PPA Tour weekend preview: Storylines and predictions heading into North Carolina Open semifinals

Alex Lantz

Director of Content

Last Edited

Apr 04 2025

Men's singles

Semifinals

(1) Federico Staksrud vs. (13) Gabe Tardio
(10) Roscoe Bellamy vs. (17) Zane Ford

With Ben Johns withdrawing from singles this week, it opened the door for more players on the opposite side of the bracket from Staksrud. Bellamy and Ford took advantage, with Bellamy upsetting (2) Hunter Johnson and Ford taking down (5) Jaume Martinez Vich in the quarterfinals.

Read next: 5 things to know about pro pickleball player Zane Ford

Although he remains the top seed on points in men's singles, Staksrud has not found the winner's circle in five events since The Masters in early January in singles or doubles. This is a great opportunity for him to get back on track, and one he needs to cash in on if he's going to come close to backing up his incredible 2024 season -- in which he won nine singles titles, five men's doubles titles and medaled in at least one division in all 24 PPA Tour events.

My picks: Staksrud and Ford win their semifinal matches and Staksrud beats Ford in the finals, much like he did at the Daytona Beach Open in late December.

Women's singles

Semifinals

(5) Lea Jansen vs. (6) Parris Todd
(2) Kate Fahey vs. (8) Salome Dividze

Todd has been on fire in recent weeks since switching to the new Franklin C45 paddle -- check out our in-depth review here and buy it here. She's coming off her most complete tournament of the season in which she won mixed doubles at the Red Rock Open with Dekel Bar, took silver in women's singles and bronze in women's doubles. With Anna Leigh Waters also withdrawing from singles this week, it's a big opportunity for one of these four players to snag a gold medal. It would be Todd's second gold of the season, as she won the Tucson Open in February, which Waters also didn't play.

My picks: Todd over Jansen; Fahey over Dividze; Todd over Fahey in the final.

Mixed doubles

Semifinals

(1) Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns vs. (4) Federico Staksrud/Anna Bright
(2) Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson vs. (10) Andrei Daescu/Meghan Dizon

The top seed did their thing on Thursday, rolling through their quarterfinal match. The Johnson siblings, however, had a little bit of trouble against 11-seed Hayden Patriquin and Fahey, but ultimately snuck through in that one by winning 11-8 in the third game. I'm most interested to see if Staksrud and Bright can push Waters and Johns, who have shown some cracks this season, particularly at the Mesa Cup in February, where they lost to Bright and Bar in the semifinals. Mixed has been Staksrud's weakest event historically, but playing with the clear-cut No. 2 women's player can only help.

My picks: Waters/Johns over Staksrud/Bright (in a very close one); Johnson/Johnson over Daescu/Dizon; Waters/Johns over Johnson/Johnson in the final.

Men's doubles

Semifinals

(1) Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud vs. (4) Tyson McGuffin/Dekel Bar
(2) Ben Johns/Gabe Tardio vs. (8) Eric Oncins/Dylan Frazier

Oncins and Frazier won an absolutely electric quarterfinal match against Andrei Daescu and Christian Alshon on Friday afternoon. It was just the second loss in 2025 for Daescu and Alshon, who have won three titles together and looked to be the best men's doubles team on tour heading into this week. Oncins and Frazier saved four match points and came back from down 10-6 in the third to win 12-10 and advance. The rest of the bracket has been all chalk, and I expect that to continue on Saturday.

My picks: Patriquin/Staksrud over McGuffin/Bar; Johns/Tardio over Oncins/Frazier; Johns/Tardio over Patriquin/Staksrud in the final.

Women's doubles

Semifinals

(1) Catherine Parenteau/Anna Leigh Waters vs. (4) Parris Todd/Lacy Schneemann
(3) Jorja Johnson/Tyra Black vs. (6) Jackie Kawamoto/Jade Kawamoto

Another strong performance from Todd, who makes back-to-back semifinals with different partners -- last week it was with Rachel Rohrabacher. Todd and Schneemann have a tough task ahead on Saturday, though, as Waters and Parenteau beat their opponents by a total score of 66-16 on Friday ... sheesh. On the other half of the bracket, Johnson and Black bounced back from an early exit last week in Utah, and they got some help from the Kawamoto sisters, who upset Bright and Rohrabacher in the last match of the day on Friday.

My picks: Parenteau/Waters over Todd/Schneemann; Johnson/Black over Kawamoto/Kawamoto; Parenteau/Waters over Johnson/Black in the final.

More news