The PPA Tour headed to Houston this past weekend for the PPA Houston Open. With some big players missing from the tournament, the draws were open for some new faces on the podium. With that being said, Team JOOLA was able to capture seven out of the eight spots awarded for gold – with a JOOLA player grabbing a gold medal in every single event.
The Men’s Singles bracket at the PPA Houston Open witnessed some remarkable upsets, with top seed Ben Johns suffering an early exit. Quang Duong emerged victorious over Johns in a gripping quarterfinal showdown, clinching the win with scores of 11-5, 11-9. Duong’s momentum carried him through to Championship Sunday, where he continued to shine. Meanwhile, Federico Staksrud showcased his dominance on the other side of the draw, overcoming formidable opponents like Dylan Frazier and Donald Young to secure his place in the finals. In a commanding performance, Staksrud claimed the Championship title by defeating Duong with convincing scores of 11-6, 11-2.
In the Men’s Doubles category, the anticipated outcome unfolded with the top and third seeds securing their spots in the finals. Ben and Collin Johns (1) displayed their dominance, effortlessly sweeping through their match-ups without dropping a single game en route to Championship Sunday. Their semifinal victory over Dekel Bar and Thomas Wilson was decisive, with scores of 11-3, 11-2. On the opposite side of the bracket, Federico Staksrud and Pablo Tellez (3) faced challenges in the quarters and semis, narrowly edging past Connor Garnett and DJ Young in a thrilling quarterfinal clash (7-11, 11-4, 13-11). However, they found their stride in the semis, defeating Christian Alshon and Tyler Loong with relative ease (11-8, 11-5). In the finals, the Johns brothers reaffirmed their top seed status with a dominant display, overpowering Staksrud and Tellez with convincing scores of 11-0, 11-2, 11-2 to claim the PPA Houston Open title. The bronze medal match witnessed a fiercely contested battle, ultimately resulting in Wilson and Bar securing the bronze medal.
In the absence of Anna Leigh Waters from the PPA Houston Open draw, Ben Johns teamed up with Etta Wright to create a dangerous duo in the Mixed Doubles bracket. Their new partnership showcased its strength as they powered past Christian Alshon and Jackie Kawamoto in the semifinals, securing victory with scores of 11-4, 11-9. Meanwhile, Dekel Bar and Tina Pisnik, seeded 11th, surprised everyone with two upset victories to reach the finals. Despite their impressive run, Bar and Pisnik couldn’t maintain their momentum into Championship Sunday, ultimately succumbing to Johns and Wright, who emerged victorious with scores of 11-4, 11-6, 11-5.
After a setback the previous week, Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher returned with renewed determination to claim yet another Women’s Doubles title at the PPA Houston Open. Displaying their dominance, Bright and Rohrabacher stormed into the finals without dropping a single game along the way. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the draw, Vivienne David and Jackie Kawamoto battled past Lucy Kovalova and Callie Smith to earn their spot in Championship Sunday. With a steely resolve, Bright and Rohrabacher left no room for doubt as they swept aside David and Kawamoto in straight sets, clinching victory with scores of 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 to secure their third title of the year together. Lea Jansen and Tina Pisnik secured the bronze medal.
In a Women’s Singles draw marked by the absence of key players like Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau, the stage was set for Lea Jansen to shine. A dominant force in singles play, Jansen seized the opportunity to reclaim her title, having last secured a singles championship in 2021. Battling past Parris Todd in the semifinals with scores of 11-5, 12-10, Jansen secured her place in Championship Sunday. Meanwhile, the other half of the draw saw the emergence of a new contender, Samantha Parker, who made waves by defeating Mary Brascia and Lacy Schneemann to earn her first Championship Sunday appearance. With seasoned prowess on her side, Jansen delivered a commanding performance in the finals, securing the title with a resounding 11-3, 11-2 victory over Parker. Lacy Schneemann secured the bronze medal following Todd’s withdrawal.
The PPA Tour travels next to the West Coast for the PPA LA Open starting 4/17.
