The PPA Tour continues its high-stakes October schedule this week with the Mojo Energy Pouches Virginia Beach Open, running from October 13–18 at Pickleball Virginia Beach. As an Open-level event, this tournament offers a significant 1,000 ranking points to each division's champion, providing a critical opportunity for players to climb the leaderboard during the final stretch of the 2026 season.
Five Key Storylines to Watch
With several top-tier professionals absent from the draw, the field is wide open for rising stars and new partnerships to make their mark. Here are the five primary narratives heading into the competition:
- The Men's Singles Draw Is Loaded With Opportunity: The field is headlined by Roscoe Bellamy (1), Noe Khlif (2), Jack Sock (4), and Jaume Martinez Vich (6). With a highly competitive bracket, top seeds face early tests, such as a potential quarterfinal clash between Bellamy and Martinez Vich, making the outcome difficult to predict.
- A New No. 1 Team in Women's Doubles: Catherine Parenteau and Sofia Sewing enter as the top-seeded pair. The team aims to blend Parenteau’s defensive consistency with Sewing’s aggressive power. With Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright sitting this one out, the door is wide open for a new duo to claim gold.
- Kate Fahey’s Momentum: Fahey enters as the top seed in women's singles. While she has proven to be a formidable force, she faces a challenging path that may include a quarterfinal against Catherine Parenteau and potential matchups against top contenders like Lea Jansen, Genie Bouchard, and Chao Yi Wang.
- Breakthrough Potential for New Partnerships: The tournament serves as a testing ground for several new pairings. Notable teams to watch include Milan Rane and Brooke Buckner (6), Mari Humberg and Zoey Weil (8), Genie Erokhina and Isabella Dunlap (7), and the men's duo of Pablo Tellez and John Lucian Goins (7).
- Points Up for Grabs: Due to the absence of high-profile players like Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters, Hayden Patriquin, and Anna Bright, the tournament is a vital chance for lower-ranked players to secure 1,000 ranking points and significantly bolster their season standings.
The weather forecast for the week is generally favorable, though organizers are monitoring potential showers on Friday. Matches will be played on the Life Time LT Pro 48 surface. Fans can catch the action throughout the week on the PPA Tour YouTube channel, PickleballTV, and the Tennis Channel, with the championship matches scheduled for Sunday, October 18.
