The Professional Pickleball Association Tour Finals are finally here, and the energy is electric. Taking place this weekend at the San Clemente Life Time fitness club, this marks the third edition of the season-ending event—and the stakes have never been higher. With the partner draft complete and the group pools set, we're breaking down everything you need to know, from key player moves to bold predictions.
Though professional pickleball is still finding its footing (the PPA only launched in 2020), the Tour Finals is quickly becoming a cornerstone of the sport. Players are treating it with the same intensity as tennis pros approach the ATP and WTA Finals—and that's exactly what the game needs to keep growing.
Looking back at history, the 2023 event saw superstars Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters each claim Triple Crowns, despite some early group-stage scares that nearly derailed their runs. In 2024, Waters repeated the triple feat, while Johns was eliminated in the group stage of both singles and doubles. After the tour shifted to a fall-to-spring schedule last September, the 2025 edition was moved from December to now—and the anticipation has only built.
This year's format features a player draft to determine teams and pools for group play. In previous years, the pools carried fun names like "the ATP pool" and "the Erne pool," but those have been set aside for 2025. Still, the competition promises to be just as thrilling.
One major headline: top singles seed Anna Leigh Waters has withdrawn from the singles draw. Observers noted she was wearing knee braces on both legs during the Atlanta event, and the grind of three round-robin matches plus potential knockout rounds proved too demanding at less than full strength. Her replacement is Liz Truluck, who narrowly edged Parris Todd for the ninth spot in the race. Waters is still expected to compete in doubles, where she'll be aiming for another title.
Another shakeup: Jaume Martinez Vich steps in for No. 16 seed Matt Wright in the doubles draw. Wright was facing the awkward prospect of being paired with former longtime partner Riley Newman—a reunion that would have been anything but smooth, given their less-than-amicable split. Martinez Vich brings fresh energy to the field, and all eyes will be on how the new pairings gel.
As we gear up for pool play, all signs point to another unforgettable weekend. Will Anna Leigh Waters add more hardware to her collection? Can a new contender rise to the occasion? One thing's for sure: the PPA Tour Finals are delivering drama, heart, and top-tier pickleball action. Stay tuned.