Exciting Start to the Carvana Mesa Cup: Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin Lead the Way
The Carvana Mesa Cup presented by Proton is set to kick off on February 17 in Phoenix, and pickleball fans are in for a treat with high-level competition and near-perfect weather conditions. The tournament boasts a deep field of elite players, with early-round matches already showcasing medal-worthy talent.
One of the key storylines to watch is the men’s doubles draw, which is stacked with talent. The top-seeded duo of Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin will be a pair to keep an eye on, especially as Staksrud adjusts to his new Adidas paddle after a rough start last week. Their half of the draw also includes fourth-seeded Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu, setting up a potential high-stakes semifinal clash.
In the top half of the draw, seventh-seeded AJ Koller and Collin Johns will face the twelfth-seeded duo of Quang Duong and CJ Klinger in an anticipated round of 16 matchup. Meanwhile, the bottom half features second-seeded Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio, with Tardio looking to regain form after recent struggles.
Fans can also keep an eye out for potential breakthrough teams to watch, such as eighth-seeded James Ignatowich and Riley Newman, who will face ninth-seeded Jaume Martinez Vich and Augie Ge in a high-energy matchup. Lower-seeded teams like Ivan Jakovljevic and Anderson Scarpa could also surprise with a deep run in the tournament.
With all the top teams in action, the Carvana Mesa Cup promises to provide insight into emerging partnerships and player form early in the season. The results of the tournament could have a significant impact on future tournament seedings and team strategies as the year progresses. Pickleball fans can expect an exciting weekend of intense competition and thrilling matches.
