rise.
The Atlanta tournament was a microcosm of pickleball’s ascent: exhilarating, messy, and fiercely competitive. As the PPA tour rolls on, the echoes of middle fingers, upsets, and line-call debates will linger—proof that this sport is as much about heart as it is about paddles.
Middle Fingers: Pickleball Clash in Atlanta v1
Instrumentation and Vocals
Verses: Acoustic guitar (folk strumming pattern), blues harmonica (gritty riffs), steady drum beat with light scratching (90's rap vibe), vocals in a rhythmic rap delivery.
Chorus: Full band with guitar, harmonica, bass, and drums; vocals shift to melodic singing with a bluesy edge.
Bridge: Slower tempo, reflective harmonica solo, soft guitar, and minimal percussion; vocals in a soulful, spoken-sung style.
Outro: Fading acoustic guitar and harmonica, with a final bluesy riff and soft drum fade.
Lyrics
Verse 1 (Rap style over guitar, harmonica, and drum beat)
Down in Atlanta, where the paddles pop,
Tournament time, it’s a non-stop drop.
Don Stanley flips it, middle finger high,
Tech warning lands, but the crowd’s alive.
Chorus (Melodic singing with full band)
Paddle clash in Atlanta, hear the roar,
Drama’s dealin’, triumph’s at the core.
Rain and rage under Southern skies,
Pickleball dreams where the spirit flies.
Verse 2 (Rap style)
Mixed doubles heat, Anna Bright and Q,
Marathon match, they’re bangin’ it strong.
Big H and Kate Fahey, lobs in the air,
Twelve-ten in the third, gold’s their share.
Chorus (Melodic singing)
Paddle clash in Atlanta, hear the roar,
Drama’s dealin’, triumph’s at the core.
Rain and rage under Southern skies,
Pickleball dreams where the spirit flies.
Verse 3 (Rap style)
J-Dub and Klinger, upset in the night,
Topplin’ the seeds, under shaky light.
Rain delays hit, shadows stretchin’ wide,
VIP tents blockin’, but they still ride.
Bridge (Slower, reflective with harmonica solo)
Pickle juice spills, a slippery scene,
Lee Waters’ fit, fashion’s not so clean.
Storms overhead, the court’s a mess,
But the game’s the soul, we all confess.
Verse 4 (Rap style)
Anna Lee Waters, queen of the court,
Eleven-one, two, she’s the sport’s fort.
Anna Bright by her side, doubles so tight,
Triple crown shines in the Atlanta fight.
Chorus (Melodic singing)
Paddle clash in Atlanta, hear the roar,
Drama’s dealin’, triumph’s at the core.
Rain and rage under Southern skies,
Pickleball dreams where the spirit flies.
Outro (Fading guitar and harmonica)
Here’s to the players, the grit, the grind,
Atlanta’s tale, etched in every mind.
Through the chaos, they carved their way,
Paddle clash echoes, another day.
How the Song Was Created
The creation of "Middle Fingers: Pickleball Clash in Atlanta" was a journey to transform the vivid narrative of the Atlanta Pickleball Tournament into a song that fuses folk, blues, and 90's rap. Here’s how it came together:
Step 1: Capturing the Essence
The article brimmed with drama (Don Stanley’s middle finger), triumphs (Anna Leigh Waters’ dominance), and quirky details (pickle juice and rain delays). These became the song’s core, ensuring it reflected the event’s emotional and competitive pulse.
Step 2: Structuring the Song
A verse-chorus structure with a bridge was chosen for storytelling flow. Four verses cover key moments: the opening controversy, mixed doubles, men’s doubles, and women’s events. The chorus ties it together with a catchy refrain, and the bridge highlights unique incidents.
Step 3: Blending Genres
- Folk: Acoustic guitar strumming sets a narrative tone.
- Blues: Harmonica riffs add soulful grit, reflecting the players’ struggles.
- 90's Rap: A steady drum beat and rap-style vocals bring edge and rhythm, echoing the tournament’s intensity.
Step 4: Writing the Lyrics
Lyrics were crafted with an AABB rhyme scheme for verses, keeping the rap flow tight. Specific details were woven in:
- Verse 1: Don Stanley’s bold gesture sets the tone.
- Verse 2: The mixed doubles marathon match (12-10 in the third) showcases endurance.
- Verse 3: Men’s doubles upset and lighting issues highlight resilience.
- Verse 4: Anna Leigh Waters’ scores (11-1, 11-2) celebrate dominance.
- Bridge: Pickle juice, Leigh Waters’ fashion, and rain delays add color.
- Chorus: A melodic hook ties drama and triumph to Atlanta’s skies.
Step 5: Instrumentation and Vocals
The verses use a rap delivery over a folk-blues-rap fusion, while the chorus shifts to singing for emotional lift. The bridge slows down for reflection, and the outro fades with a nod to the players’ legacy.
Step 6: Naming the Song
"Middle Fingers: Pickleball Clash in Atlanta" captures the competitive spirit and location, with "clash" hinting at both sport and drama.
This song is a tribute to the tournament’s highs and lows, blending genres into a rhythmic tale of pickleball passion.
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