STORYLINES FOR THE SELKIRK RED ROCK OPEN
April 24, 2024
|OVERALL TOP 5:
- FED EXPRESS: Can Fed make it 9 for 9 Sundays in men’s singles?
- HOME COOKIN’: Utah players will receive a big home court push from their fans.
- HIGH ALTITUDE: From 33 feet above sea level in Cali to nearly 2,800 in Utah – big impact on play as the ball will fly.
- APRIL 4.0: 4th consecutive tourney week – who has the mental and physical endurance to prevail?
- OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Traditional Draw (singles on Thursday, mixed Friday, women’s and men’s doubles Saturday, finals Sunday).
VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:
- Event #9 of the year – one of 15 Opens in 2024, with 1000 points up for grabs for the winners.
- 4th year at St. George – the crowds are loud and some of the best of the year.
- Coverage on Prime Video and PickleballTV.
- Broadcast start times are 11AM Pacific Thursday through Sunday.
WOMEN’S SINGLES:
- Defending medalists: Parenteau, Devidze, Jansen
- Welcome to the number 1 seed Mary Brascia, 3.0 – she has yet to make Sunday with the one by her name.
- Can Kaitlyn Christian (6) grab another podium after bronze in Los Cab?
- Judit Castillo (3) is back and hopes to make another run to Sunday.
- WATCH OUT FOR: Lea Jansen (2) – can she earn her second gold of 2024?
MEN’S SINGLES:
- Defending medalists: McGuffin, Tellez, Devilliers
- 2024 winners in the draw: Staksrud (1), Garnett (2), Frazier (6)
- Ben Johns sitting out singles, playing both doubles.
- Roscoe Bellamy (21) hit his first podium last week at Los Cab.
- WATCH OUT FOR: Federico Staksrud (1) is him – can he make 9 straight Sundays and grab a 4th gold?
MIXED DOUBLES:
- Defending medalists: Ignatowich/Bright, Irvine/Koller, Barr/Navratil
- Etta Wright won her first mixed title with Ben Johns in Houston – they are back as top seed.
- Bright/Ignatowich (2) won their first gold here last year – will this be the breakthrough in ’24?
- Sock and Jones (9) will provide high entertainment value as a first-time duo.
- WATCH OUT FOR: Tina Pisnik and Dekel Bar (5) – dynamic duo has made two finals (and Pisnik grabbed bronze with Collin Johns last week).
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
- Defending medalists: Dizon/Wright, Jansen/Jones, Smith/Kovalova
- Utah’s Alix Truong pairs with last week’s finalist Vivian Glozman as the 12 seed.
- Dizon and Wright (2) want to defend their home state with the crowd roaring behind them.
- Can Rane and Wang (10) catch some chemistry and make a run into the quarters or deeper?
- WATCH OUT FOR: Anna Bright/Callie Smith (1) – lots of firepower, with Callie stepping in for Rohrabacher.
MEN’S DOUBLES:
- Defending medalists: McGuffin/Long, C Johns/Bar, Ignatowich/Newman
- Johns brothers are trying to run the table in April, hoping for 4 consecutive Sunday wins.
- Frazier and Johnson (2) are officially full time on the PPA Tour and hunting for gold.
- Fun pairing alert: Augie Ge, and returning from injury, AJ Koller (11).
- WATCH OUT FOR: Pablo Tellez and Federico Staksrud (3) – last ride as partners.