The biggest event of the 2026 PPA season so far — 1,500 points on the line. And the storylines are stacking up. Ben Johns is back in singles, seeded #10 after sitting out Cape Coral. Federico Staksrud won Men's Singles at Cape Coral as the [2] seed, upsetting Hunter Johnson in a statement run. Kaitlyn Christian took Women's Singles. Johns/Tardio won Men's Doubles. ALW/Anna Bright won Women's Doubles. ALW/Johns won Mixed Doubles.
Here are our picks for Mesa.
Men's Singles
Hunter Johnson
SR™ 1883
Women's Singles
Anna Leigh Waters
SR™ 2035
Men's Doubles
Johns / Tardio
Defending Champs
Women's Doubles
ALW / Bright
SR™ 2030 combined
Mixed Doubles
ALW / Johns
SR™ 2099 combined
🔥 Bold Takes
Our Spiciest Predictions for Mesa
1. Ben Johns makes a deep singles run despite the #10 seed.
His 1664 singles SR™ is misleading — he barely played singles last year. The talent gap is still real. Don't be shocked if he's in the semis.
2. Staksrud defends his singles title and proves Cape Coral wasn't a fluke.
At 1823 SR™ and riding momentum, he's playing the best singles of his career. Hunter Johnson wants revenge, but Staksrud has the blueprint now.
3. Genie Bouchard reaches the Women's Singles semifinal.
Her Cape Coral upset run (1651 SR™, trending up fast) showed her tennis pedigree is translating. A 1,500-point event is where stars are made.
4. The Kawamoto Sisters upset a top-4 seed in Women's Doubles.
Underrated chemistry, improving fast, and nobody's prepping for them. Classic trap match waiting to happen.
♂ Men's Pro Singles
Hunter Johnson vs. Staksrud Is THE Storyline
Johnson is the #1 seed. Staksrud is the defending champ from Cape Coral. And then there's Ben Johns lurking at #10. This draw is loaded.
SR™ 1883 · #1 seed · Revenge tour ▶
The highest-rated men's singles player and #1 seed. He lost to Staksrud at Cape Coral but he's been the most consistent singles player all year. Revenge tour starts now.
🥈 Finalist
Federico Staksrud
SR™ 1823 · Defending champ ▶
Defending Cape Coral champ who beat Hunter as the [2] seed. His reach, power, and confidence are sky-high right now. The man to beat.
🥉 Semifinalist
Christian Alshon
SR™ 1802 · Trending up ▶
SR™ 1802 in singles and trending up fast. A top-4 threat in every draw he enters. If he gets a favorable quarter, watch out.
🐴 Dark Horse
Ben Johns
#10 seed · SR™ 1664 · This is Ben Johns ▶
The #10 seed with 1664 singles SR™ — but that's only because he skipped singles at Cape Coral. This is Ben Johns. Nobody wants to draw him in the early rounds.
👀 Also watch: Jack Sock (rested and dangerous) and Chris Haworth (back from illness, hungry to make up ground).
♀ Women's Pro Singles
ALW Returns to Defend Her Throne
Anna Leigh Waters is playing singles at Mesa with a dominant 2035 SR™. But Kaitlyn Christian and Genie Bouchard both showed out at Cape Coral. This draw has depth.
🥇 Winner
Anna Leigh Waters
SR™ 2035 · Best in the world, full stop ▶
She's the best women's singles player in the world when she enters, full stop. Nobody else is close on the rating sheet.
🥈 Finalist
Kate Fahey
Steady baseline · Can push ALW ▶
Consistently one of the best singles players on tour. If anyone can push ALW to three, it's Fahey with her steady baseline game.
🥉 Semifinalist
Kaitlyn Christian
SR™ 1773 · Cape Coral champ ▶
The defending Cape Coral Women's Singles champion. Riding confidence and proving the tennis crossover is real.
🐴 Dark Horse
Genie Bouchard
SR™ 1651 · Former WTA star, rising fast ▶
SR™ 1651 and trending up after her Cape Coral upset run. Former WTA star with elite athleticism — she's figuring this sport out fast.
♂♂ Men's Pro Doubles
Johns/Tardio Look to Repeat
Johns and Tardio won Men's Doubles at Cape Coral. The chemistry is clicking faster than anyone expected. Can anyone stop them at 1,500 points?
🥇 Winners
Ben Johns / Gabe Tardio
Defending champs · Chemistry clicking ▶
Defending Cape Coral champs. They proved at the season opener that the partnership works. Johns' IQ plus Tardio's firepower is elite.
🥈 Finalists
JW Johnson / Dylan Klinger
Hand speed + power combo ▶
JW's hand speed paired with Klinger's power makes them a dangerous combination. They'll be hungry after Cape Coral.
🐴 Dark Horse
Riley Newman / Will MacKinnon
Best net game in the sport ▶
Newman's net game is arguably the best in the sport. MacKinnon brings steady power. Always a threat to go on a run.
♀♀ Women's Pro Doubles
ALW/AB: The Dynasty Continues
ALW and Anna Bright won Women's Doubles at Cape Coral with a combined 2030 SR™. They're the clear favorites, but the field is deep.
🥇 Winners
Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright
SR™ 2030 combined · Best combo in WD ▶
Combined SR™ 2030 and defending Cape Coral champs. ALW's consistency plus Bright's aggression is the best combo in women's doubles. Period.
🥈 Finalists
Kawamoto Sisters
Built-in chemistry · Improving fast ▶
Built-in chemistry that can't be replicated. They're improving fast and a 1,500-point event is where they could announce themselves as legit contenders.
🐴 Dark Horse
Jorja Johnson / Parris Todd
Young, athletic, fearless ▶
Young, athletic, and fearless. Both have top-10 talent and something to prove. A dangerous draw for anyone who underestimates them.
♂♀ Mixed Pro Doubles
ALW/Johns: Still the Gold Standard
ALW and Johns won Mixed Doubles at Cape Coral with a dominant 2099 combined Sheet Rating™. They're the team to beat — again.
🥇 Winners
Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns
SR™ 2099 · The GOAT combo ▶
Combined SR™ 2099. Defending Cape Coral mixed champs. The #1 woman and the GOAT. When they're locked in, it's over before it starts.
🥈 Finalists
JW Johnson / Jorja Johnson
Sibling chemistry · SR™ 1948 ▶
Combined SR™ 1948. Sibling chemistry you can't replicate. They know each other's games inside and out — always a threat in mixed.
🐴 Dark Horse
Dylan Patriquin / Anna Bright
Climbing the ranks · Elite athleticism ▶
Patriquin's been climbing the ranks and Bright brings elite athleticism. A young, aggressive team that could make noise in a big draw.
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Predictions by The Dink Sheet · Updated Feb 17, 2026
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