Tuesday Feb 11 — Main Draw Begins

Ben Johns with new partner Gabriel Tardio is the most intriguing partnership of 2026, but the talent gap in Round 1 is massive. Johns elevates every partner he plays with. They should steamroll their opener and save energy for tougher rounds.

Newman and Frazier are the most lethal doubles team not named Johns. Newman's soft game at the net combined with Frazier's athleticism and power make them overwhelming favorites against any qualifier. This is a warm-up game.

Julian Arnold brings chaotic energy that disrupts opponents' rhythm, and Martin Emmrich — a former ATP doubles player — adds legitimate net skills. Arnold's unpredictability is his superpower. They're seeded low but play above their number.

Wait — JW Johnson at seed 3 should be a lock, right? But new partner Dekel Bar is an unknown quantity in PPA doubles. Teoni is a physical force, and Mogle is a grinder. If JW and Bar haven't found chemistry yet, this could get interesting. We lean JW's individual brilliance, but cautiously.

Rettenmaier is a crafty veteran and Brandon French (just traded to Las Vegas Night Owls in the MLP blockbuster) brings serious firepower. As a 17-seed facing a 16, the gap is razor thin. French has been on fire this offseason — we like the slight upset here.

The two best women's players on the planet. Anna Leigh Waters skipped singles to focus here — that tells you how seriously she's taking doubles. Bright is one of the best athletes in the sport. This is appointment television even against a qualifier, just to see their 2026 form.

Jansen and Irvine are both top-10 singles players doubling up, and their partnership has real upside. Koop and Huang survived qualifying but face a massive step up in competition. Jansen's two-handed backhand is a weapon from the baseline.

Ashley Griffith is a rising talent who made waves in qualifying — don't sleep on her. Ava Ignatowich (Anna's sister) brings grit and improving court sense. Their seed doesn't match their talent ceiling. The higher-seeded opponent might be caught looking ahead.

Parenteau is a top-3 women's player and David has been on a meteoric rise. This duo has the perfect blend of Parenteau's touch and court IQ with David's power and speed. Should advance comfortably, but Round 2 is where it gets real.

Staksrud has been one of the most consistent men's singles players on tour. Without Ben Johns in the draw, this is his bracket to lose on the bottom half. He's smooth, athletic, and plays his best in big moments. Easy opener.

We called this on Day 2 and we'll say it again — Navratil at seed 39 is absurd. He's a former world #2 with a lethal serve and big-match experience. His seed reflects recent inactivity, not his ability. Anyone drawn against him should be nervous. We're picking the upset.

JW Johnson is the most well-rounded men's singles player when Johns isn't in the draw. His consistency from the baseline is unmatched and he rarely drops games to lower-seeded opponents. The only question is how deep he goes, not whether he wins Round 1.

Hot take time. Connor Garnett has been quietly climbing the rankings and his aggressive style can give older veterans like Devilliers problems. Jay is savvy and experienced, but Garnett's speed and power could overwhelm. We're going with the young gun in a close one.

Frazier is better known for doubles but his singles game has improved dramatically. He's got the athleticism to run down everything and the power to end points. At seed 5 with Johns absent, he could make a deep run. Comfortable R1 win.

With ALW sitting out singles, Anna Bright is arguably the best women's singles player in the draw. She's a fierce competitor with elite speed, and her singles game has been championship-level since 2024. She should cruise through the early rounds.

Parenteau's singles game is all about control — soft resets, patient rallies, and waiting for the error. Her qualifier opponent will come in hot from Monday but Parenteau's composure at the net is elite. She won't give free points.

Irvine is seeded 20th but her best days are top-10 caliber. The problem? She faces whoever survived the Weil/Griffith qualifying match — both are in-form and riding momentum. The qualifier will have match sharpness that Irvine lacks, and Griffith in particular has been on a tear. We're picking the mild upset.

Lea Jansen's two-handed backhand is one of the best shots in women's pickleball. She generates pace and angles that most players can't handle. Without ALW in the draw, Jansen is a serious title contender. She should handle her Round 1 opponent with room to spare.

Jorja Johnson is a rising force — she's fast, aggressive, and plays without fear. But Polina Libo is a dark horse who's been quietly improving, and Emma Nelson can compete with anyone on her day. Jorja should advance, but this could go three games.

The most dominant mixed doubles team in pickleball history. Both skipped singles to focus on doubles events — they mean business. Waters' speed and Johns' power create an impossible puzzle for opponents. The only drama is how quickly they close it out.

Parenteau and Newman are both top-5 players individually. Newman's net presence in mixed is arguably the best in the game. They face the Collin Johns / Albie Huang combo who survived qualifying — Collin is elite but Huang is still developing. Parenteau/Newman should handle this, though Collin keeps it competitive.

Irvine/McGuffin is a solid mixed team with McGuffin's backhand providing serious firepower. But Loong/Hendershot survived qualifying and are playing loose. Mixed doubles is the most volatile format — lower seeds can steal games with aggressive play. We lean Irvine/McGuffin but wouldn't be shocked by the upset.

Ashley Griffith is having a breakout tournament — she's in multiple draws and playing fearlessly. Adam Harvey is a skilled, experienced partner who knows how to compete at this level. They came through qualifying hot and have zero pressure. A classic upset setup in mixed doubles where momentum matters more than seeding.

The Johnson sibling duo is one of the most dangerous teams in mixed. JW's consistency and Jorja's improving game make them genuine title contenders — especially with both in strong singles form. They should cruise through Round 1 and are a dark horse for the whole thing.