STORYLINES FOR THE VEOLIA LA OPEN PRESENTED BY DEEP EDDY VODKA

OVERALL TOP 5:

• GREAT 8: Federico Staksrud goes for a jaw dropping 8^th consecutive men’s singles final.
• CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: 3^rd of 4 consecutive weekends in April: NC to TX to Cali – Utah next week. 
• MERRY GO ROUND: So many new partnerships – who will mesh and who will crumble?
• MARY GO TO WHICH ROUND?: Mary Brascia is the #1 seed in singles (no AL or CP) – will she play on Sunday on her home courts? 
• OPEN OPPORTUNITIES: Traditional Draw (singles on Thursday, mixed Friday, women’s and men’s doubles Saturday, finals Sunday).

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Event #8 of the year – one of 15 Opens in 2024, with 1000 points up for grabs for the winners. 
• Second visit to Los Cab where many pros train – was The Takeya Showcase at this venue last year, played in August. 
• Coverage on Prime Video, PickleballTV, and Tennis Channel. 
• Broadcast start times are 11AM Pacific Thursday through Sunday.  

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Black, Newell, Stratman
• Welcome to the number 1 seed Mary Brascia, 2.0 – upset by Samantha Parker in Houston. 
• Can Lea Jansen (2) go back-to-back after grabbing gold in Houston for her first win since 2021?
• Is this the week Lauren Stratman (3) makes a deep run?
• WATCH OUT FOR: Brooke Buckner (5) – took Houston off so she will be ready. 

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Joseph, Staksrud, JW Johnson
• Martinez Vich (5) vs. Joseph (9) in consecutive weeks is possible – Joseph is defending his crown. 
• Duong (8) grabbed his first ever PPA medal in Houston, can he back it up?
• Donald Young (29) raced his way to the semis in Houston and is improving every week. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Federico Staksrud (2) is the man — can he make an 8^th final?

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Etta Wright won her first mixed title with Ben Johns, she’s the 12 seed with Connor Garnett. 
• Is this Wimbledon? Sam Querrey and Genie Bouchard pair up as the 32 seed. 
• Tina Pisnik has made two mixed finals in a row with Big D Dekel Bar, she’s the 8 seed with Collin Johns. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Anna Bright and Ben Johns (1) as they pair up for the first time – look out.

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Waters/Bright, Smith/Kovalova, Jones/Black
• Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright (1) grabbed title #3 in Houston in dominating fashion.  
• Vivienne David tries to make a final with yet another different partner – this time Emily Ackerman – they are the 7 seed. 
• Can the Brascias defend home turf as the 8 seeds? They may face an early battle with team mom: Buckner and Pagegimaite (9).
• WATCH OUT FOR: Lea Jansen/Lucy Kovalova – lots of firepower and versatility. 

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Frazier/Johnson, Johns/Johns, Arnold/Wilson
• The standard is the Johns brothers as they steamrolled their way to the Houston title, dropping but 4 points in the final. 
• Fun pairing alert: Martinez Vich and McGuffin (4). 
• Fun pairing alert 2: Garnett and Ge (7).
• Fun pairing alert 3: Doc and talk – Shick and French (15). 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Matt Wright and Thomas Wilson – Wright is right on the right and Wilson has the offense to dictate on the left.