Round of 16 Highlights | PPA Tour: Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert Resort

 

00:00 Women's Singles 09:40 Men's Singles 19:40 Mixed Doubles 29:14 Men's Doubles 39:18 Women's Doubles

Anna Bright;s Vlog: Conquering the Wind and Burnout at PPA Texas

 

Anna Bright takes us behind the scenes at the PPA tournament in McKinney, Texas. Facing intense wind conditions, mental burnout from previous tournaments, and a feeling of being underprepared, Anna documents her journey to bounce back through rigorous drilling, playful banter with partners Hayden Patriquin and Anna Leigh Waters, and embracing the chaos of tournament life. Here is a breakdown of the key moments and topics covered.

Tournament Preparation and Mental Focus (0:00 - 3:19)

Anna kicks off the week aiming for a bounceback performance in both mixed and women's doubles. She emphasizes the importance of trusting the work put in and shares her routine, which includes visiting a local bakery, drilling for an hour with Juan Bonitez, and undergoing hypnotherapy to manage stress and anxiety from the previous week.

Court Logistics and Windy Conditions (2:33 - 3:56) Anna and her partner, Hayden, are surprised to find themselves playing on Court 15 instead of a stadium court. She jokes about texting the PPA to ask if they are in.

Tournament Logistics and Personal Mishaps (4:12 - 5:54) In a comedic turn of events, Anna realizes she forgot her women's doubles outfit at her Airbnb and has to rush back to get it. She also experiences a mishap with a drink on her white skirt, leading to a frantic effort to clean it before her match. Additionally, she shares a funny story about honking her horn at Anna Leigh Waters and her team when they walked in front of her car.

The 'Video Board' Incident (5:55 - 6:04) During a match, a video board falls down, requiring strong staff members to hold it up, showcasing the unexpected challenges faced during windy outdoor tournaments.

Cooking Show Challenge (7:06 - 8:52) Anna takes a break from the court to participate in a PPA cooking show called Pickleball Eats. She visits a local pizza restaurant to make a specialty pizza, despite admitting she knows little about cooking. She later clarifies a joke about flirting with the host, mentioning he has a girlfriend.

Morning Drills and Intensity (9:05 - 9:57) To maintain her goal of drilling more than anyone else, Anna hits with Ryder Brown at 8:30 a.m. She documents a competitive dink game against the young player, winning 14-12.

Tournament Reflection and Mental Check (10:00 - 11:00) Anna reflects on balancing workload and mental health, deciding to take a chiller approach to work to combat the burnout from the previous week. She coaches her friends Kate and Leia in singles while getting ready for her own matches, admitting she feels more confident in doubles strategy than singles.

Friday Morning Dynamics and Wind Management (11:05 - 13:08) Despite having to take allergy meds that make her tired, Anna maintains her high intensity. She notes that the wind is lower today but expects it to pick up over the weekend, acknowledging that wind tends to favor the underdog in matches.

Quarterfinal Success and Car Routine (13:10 - 15:07) After winning her matches and advancing to the semifinals, Anna takes time to relax in her car—a personal quirk she calls being a "big car sitter." She documents a side quest to Costco for a mango sago dessert, sharing a quote about how experiencing life makes every endeavor a win.

Semifinal Saturday and Rivalries (15:45 - 18:00) Anna prepares for a mixed doubles match against Paris and Andre, humorously questioning the logistics of them sharing a trainer with her partner, Hayden. She also participates in a grip strength test in the player's lounge, playfully bragging about beating Kate with her left hand.

Championship Sunday and Victory (20:05 - 22:30) On Championship Sunday, Anna highlights her ability to remain calm and Type B even when rushing to the venue without coffee. After intense matches in the wind, she and her partners come out on top. The vlog concludes with a celebratory margarita, thanking fans for their support following her emotional breakdown the previous week.

Summary

Anna Bright documents her experience at the PPA Texas Open in McKinney, focusing on her efforts to bounce back from a stressful previous tournament while battling intense wind conditions and mental burnout. She highlights her rigorous preparation routine, which included daily drilling sessions to regain her competitive edge and a visit to a hypnotherapist to manage anxiety.Bright shares behind-the-scenes moments, including navigating unexpected logistical challenges like playing on a non-stadium court, repairing a spilled drink on her uniform just before a match, and participating in a PPA cooking show. She also documents her playful rivalry and friendship with fellow players, specifically through humorous honking interactions with Anna Leigh Waters and competitive grip strength tests against Kate.Ultimately, Bright describes the tournament as a success, culminating in a victory and a celebratory margarita. She expresses gratitude to her fans for their support regarding her mental health, emphasizing the importance of experiencing life and enjoying the journey alongside professional competition.

