STORYLINES FOR THE PICKLR UTAH OPEN

Author: Dave Fleming | August 20, 2024

GETTING SALTY: Playing indoors at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Utah based players will have a big advantage with the pickle-loving crowd behind them
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING: Waters, B. Johns, Parenteau, Alshon, and Buckner among the players not in the draw
HELLLOOOO NEWMAN: Riley back in the draw with Callie Smith and Brandon French
OPEN BOOK: This event is an Open with 1000 points going to the winners

Event #16 of the year.
First official Carvana PPA Tour event in Salt Lake City so no defending medalists.
Broadcast start times are 11am Mountain time Thursday through Sunday.
Tennis Channel coverage of Championship Sunday is from noon to 5pm Mountain time.
Full coverage on Pickleball TV (Prime Video, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, LG, and many more).

AL Waters is not in the draw at all, says she will return for singles next week in Vegas.
Lea Jansen (1) holds the top spot – will she live up to the billing and pressure?
Kaitlyn Christian (4) reached her second final in Bristol but has yet to strike gold.
Kate Fahey (14) the KC finalist plays the veteran Jessie Irvine (21) in a fun first round battle.
WATCH OUT FOR: Mary Brascia (2) – returns after taking a few weeks off, is always dangerous, and has a win in 2024.

Staksrud (1) looks to keep making it to Sunday – has made all but two.
Bristol winner Ben Johns not in the draw.
Connor Garnett (2), the KC winner, returns.
Sherry (22) vs. Ge (43) is a very entertaining first round battle: vet vs. the southpaw.
WATCH OUT FOR: Chris Haworth (5) – has a title in 2024 and is always a threat to get on the podium.

Ignatowich and Bright (1) look to grab gold from the top – haven’t won since April of ’23, also in Utah, at the Selkirk Red Rock Open.
Different hustle for Jack Sock this week as he plays with his other NY Hustlers teammate Jackie Kawamoto who grabbed bronze in Bristol – they are the 14 seed.
Mixed draws are tough – former semifinalists Todd and H. Johnson are the 20 seed.
WATCH OUT FOR: Riley Newman and Callie Smith (7) – will the new partners thrive or struggle?

Bright and Rohrabacher (1) got shellacked in the final in TN, look to rebound and grab gold for the 5^th time in 2024.
Jorja Johnson and Mari Humberg (9) are a dangerous duo that could absolutely medal in Utah.
Wang/Castillo (12) the MLP Owl partners vs. Fahey/Truong (20) is a great first round match up.
WATCH OUT FOR: Jackie Kawamoto and Lucy Kovalova (4) – Lucy is back in the draw and this team has the talent to reach the podium.

Duong and Devilliers promoting pickleball overseas so not in this draw.
Fought/Loyd (16) beat Johnson/Frazier in TN – have a first round date with Khlif/Cincola (22).
Ignatowich/Wright (3) – partnership did not gel early in the year, will Utah be the prescription?
WATCH OUT FOR: C. Johns/Bar (2) – lost in the finals in Red Rock in 2023 – can they live up to the 2 seed?

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