Storylines for the Florida Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open

OVERALL TOP 5: 

• DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?: In 2024, CJ Klinger won his first title in Daytona in men’s doubles (with Daescu). Will another player grab his/her first title here in ’25?
• IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR: Can Kaitlyn Christian and Federico Staksrud defend their singles titles? 
• 3 FRENCH HENS?: Just a partridge in a pear tree possibility for Anna Leigh Waters as she is only playing women’s doubles (with Jorja Johnson!).  
• WINTER WONDERLAND? Uh…no. Perfect pickleball weather with highs in the low 70s expected. 
• OPEN THOSE PRESENTS: 1000 points to the winners. 

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Tourney #20 on the campaign – playing at Pictona in Holly Hill.  
• Over 1,200 players participating across all divisions. 
• Semi-Final Saturday Open Format: singles Wednesday, mixed Thursday, men’s/women’s doubles Friday – all through the quarters, Semifinal Saturday, and Championship Sunday.  
• PickleballTV (and the app) will have the coverage, starting at 11am Eastern on Wednesday-Friday, 10am Eastern Saturday and Sunday. Tennis Channel coverage 3-6pm Eastern Thursday through Saturday and 2-5pm Eastern on Championship Sunday. 

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Kaitlyn Christian, Dom Schaefer, Mary Brascia
• Anna Leigh Waters is not in the singles draw (playing women’s only) so she will end the 2025 campaign a perfect 59-0 in singles. 
• Kate Fahey and Brooke Buckner also taking this tournament off. 
• Christian is the top seed, Lea Jansen is the (2). 
• Good potential quarterfinal matchup: Genie Bouchard (4) vs. Judit Castillo (6)
• Watch out for: Catherine Parenteau. Hasn’t won a singles gold since August of ’23 – is this her week?  

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Federico Staksrud, Zane Ford, Michael Loyd
• Staksrud is back as #1 in the world, is the top seed, and the defending champion. 
• Hunter Johnson, Roscoe Bellamy, and Jack Sock are not in the tournament. 
• Twoeys for days in a potential quarterfinal between Connor Garnett (5) and Gabe Joseph (3).
• Watch out for: John Lucian Goins (6) – can he find his top form that propelled him to back to back wins this summer? 

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Jorja Johnson/Hayden Patriquin, Tina Pisnik/Andrei Daescu, Anna Bright/Dekel Bar
• No GOATS – Waters (just playing women’s) and Ben Johns (out of the tournament)
• Johnsons are the top seed, looking for their 4^th mixed win in 2025. 
• Christian Alshon and Tyra Black are the 2 seed and both continue to seek their 1^st mixed gold. 
• Watch out for: Irvine/Tardio (3) – last tourney together for the foreseeable future as Tardio will play with Catherine Parenteau in 2026. 

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Waters/Waters, Johnson/Black, Bright/Jackie Kawamoto
• Anna Leigh Waters and Jorja Johnson are paired up for the 1^st time as the 1 seed. 
• Anna Bright is not playing in the tournament. 
• Potential Utah dominant fun quarterfinal: Rohrabacher/Tuionetoa (3) vs. Allyce Jones/Callie Smith (5)
• Watch out for: First time partners Parenteau and Black – can they make a run to Sunday as the 2 seed?

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Andrei Daescu/CJ Klinger, Dekel Bar/Pablo Tellez, Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud
• Daescu/Tardio are the top seed – this pair won twice in 2024.  
• FLASH MOB ALERT: JW Johnson and Augie Ge (3) are playing their first Carvana PPA tour event together – members of the 2024 MLP champions, the Dallas Flash. 
• Must see potential round of 16 matchup: AJ Koller/Connor Garnett (9) vs. Dekel Bar/Pablo Tellez (6) 
• Watch out for: Tom Protzek/Jay Devilliers (8) – Protzek with a chance as a high seed to make a run with “Team Europe” (Protzek from Germany, Devilliers from France).