 

Level Up Your Pickleball Game with Ava Ignatowich

 

3 Essential Fundamentals to Fast-Track Your Skills

Introduction Professional PPA Tour player Ava Ignatowich shares the three core fundamentals she would focus on first if she had to start her pickleball journey all over. Moving beyond just hitting winners, she explains that control, patterns, and patience are what actually win games and move players up in level. The video provides actionable advice and drills to help beginners and intermediate players alike improve their transition game, dinking strategy, and court positioning.

1. Transition Zone Confidence (0:11) Confidence in the transition zone is a major differentiator between lower and higher-level players, as points often end before everyone reaches the kitchen. Ava emphasizes that beginners often practice drops and resets while stationary, which isn't efficient for real game scenarios.

• Moving Drops & Resets (0:42): Instead of being stationary, practice hitting drop shots and resets while moving forward or backward to mirror real gameplay.
• The Slinky Drill (1:47): A cooperative drill starting at the kitchen, where players take a step back after each successful rally until reaching the baseline, then work their way back in.
• 7-Eleven Game (3:42): An uncooperative game designed to practice moving from the baseline to the net under pressure. The player starting back must reach 7 points, while the player at the net must reach 11.
  2. Dinking with Purpose & Kitchen Anticipation (4:38) To improve at the net, players must move away from random dinking and toward intentional placement and reading opponents.
• Targeted Dinking (4:45): Aim dinks specifically at corners, the opponent's inside foot, the middle, or crosscourt to dictate the rally.
• Body Position Anticipation (5:12): Watch your opponent's paddle and body positioning to guess where the ball is going, and lean in that direction during your split step (right before they make contact) to be in the best position to react.
  
  3. Knowing Your Role: Right vs. Left Side (6:27) Ava explains that roles differ significantly depending on which side of the court you are playing, particularly for right-handed players.
• The Left Side (6:57): Generally handles the middle of the court (about 55% of the court) to take advantage of forehands. This role is typically more aggressive.
• The Right Side (7:25): Focuses on being conservative, setting up the partner on the left for putaways, and focusing on consistent crosscourt dinks and resets.
• Bonus Topic: The Power of Boring Pickleball (8:40)  
  Ava concludes that boring pickleball wins games. While flashy shots like earnings are fun, they are low-percentage plays. High-percentage play—focusing on making more balls and playing smart patterns—is the fastest way to win and level up.

 

PPA Tour: Veolia Texas Open: Quarter Finals Highlights

 

Men's Singles 00:00 Federico Staksrud vs. Jay Devilliers 02:47 Christopher Haworth vs. Gabriel Joseph Mixed Doubles 05:55 Jessie Irvine / Christian Alshon vs. Catherine Parenteau / Gabriel Tardio 12:28 Ben Johns / Anna Leigh Waters vs. Tyra Hurricane Black / Noe Khlif Women's Doubles 14:28 Parris Todd / Alix Truong vs. Chao Yi Wang / Jessie Irvine 23:08 Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright vs. Lea Jansen / Callie Smith Women's Singles 26:52 Kate Fahey vs. Isabella Dunlap 31:43 Anna Leigh Waters vs. Lea Jansen Men's Doubles 35:09 Ben Johns / Gabriel Tardio vs. Max Freeman / Tyson McGuffin 41:30 Andrei Daescu / Federico Staksrud vs. Blaine Hovenier / Noe Khlif

PPA Tour: Veolia Texas Open: Round of 16 Highlights

 

00:00 Women's Singles

Anna Leigh Waters vs. Hannah Blatt (0:11-3:02) Kate Fahey vs. Lingwei Kong (3:18-6:46) 06:45 Men's Singles Federico Staksrud vs. Achyuth Batia (6:51-9:43) Chris Haworth vs. Mo Alhouni (9:47-13:19) 13:20 Mixed Doubles Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs. Millie Rane / Connor Garnett (13:29-18:44) JW Johnson / Georgia Johnson vs. Augie Ge / Genie Arakaki (18:50-22:25) Jessie Irvine / Christian Alshon vs. Callie Smith / Andrew Slothower (22:31-28:46) 28:47 Women's Doubles Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright vs. Zoe Wild / Sam Parker (28:56-34:45) 34:46 Men's Doubles Ben Johns / Tyler Loong vs. Gabe Tardio / Eduardo D'Arrigo (34:57-39:53) CJ Klinger / Julian Arnold vs. Zane Navratil / Christian Alshon (40:04-42:42)

Titles, Tears, and Tribulations at PPA Newport! | Anna Bright Vlogs

 

 

A Busy Vlog Following the PPA Newport Beach Tournament

Come along with #2 Women's professional pickleball player Anna Bright as she navigates a chaotic schedule, including multiple events, interviews, and matches, right after a huge win in Mesa, Arizona. In this video, Anna documents the highs and lows of tournament life in Newport Beach, California.

