STORYLINES FOR THE CARVANA MESA ARIZONA CUP

OVERALL TOP 5:

• 60 AND 0: Parenteau and Waters look to extend their perfect PPA record.  
• DESERT 2.0: Mesa is the 2^nd February event in the Phoenix metro area. 
• Not BEN Seeing You: No Finals for Ben Johns in singles so far in 2024. 
• 3 TIMES AS BRIGHT: Anna Bright is playing in all 3 events (rarely plays singles). 
• WELCOME BACK: Jessie Irvine makes her 2024 PPA debut, returning from injury.

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Event #3 of the year – one of 6 Cups in 2024, with 1500 points up for grabs for the winners. 
• Progressive draw (playing all 3 events each day by round).
• Over 1,350 amateur players participating, up from 926 in 2023.  
• First two hours of Championship Sunday on FOX national from 12-2 Eastern. 

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Federico Staksrud, Jay Devilliers, James Ignatowich 
• Jaume Martinez Vich (9) came up just short at Desert Ridge – how will he fare in Mesa?
• Ben Johns (1) did not medal here in ’23, lost to Fed 12-10 in the 3^rd in the semis. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Federico Staksrud (2) – two tourneys, two finals, one gold, can he make it to Sunday again in this loaded field?

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Anna Leigh Waters, Lea Jansen, Salome Devidze
• Parenteau is in the draw, skipped singles at Desert Ridge.  
• Singles dynamo Parris Todd (23) is entered and could face Genie Bouchard who is entered in all 3 events. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Anna Bright (21) – returns to the singles court, will she medal?

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Bright/Newman, Johnson/Johnson, David/Wilson 
• Sock and Parenteau (7) looking to take the next step forward – made the quarters at the Masters. NOTE: Sock in all 3 events in Mesa. 
• Jansen and Daescu a talented and dangerous 17 seed. 
• Waters and Johns lost here in ’23 in the quarterfinals to the Johnsons 11-9 in the 3^rd (yes, two losses for Ben at this tourney in 2023). 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Jessie Irvine/Christian Alshon (8) – Irvine returns from injury to pair with Alshon whose performance is on the rise. 

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Waters/Bright, Irvine/Jackie Kawamoto, Jansen/Jones
• Could Bright and David (2) be the team to knock off the undefeated top seeds?
• Sister act 3?: Brascias and Kawamotos could battle again in the round of 16 – crazy draws.
• WATCH OUT FOR: The Kawamoto sisters – nearly took down the undefeated AL/CP duo, can they build off the performance?

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Johns/Johns, Newman/Wright, Johnson/Frazier
• Johns brothers go for 4 PPA titles in a row. 
• McGuffin and Bar want to make another run to the Finals. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: James Ignatowich and Matt Wright (3) have yet to hit the podium in ’24 – will this be the one?