Greater Zion Cup At Black Desert Resort Storylines (march 23-29)

OVERALL TOP 5: 

• PIZZA PIZZA: Gabe Tardio has won all 6 men’s doubles titles in 2026 – 5 with Johns, 1 with Daescu. 
• HOWLING HIS WAY BACK: Will Howells returns from extended injury. 
• ALTITUDE: 2,860 feet above sea level at the splendid Black Desert Resort – who will dial in quickly – Utah players usually on point. 
• 3 PACK: Parris Todd won a medal of each type in this tourney in 2025 – mixed gold, singles silver, women’s bronze 
• CUP & SAUCER: 1,500 points to the winners (one of only 4 Cups) – was an Open in 2025. 

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Event #7 in 2026 features a progressive draw, 1 round per bracket per day at Black Desert Resort – first PPA tournament at this venue. 
• Over 1,000 players are competing. 
• Defending medalists are from the Red Rock Open (3/30/25).
• Coverage on PickleballTV begins on Tuesday with the round of 64 (starting times vary – all Eastern) at 12pm on Tues-Thursday, 1pm Friday, 2pm Saturday, and 12pm Sunday.
• FS1 windows from 7-9pm Eastern Friday and 8-10pm Eastern Saturday. 

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending Medalists: Anna Leigh Waters, Parris Todd, Lea Jansen
• Anna Leigh Waters (1) and Kate Fahey (2) are the top seeds. 
• Potential R16: Catherine Parenteau (6) vs. Kiora Kunimoto (11)
• Potential QF: Brooke Buckner (4) vs. Lea Jansen (5) 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Anna Leigh Waters – when singles starts her unbeaten streak will be at 664 days. 

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending Medalists: Hunter Johnson, Jack Sock, Connor Garnett
• Hunter Johnson is the top seed and Federico Staksrud (2). 
• R64 can’t miss matchup: Tyson McGuffin (34) vs. JW Johnson (28)
• Potential R32: Jack Sock (7) vs. Matthew Barlow (32) – back after semis run in Mesa. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Federico Staksrud (2) – church was back in session as he roared back to take the title in Texas after dropping game 1. 

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Defending Medalists: Todd/Bar, Parenteau/Alshon, Jorja and JW Johnson 
• Waters/Johns are the top seed, the Johnson siblings are the 2. 
• Anna Leigh Waters only played singles and women’s doubles in 2025 – Ben Johns was not in the tourney. 
• Jorja and JW Johnson have a single bronze medal in 2026, that’s it. 
• Potential R32 big time matchup: Staksrud/Fahey (9) vs. Sock/Jansen (19)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Oncins/Pisnik (8) – made a huge run to the Final in Newport, can they get back to that form in Utah?

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending Medalists: Parenteau/Waters, Jones/Tuionetoa, Rohrabacher/Todd
• Waters and Bright are the (1) seed, Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black are the second seed
• Alix Truong comes off a stirring run to the Finals in Texas and is paired with Zoey Wang as the 6 seed. 
• Millie Rane was thisclose to her first PPA medal, falling 11-9 in the 3rd in the bronze match – she’s paired with Tina Pisnik (8) this week. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black (2) – tough loss in front of the Flash Mob in Dallas, can they rebound? 

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending Medalists: Alshon/Daescu, Patriquin/Staksrud, Johnson/Klinger
• Top seed is Johns and Tardio, the 2 seed is Alshon/Patriquin. 
• Tardio has taken over the #1 ranking from Ben Johns. 
• Howells returns to men’s doubles paired with his New Jersey 5s teammate Noe Khlif as the 13 seed. 
• Riley Newman returns after a couple of tournaments off as the 9 seed with Armaan Bhatia. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: THE FIELD – can anyone stop Gabe?

The post GREATER ZION CUP AT BLACK DESERT RESORT STORYLINES (MARCH 23-29) appeared first on PPA Tour.