Tuesday, February 11

The most talked-about new partnership in pickleball. Ben Johns left Collin for Gabe Tardio — and Cape Coral is where we find out if it works. Johns brings 60 career golds, Tardio has a 46% doubles gold rate. Doesn't matter who they draw in R32 — this is about seeing the duo click for the first time.

Julian Arnold and Martin Emmrich had to qualify — but these two are no pushovers. Arnold is one of the most entertaining players on tour and Emmrich brings veteran savvy. Whoever draws them in R32 is in for a fight.

With Anna Leigh Waters skipping singles, Kate Fahey inherits the top seed. Her 73% podium rate in singles is elite. The wide-open draw means she could run into trouble in later rounds, but early on she should cruise.

Jessie Irvine fought through qualifying and she's a proven PPA competitor. She beat Rachel Summers in Q and has the game to trouble any seeded player. One of the most dangerous qualifiers in the draw.

The most dominant women's doubles team in pickleball. These numbers are absurd — the real question isn't whether they win, it's whether anyone in this draw takes a game off them.

Collin Johns playing through qualifying in mixed? That's a name nobody wanted to see in the qualifier bracket. He and Albie Huang dispatched Val Simon/Gabriel Joseph and now enter the main draw as maybe the most dangerous qualifying team.

With Ben Johns sitting out singles, Staksrud is the favorite — and his numbers back it up. Hunter Johnson and Connor Garnett lurk in the draw, but that 71% podium rate in singles is hard to argue with.