The 2026 PPA season opener is wide open. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters are both sitting out singles, blowing the doors off two draws that usually have clear favorites. Chris Haworth is out with illness. New progressive draw format. Everything is different this year.
Here are our picks.
♂ Men's Pro Singles
Wide Open Without Ben Johns
Johns skipping singles has become routine, but it still reshapes the entire draw. No clear #1 seed means the top half is a war.
🥇 Winner
Federico Staksrud
Best pure singles player on tour when Johns isn't in the draw. His reach, power, and point construction are elite. Coming off a strong offseason.
🥈 Finalist
Tyson McGuffin
Always dangerous in singles. Physical, relentless, and has the experience edge over most of the draw.
🥉 Semifinalist
JW Johnson
Elite hand speed and court coverage. Can beat anyone on his day, but consistency in best-of-3 is the question mark.
🐴 Dark Horse
Connor Garnett
Quietly building a solid singles resume. Athletic, aggressive, and hungry to prove he belongs at the top level.
♀ Women's Pro Singles
ALW Out — Anna Bright's Title to Lose
Anna Leigh Waters sitting out singles is a bigger deal than Johns doing the same. She's been the most dominant force in women's pickleball. Without her, the draw is genuinely unpredictable.
🥇 Winner
Anna Bright
The most complete women's singles player after ALW. Athletic, aggressive, and has the mental game to close out big matches.
🥈 Finalist
Catherine Parenteau
One of the most complete players in women's pickleball. Touch, power, and the experience to close out tight matches.
🥉 Semifinalist
Jorja Johnson
Getting better every season. The Johnson family work ethic is real, and she's got the firepower to beat anyone.
🐴 Dark Horse
Vivienne David
Young, fearless, and improving fast. She's got the athleticism and shot-making to beat anyone on her day.
♂♂ Men's Pro Doubles
Johns / Tardio: Can the New Duo Deliver?
Ben Johns left Collin for Gabe Tardio — the most talked-about partnership change of the offseason. First real test starts here. The talent is elite, but chemistry takes time.
🥇 Winners
Ben Johns / Gabe Tardio
Johns brings 60 career golds, Tardio has a 46% doubles gold rate. If they click, nobody's beating them. The question is how fast the chemistry builds.
🥈 Finalists
Riley Newman / Matt Wright
Perennial contenders. Newman's net game is arguably the best in the sport. If Johns and Tardio need time to gel, Newman/Wright are right there to capitalize.
🐴 Dark Horse
Dekel Bar / Andrei Daescu
Bar's been on a tear — his aggression at the net is hard to contain. Daescu brings veteran consistency. A sneaky dangerous team.
♀♀ Women's Pro Doubles
New Partnerships, New Possibilities
MLP trades have reshuffled the deck. PPA doubles don't follow MLP lines, so watch for unexpected pairings as players test chemistry before Mesa Cup.
🥇 Winners
Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright
The scariest women's doubles team in pickleball. ALW's consistency plus Bright's aggression is borderline unfair. Good luck to whoever draws them.
🥈 Finalists
Jorja Johnson / Parris Todd
Both top-10 caliber with something to prove. Young, athletic, and hungry for a statement result at the season opener.
🐴 Dark Horse
Parris Todd / Jessie Irvine
Both top-10 caliber, both have something to prove at the season opener. Could surprise.
♂♀ Mixed Pro Doubles
The Superteams Collide
Mixed doubles is always the most chaotic draw. Partnership chemistry matters more than individual talent here.
🥇 Winners
Ben Johns / Anna Leigh Waters
The #1 man and #1 woman. When they pair up in mixed, they're nearly unbeatable. Both focused on doubles this week — scary.
🥈 Finalists
JW Johnson / Jorja Johnson
Sibling chemistry you can't replicate. They know each other's games inside and out. Always a threat to go all the way.
🐴 Dark Horse
Riley Newman / Anna Bright
Newman.s net game combined with Bright.s athleticism — firepower meets finesse. A real threat if they pair in mixed.
🔥 Bold Takes
Our Spiciest Predictions
1. Staksrud wins Men's Singles without dropping a set.
Without Johns in the draw, Staksrud's level is just above everyone else's. He cruises.
2. A qualifier makes the quarterfinals.
New progressive draw format means qualifiers play more rounds. Someone from Monday's qualifying will catch fire and make a deep run.
3. The Johns brothers lose a set in the doubles final.
They'll still win, but it won't be a blowout. Newman/Wright take them to three.
4. Vivienne David beats a top-5 seed in Women's Singles.
She's ready. The offseason leap is real. Book it.
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Predictions by The Dink Sheet · Updated Feb 10, 2026
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