Score Pickleball Recap: The Red Clay Hot Sauce PPA Florida Open 2023

March 13, 2023 | Score Pickelball

HOLLY HILL, FLORIDA – The Red Clay Hot Sauce PPA Florida Open, a major pickleball event, drew 215 professionals, making it the largest PPA event of the year. The Men’s Pro Singles bracket had a record-breaking 80 players. One notable newcomer, Collin Shick, made it to the Championship Sunday by winning three matches in the qualifiers and defeating several experienced players. Although it was Shick’s first pro event, he managed to earn a spot in the Finals, facing off against Ben Johns. In the end, Ben Johns won gold over Shick, who gave fans an exciting performance to root for.

In women’s singles, Anna Leigh Waters was the clear favorite, but Catherine Parenteau dominated the event and won gold in singles against Lea Jansen and doubles alongside ALW. Parenteau defeated Anna Leigh in the semifinals, showcasing her impressive skills. In mixed doubles, Parenteau and Tyson McGuffin faced Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters in the finals, with Ben and Anna continuing their dominance in the PPA and winning the mixed doubles championship. Ben and his brother Colin maintained their 2023 undefeated streak in men’s doubles.

Photo sourced from PPA Instagram Account

The event also saw some interesting new partnerships and shifting alliances. Riley Newman experimented with a new doubles partner, MLP Hard Eights owner Tim Parks, who is rated sub 4.0 on DUPR, as well as Paris Todd in mixed. Newman split with Anna Bright, who is partnered with James Ignatowich for the Florida event and the rest of the year. Paris Todd will pair with Bright in women’s and Newman in mixed.

The Red Clay Hot Sauce PPA Florida Open showcased the incredible talent of the top players in the sport, as well as newcomers like Shick and Tellez. The dominance of Parenteau and Waters in women’s doubles, as well as Ben and Anna’s consistent performance, solidified their positions as top players in the PPA.

Although Anna Leigh Waters was the only player standing in the way of Parenteau achieving a triple crown, Parenteau’s performance in the championships is a testament her rising star in the sport. Professional pickleball is on the rise, and the Red Clay Hot Sauce PPA Florida Open this past weekend marks yet another amazing event as the sport continues to grow.

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