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The opening skirmishes of the current PPA Tour Great Zion Cup have cleared the initial field without major incident for the heavy favourites. Across both the Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles brackets, the Round of 64 largely followed the script, though early signs of volatility in the middle tiers suggest a challenging path ahead as we approach the Round of 32.
Men’s Singles: Favourites dictate the early pace
At the top of the Men’s Singles draw, the highest seeds demonstrated exactly why they command their rankings. Top seed Hunter Johnson eased past Eddy Kim 11-7, 11-6, while second seed Federico Staksrud dispatched Miles Hoover 11-7, 11-2. Third seed Christopher Haworth and fourth seed Christian Alshon matched this efficiency, each securing comfortable straight-game victories to safely navigate the opening round.
Just beneath the top tier, several contenders produced commanding performances that suggest they are building formidable momentum. Dylan Frazier, seeded 12th, delivered one of the most dominant scorelines of the day by winning 11-0, 11-8, while fifth seed Connor Garnett looked exceptionally sharp in his own straightforward victory.
However, the draw is not without its pressure points. Zane Ford, seeded 13th, dropped his opening game to Indigo Dagnall before recovering to win in three, and 14th seed Jay Devilliers was also dragged into a deciding game. While they managed to avoid outright upsets, these early tests indicate that progression will require a higher gear as the bracket tightens.
Mixed Doubles: Volatility and early bracket disruption
The Mixed Doubles draw painted a similar picture at the very top. The premier pairing of Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns cruised through their opening match 11-0, 11-4, while second seeds JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson also advanced with minimal fuss.
Yet, the mixed format is already proving distinctly more unpredictable than the singles draw. The standout result of the round was an early upset, as the 40th-seeded pairing of French and Dunlap eliminated the 28th seeds, Walker and Koller, in a hard-fought three-game battle. Several other mid-seed matches, including the 19th seeds Jack Sock and Lea Jansen, also required a deciding third game before the favourites could secure their progression.
The Round of 32 looms
With the initial round completed, the Round of 32 will immediately raise the stakes. In the Men’s Singles, Hunter Johnson faces a genuine test against 28th seed JW Johnson, while Garnett must navigate the awkward and disruptive playing style of 25th seed Tama Shimabukuro.
Meanwhile, the Mixed Doubles bracket has thrown up a potential thriller, with the ninth seeds Staksrud and Kate Fahey drawn against Sock and Jansen in a clash that easily boasts quarter-final quality. The top seeds have held firm, but the real tournament begins now.
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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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