STORYLINES: THE RED CLAY HOT SAUCE FLORIDA OPEN

OVERALL TOP 5:

• They’re BAAAAAACK: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns are registered for all 3 events and Tyson McGuffin returns from injury. 
• Sunny F-L-A: Temperatures are expected to hit close to 80 degrees – who can take advantage of the more humid conditions on the east coast and show the fitness required to medal?
• Spring Breaking: Not playing this week: Matt Wright, Callan Dawson, Lucy Kovalova, Callie Smith
• Bonjour: Parris Todd makes her PPA debut in 2023, paired with Riley Newman and Anna Bright. 
• He’s a Big Dyl: Dylan Frazier grabbed his first PPA gold medal in Minnesota with his partner JW Johnson – can he get back to Championship Sunday again this week?  

VENUE:

• First PPA tourney at Pictona in Holly Hill, Florida, just outside of Daytona Beach. 
• Largest PPA Tour event so far in 2023: 1189 players. 
• Largest number of pro entries with 215 playing the event
• The players will be back to Pictona for Event 2 of MLP from March 23-26 after a jump over to the PPA Austin Open event in-between.

MEN’S SINGLES:

• 3 different winners in 4 events this year to date: Ben Johns (2x), Federico Staksrud, and James Ignatowich. Things are getting interesting.
• 80 players are entered in men’s pro singles, making it the largest ever in PPA history. Will an underdog make a big splash? 
• Federico Staksrud looking to make it back to Sunday after losing a classic battle to JW Johnson in Minnesota.
• WATCH OUT FOR: Tyson McGuffin…after the layoff with the minor foot injury, he will be motivated. 

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Anna Leigh Waters looks to continue her singles rampage, having won 10 events in a row (of those she has entered). She has not lost since last June to Parris Todd, who…wait for it…is not playing singles. 
• In the last 9 tournaments, only 4 ladies have medaled: Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau, Lea Jansen, and Salome Devidze. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: The Field? Can anyone break through these 4 ladies and hit the podium?

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters lost their last mixed match to the Johnsons, who are partnered up again for this event – expect them to be laser-focused as they take to the court looking for revenge. 
• Anna Bright and James Ignatowich are on the same side of the net this time after the off-court couple played against each other in Minnesota, with Ignatowich/Parenteau taking down Bright/Newman in their semifinal.
• WATCH OUT FOR: Riley Newman and Parris Todd. So much talent. How will this partnership gel? 

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Catherine Parenteau, coming off a double gold medal performance in Minnesota, will play women’s doubles with Anna Leigh Waters. They are 12-0 as a team. 
• Can Lea Jansen and Allyce Jones keep their stellar start to 2023 going? They’ve already earned themselves two silvers and a bronze so far this year. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Jessie Irvine and Jorja Johnson – how will the MLP partners play in their first PPA tournament together?

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Ben and Collin Johns are 3 for 3 in ’23 and have won the four straight tournaments that they have entered into as partners.
• Riley Newman is playing with his MLP owner, Tim Parks, with Matt Wright sitting this one out. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: The fiery team of Thomas Wilson and Julian Arnold – can they hit the podium for the first time in 2023?