STORYLINES FOR THE PICKLEBALL CENTRAL INDOOR USA CHAMPIONSHIPS

OVERALL TOP 5:

• LOUD KNOCKS – Opportunity knocking for the field – no Ben or ALW (& others) in the field. 
• I SEE CJ: Collin Johns steps in for the injured Ignatowich to play with Wright and Bright.  
• THROUGH THE ROOF: Indoor tournament – different sight lines and pace of play. 
• SOCK IT TO ME: Does Jack Sock make his first 2024 final? 
• TIME OF YOUR LIFE TIME: 3^rd year at this MN Life Time venue just down the road from Life Time HQ

VENUE/TOURNAMENT/TV:

• Event #4 of the year – one of 15 Opens in 2024, with 1000 points up for grabs for the winners. 
• Traditional draw (playing singles Thursday, mixed Friday, gender Saturday, Finals Sunday).
• Over 900 amateurs playing.  
• All coverage on PickleballTV.

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Catherine Parenteau, Lea Jansen, Salome Devidze
• Parenteau is the top seed and defending champion.  
• Parris Todd (15) is capable of a deep run but has an early potential showdown with Jansen (2). 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Kaitlyn Christian (12) – medaled at Desert Ridge and her arrow is pointing up – can she hit the podium again?

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: James Ignatowich, JW Johnson, Jay Devilliers
• Aanik Lohani (9) is the local favorite and made the Guaranteed Rate Final in October.
• Jack Sock (11) has entered singles twice and both times was knocked out by Staksrud (1)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Cason Campbell (22) – teen sensation with 5-year-old “lucky” hat made the quarters in Mesa. 

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Parenteau/Ignatowich, Stratman/Arnold, Smith/Frazier 
• David/Wilson (1) – how do they respond to the pressure of being the top seed?
• Sock and Parenteau (3) looking to hit the podium for the first time – they get better each event. 
• Kovalova and Wright (4) – it’s go time for a decorated veteran team that has not had their desired results in ’24. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Anna Bright/Collin Johns (2): First time partnership – how much will AB play on the left side of the court?

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Kovalova/Smith, Jansen/Jones, Grechkina/Wright
• With Waters not playing, Parenteau is skipping women’s doubles. 
• Kovalova and Smith (1) are the defending champions and top seeds but not at their peak thus far in ’24. 
• Rohrabacher and Bright (2) – back together after Rohrabacher’s bridesmaid duties during Mesa.
• WATCH OUT FOR: David/Schneemann (3) – made the Denver final in ’23 – will they make a Sunday return?

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Johnson/Frazier, Staksrud/Tellez, Newman/Wright
• Wright/C. Johns are the two seed. Matt looking to get the Johns brothers double as he won KC with Ben in ’23 when CJ was hurt. 
• Sock and Arnold (9) – so much talent, so much chirping, so much opportunity. 
• Do Tellez/Staksrud (2) return to Championship Sunday as the defending silver medalists?
• WATCH OUT FOR: Alshon and Wilson (3) – tons of firepower, will it lead to the podium?