What’s the Score?
The 2025 PPA Tour is crossing the finish line at the renowned Pictona at Holly Hill venue for the Florida Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open. As the final stop of the year, the tournament presents a unique landscape: with top-ranked titans like Ben Johns taking a partial break, the bracket has opened up, creating a frenzy of opportunity for rising stars and new partnerships to claim gold. The event promises high stakes for players looking to end the season with momentum and ranking points.
Hit it deeper!
The absence of the standard “Big Four” partnerships in men’s doubles has created a power vacuum. The top seed has gone to the newly formed, intriguing duo of Andrei Daescu and Gabe Tardio. They face a field of hungry competitors, including the “young gun” team of Dylan Frazier and Eric Oncins, the latter of whom has been described as “red hot” and a major mover in the rankings. The analysis suggests that while Daescu and Tardio are favorites, the lack of established chemistry among top seeds makes the draw volatile.
In the women’s game, the narrative centers on Anna Leigh Waters’ adaptability. Playing without her usual partner Anna Bright, Waters teams up with Jorja Johnson. Despite their lack of tournament history together, their sheer individual talent makes them heavy favorites over established pairs like Tyra Black and Catherine Parenteau.
Mixed doubles offers perhaps the most exciting storyline. With the juggernaut team of Waters and Ben Johns absent, the sibling duo of Jorja and JW Johnson are predicted to dominate. However, the field is ripe for upsets, with predictions pointing toward teams like Callie Smith and Jay Devilliers potentially making a “sneaky run” to Sunday. In singles, Federico Staksrud and Kaitlyn Christian hold the top seeds, but tough draws and potential grudge matches—such as Staksrud vs. Noe Khlif—loom large.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The Daytona Beach Open serves as a perfect microcosm of the PPA Tour’s evolving hierarchy. While the established kings and queens (Johns/Waters) still rule, their occasional absence reveals a deep bench of talent ready to take the throne.
The tournament highlights the rapid rise of younger players like Eric Oncins and Gabe Tardio, signaling a generational shift that will likely dominate storylines in 2026. The verdict: the gap at the top is narrowing, and 2026 will be a dogfight for supremacy.
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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