SXY NEWPORT BEACH OPEN PRESENTED BY JOOLA STORYLINES (MARCH 2-8, 2026)

OVERALL TOP 5: 

• BROOMS: Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin swept Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters in the mixed final in Mesa – is this a one off or a sign of things to come? NOTE: on opposite sides of the draw in Newport. 
• 643: Number of days since Waters lost a singles match.  
• FEEL A DRAFT? What impact will the Major League Pickleball draft have on players?
• OUT: Catherine Parenteau is not in the tournament and Ben Johns is just playing doubles events.  
• OPEN IT UP: 1,000 points to the winners. 

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Event #5 in 20226 features a progressive draw, 1 round per bracket per day at the Tennis & Pickleball Club at Newport Beach. The PPA was last in Newport in April of 2023 for a doubles only event.  
• Over 1,300 pro and amateur players are competing. 
• Coverage on PickleballTV begins on Thursday with the round of 16 (starting at 1pm Eastern each day).
• No defending medalists. 

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Anna Leigh Waters (1) and Kate Fahey (2) are the top seeds. 
• Genie Bouchard is not in the tournament – she’s off to a strong start in singles in ‘26, including a win over Fahey.
• Can Mari Humberg (21) follow up her QF run in Mesa which included a win over Kaitlin Christian?
• Potential R16 matchup: Lea Jansen (5) vs. Kiora Kunimoto (10)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Waters – is destroying everything in her path in singles, winning gold 11-3, 11-1 in Mesa over the 2 seed Fahey. 

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Hunter Johnson is the top seed and Federico Staksrud (2). 
• Mesa Cinderella story Matthew Barlow (made the semis) is not in the draw. 
• Can’t miss R64 matchup: JW Johnson (26) vs. Tyson McGuffin (36) 
• Potential R32: Noe Khlif (11) vs. Eric Oncins (20)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Chris Haworth (3) – stopped Ben Johns’ run in the final in Mesa and has earned his highest seed yet on the PPA tour – the 3. 

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Waters/Johns are the top seed, the Johnson siblings are the 2. 
• Wow, what a new team: Alix Truong/Christian Alshon (4)
• Wow, what a new team, part 2: Hurricane Tyra Black/Noe Khlif (6) 
• Wow, what a new team, part 3: Rachel Rohrabacher/Gabe Tardio (7) 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin (3) – cannot have more confidence after the gold medal win in Mesa. 

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Waters and Bright are the (1) seed, Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black are the second seed.
• Wow, what a “new” team: Parris Todd and Rachel Rohrabacher (3) play together for the 2nd time. 
• Judit Castillo and Genie Erokhina (14) are paired again after a sensational semi-final run in Mesa – could have a R16 matchup with Todd/Rohrabacher. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Black and Johnson – as the two seed (and potentially re-united MLP teammates post draft?) will they make another final and push (or beat) Waters/Bright? 

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Top seed is Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio, the 2 seed is Christian Alshon/Hayden Patriquin. 
• Potential R16: Ge/Garnett (8) vs. Sock/Tellez (10)
• Potential R16: Martinez Vich/Devilliers (6) vs. Khlif/Koller (9)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Johns and Tardio (1) – they are the men’s doubles standard until knocked from their throne (and more than once). Boast a 71-4 overall record.