Score Pickleball Recap: Federico Staksrud Takes Gold at
PPA Carvana Arizona Grand Slam
February 20, 2023 | Score Pickelball
Over the weekend, the PPA Carvana Arizona Grand Slam hosted an impressive display of pickleball skill from some of the world’s top players. Among them was Federico Staksrud, who emerged victorious in the men’s singles competition.
Staksrud, who had previously earned two silver medals this season, dominated his opponent Jay Devilliers to take home his first gold of the year. This win was particularly satisfying for Staksrud, who had lost to Ben Johns twice in singles finals earlier this season. Staksrud managed to eliminate Johns in the semifinals, breaking his streak of three consecutive men’s finals appearances this year.
On the women’s side, top-seeded Anna Leigh Waters fought hard in the final against Lea Jansen. Jansen, the No. 3 seed, outlasted seventh-seeded Mary Brascia in the other women’s semifinal. However, Waters emerged victorious once again, solidifying her position as the most dominant player in her sport. Waters currently holds the record of seven consecutive singles tournaments won by a female player, set between November 2021 and April 2022. If she continues to play and win, she could break the record at the Red Rock Open in April.
Photo sourced from PPA Instagram Account
In doubles play, Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters had previously dominated as a duo. However, they were eliminated early by JW and Jorja Johnson, who were then defeated by Riley Newman and Anna Bright on championship Sunday. Bright also took home gold with Waters in women’s doubles, indicating a bright future in the sport. Yes. The pun was intended.
Brothers Ben and Collin Johns defended their title to take home yet another gold medal against Wright and Newman with relative ease. This continues their streak of either Ben Johns or Riley Newman being on the winning team dating back to October 2021.
Some players made their mark while falling short of their expectations. Julian Arnold, the recipient of the Major League Pickleball MVP award during MLP’s first event of the season, was eliminated in the second round by the 21st ranked Travis Rettenmaire. After Arnold’s double match with the Johns brothers, Collin John’s put his finger to his lips and waved goodbye to Arnold after the paddle taps, perhaps indicating a budding rivalry.
The next PPA tour event is the Indoor National Championships, which will be held in Lakeville, Minnesota, this week. The tournament promises to be just as exciting as the PPA Carvana Arizona Grand Slam, with top players from around the world competing for gold.
Don’t wait, apply now to secure your spot and get a sneak peek at the future of Pickleball scoring!