Day 1: Traveling and Event Prep (Palm Springs to Newport)

• (0:00) Arriving in Palm Springs for a JOOLA event and preparing to drive to Newport Beach.
• (0:24) Navigating a chaotic airport and realizing the scale of the local tennis tournament.
• (0:36) Heading to the event; a minor fashion disaster with a damaged jacket.
• (1:10) Watching some of the action, including Tyra and Joel vs Brooke and Nick Kyrgios.
• (1:34) Showing off a huge haul of goodies from the Desert Smash gifting suite.
• (2:07) Reflecting on professional pickleball drama and high school-like gossip.

Day 2: Interviews and First Match (Wednesday)

• (2:52) Starting early with multiple media interviews scheduled for the morning.
• (3:13) Searching for breakfast and exploring cute coffee shops in Newport Beach.
• (3:35) Deciding to go for a run to enjoy the nice weather, despite knees hurting.
• (4:37) Final meeting of the day discussing placing vlogs on Pickleball TV.
• (4:52) Warming up for matches with partner Hayden at the venue.
• (5:53) Running late to a Brighter Pickleball dinner with fans.
• (6:13) Unboxing gifts from fans, including a custom Anna Bright Funko Pop.
• (6:39) Reviewing the day's play, admitting to jitters, and preparing for bed.

Day 3: A Very Busy Thursday

• (7:08) Starting the morning with a long call with a designer and interviews.
• (7:37) Discussing the dating form and fun email correspondences with a fan.
• (8:39) Arriving at the venue, finding parking, and getting a compliment from security.
• (9:06) Debating matching outfits with partner Jacob.
• (9:28) Winning a match and moving immediately to women's doubles without a break.
• (9:45) Spotting friends, celebrating Olivia's graduation, and filming only for YouTube.
• (10:05) Enjoying sushi and salmon rolls in the car before heading to the hotel.
• (10:25) Fitting in a gym session to maintain her physique.
• (10:41) Waking up extremely early after falling asleep with the lights on.

Day 4: Fever Dreams and Finding the Spark (Friday)

• (11:34) Wrapping up interviews and filming a video with Caden Nemoff
• (12:04) Lunch at Wild Strawberry Cafe and reflecting on the fun video shoot.
• (12:35) Facing potential issues with parking and a broken nail.
• (13:06) Winning another women's doubles match; discussing chemistry with her partner.
• (14:08) Eating a massive amount of poke in the car.
• (14:34) Getting a manicure and pedicure at a new salon.
• (15:00) Bringing boba to friends and dealing with a funny email from her "email boy."
• (15:24) Answering dating questions from fellow pro Carlos Delora.
• (16:30) Reflecting on a full day and preparing for the quarterfinals on grandstand.
• (18:47) Losing the mixed doubles match and analyzing her dinking performance.
• (19:33) Discussing a silly rock-paper-scissors bet with Hayden.

Day 5: Semi-Final Saturday and Tears

• (20:12) Reflecting on the mixed doubles loss and searching for a breakfast spot.
• (20:52) Tasting multiple donuts from Sidecar Donuts and being disappointed.
• (22:00) Dealing with parking enforcement again and defying the rules.
• (23:00) Emotional segment: Sharing feelings of panic and anxiety at the venue.
• (23:37) Calming down with meditation, overcoming tears, and preparing to play.
• (24:49) Winning the match; walking around to touch grass and get fresh air.
• (25:44) The "manic" decision to cut her own hair with nail clippers for a change.
• (28:29) Lifting weights and feeling the sparkle return after cutting her hair.

Day 6: Championship Sunday (Finals)

• (29:36) Walking on the treadmill while watching other matches and eating a healthy breakfast.
• (30:46) Successfully parking in the back lot without getting ticketed.
• (31:37) Winning the gold medal with her partner in the finals!
• (32:05) Turning down a request to play pickle pong to keep a healthy streak.
• (32:23) Wrapping up the vlog, thanking fans, and looking forward to the next tournament in Texas.