STORYLINES FOR THE IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS BRISTOL OPEN PRESENTED BY DEEP EDDY VODKA 

OVERALL TOP 5:

• ANY VOLUNTEERS? Carvana PPA Tour’s first visit to Tennessee
• SLY AS A FOX: National Fox network window from 1-3pm Eastern on Championship Sunday
• BRIGHT SPOT: Anna returns with Rohrabacher and Alshon in mixed
• PIZZA PIZZA: Gabe Tardio’s slice propelled him to gold in KC, will it work again?
• OPEN BOOK: This event is an Open with 1000 points going to the winners

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Event #15 of the year.
• First ever trip to the Volunteer state so no defending medalists. 
• Big week for pickleball on national Fox. 
• Broadcast start times are 11am Eastern Thursday through Sunday.  
• Full coverage on Pickleball TV (Prime Video, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, LG, and many more).

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• AL Waters (1) is back in singles after not playing in KC due to the Pickle n Pucks event. 
• Brooke Buckner (5) roars into Tennessee after winning in Kansas City. 
• Kaitlyn Christian (6) took out Parenteau in KC on her way to the semis. 
• Genie Bouchard (16) looks to make a singles run in Tennessee. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Salome Devidze (4), singles specialist and always dangerous – has the only win over Waters in 2024.  

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Staksrud (1) looks to return to Championship Sunday after losing to McGuffin in KC.
• KC winner Connor Garnett not in the draw. 
• Big Poppa Jimmy (36) is playing singles – first round date with the talented Noe Khlif (31). 
• Big H (13) vs. McGuffin (3) intriguing potential round of 16 matchup. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Ben Johns (2) – back in singles this week and looking to make up ground in the points race vs. Staksrud. 

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Dekel Bar and Tina Pisnik (4) are back together and a tough out. 
• Parenteau and Daescu (7) – Catherine playing with a variety of partners post Sock. 
• AB and Alshon are the (2) – energy galore in this talented duo. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: The Johnsons (3) – Played an epic final in KC, falling just short to Johns/Waters in a 5 game thriller.   

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Waters and Parenteau are 98-1 as a team. Not a typo. 
• Jade Kawamoto and Schneemann (3) were terrific in KC, grabbing silver and back again in TN.
• Lea Jansen and Tina Pisnik (4) looking to return to the podium.
• WATCH OUT FOR: Rohrabacher/Bright (2) – will they get another shot at ALW/CP?

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Frazier and Johnson (1): 4 golds and 2 silvers in their last 6 events.  
• Johns brothers (2) gold medal drought continues – does the magic return this week?
• Ignatowich/Daescu (7) – is a big run forthcoming from this tall, south Florida duo?
• WATCH OUT FOR: Staksrud/Tardio (5) – they won the KC title with a 3 straight games victory in the final, taking out the red hot Frazier and Johnson.