PPA Lakeland Preview: Depth and Dark Horses Threaten Favorites in Deep Florida Draws
What's the Score?
The Lakeland stop on the PPA calendar features large and exceptionally deep fields across all five professional brackets, suggesting the tournament will be defined by its highly competitive depth rather than dominance by a few clear favorites. The draw structure sets up potentially high-level Round of 16 and quarter-final matchups much earlier than anticipated, meaning top seeds like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters will be tested immediately. The Women’s Singles bracket, featuring numerous players capable of forcing tie-breakers, is considered one of the most unpredictable of the season.
Hit it deeper!
The depth of the field promises a weekend of intense friction, where players who usually meet in the medal rounds will clash in the early stages.
In Men’s Singles, the 64-player bracket is dense. Top seed Ben Johns faces a challenging early path, sharing a section with strong contenders such as Federico Staksrud and Connor Garnett. Other players expected to deliver sharp third-round contests include Jaume Martinez Vich, Hunter Johnson, and Jack Sock. The lower half features Christian Alshon, Gabriel Tardio, and Rafa Hewett, where matches are expected to turn on service efficiency. Analysts anticipate quarterfinals presenting stark contrasts in styles, pitting heavy hitters against specialists in resets and rally extension.
The Mixed Doubles bracket, also featuring 64 teams, is remarkably balanced from top to bottom. Anna Leigh Waters and her partner anchor the top section, which will see early challenges from strong returning teams from the East Coast. The pairing of Catherine Parenteau and Tyson McGuffin sits in a quadrant deemed "dangerous," sharing space with established counterpunchers who thrive in prolonged exchanges. Meanwhile, teams featuring James Ignatowich, Anna Bright, Jessie Irvine, and Jorja Johnson are expected to advance with authority, although young teams with quick hands could disrupt the bracket if rallies tighten. The bottom half is anchored by Riley Newman and his partner, alongside veteran pairings that excel when points become chaotic at the kitchen line. Transition zone management under pressure will likely decide many quarter-finals.
In Women’s Doubles, while Waters and Anna Bright remain the team to chase, the draw structure makes space for surprises. Waters and Bright are positioned in the top quarter against opponents who bring grit but may struggle to match their pace. Catherine Parenteau and Paris Todd are placed on the opposite side, separated from the other top seeds until the later rounds. Lea Jansen and Allyce Jones anchor another section built on consistency at the net. The structure suggests that at least one wildcard pair with a strong left-side presence could break through the early rounds.
Finally, the Women’s Singles draw demands precision, as there is little room for a slow start. Waters faces a tricky path filled with players who can extend rallies and disrupt rhythm. Mary Brascia and Brooke Buckner are positioned together in a quadrant that will likely produce a Round of 16 match defined by long exchanges. Catherine Parenteau’s middle section presents a potential meeting with Lea Jansen, contrasting their movement patterns. Paris Todd leads the final corner, with former tennis star Genie Bouchard and Chao Yi Wang listed as possible early opponents. This highly competitive field makes the Women’s Singles bracket one of the most unpredictable sets of the weekend.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The Lakeland PPA stop highlights the dramatic increase in professional pickleball talent density. Unlike tournaments past, where top seeds might cruise into the quarter-finals, this event is designed to test favorites immediately, emphasizing that consistent, high-level performance is now the baseline requirement for success. The draws, particularly in singles and mixed doubles, function as a crucial barometer for player readiness; anyone who advances deep into Championship Sunday will have earned it by surviving multiple high-friction encounters. The presence of recognizable crossover athletes like Jack Sock and Genie Bouchard further underscores the sport's mainstream appeal and competitive depth, signaling that the era of clear, predictable dominance at every stop may be drawing to a close as the professional landscape stabilizes around a larger pool of elite talent.