The North Carolina PPA Tour Open 2025 [Results, Upsets, Stats, Videos]

Welcome back to Cary, North Carolina—where pickleball’s rising stars, legends, and a few shockers came together to make the 2025 Veolia North Carolina Open one for the books. Held at the gorgeous Cary Tennis Park, with 32 championship-ready courts and a fanbase as electric as any NBA playoff crowd, this stop on the PPA Tour felt less like a tournament and more like a movement.

Over 1,200 players. A sold-out Championship Sunday. And not a single #1 seed winning gold. Yep—you read that right.

This year’s tournament wasn’t just about stats and medals (though we’ll get into that). It was about the passing of the torch, new rivalries, game-day drama, and the vibe of a sport growing up fast.

Let’s get into it.

Champions Crowned: Who Took the Hardware

Men’s Singles

• Gold: Gabe Tardio
• Silver: Roscoe Bellamy
• Bronze: Federico Staksrud

Gabe Tardio wasn’t supposed to win. Seeded #13, this singles title wasn’t even on his radar until his mom urged him to go for it. And go for it he did—knocking out #3 Connor Garnett, then dethroning world #1 Federico Staksrud in a 13-11 comeback thriller. In the final, he swept Roscoe Bellamy, another dark horse, 11-9, 11-5.

"I came here to play doubles with Ben [Johns]. I’m leaving with two golds. Unreal," Tardio said in a post-match interview.

Read the full profile on Gabe Tardio winning twice this tournament.

Buy Gabe Tardio's 16mm VantagePro Carbon Fiber Pickleball

Women’s Singles

• Gold: Kate Fahey
• Silver: Parris Todd
• Bronze: Lea Jansen

With Anna Leigh Waters withdrawing due to safety concerns over the RollX surface, the draw opened—and Kate Fahey seized it. After dropping the first game to Todd, Fahey adjusted and battled her way back to win the next two. It was her first title of 2025 and a huge confidence boost going into the MLP season.

"This one’s for every player who just needed a shot," Fahey said, holding back tears.

Men’s Doubles

• Gold: Gabe Tardio & Ben Johns
• Silver: Hayden Patriquin & Federico Staksrud
• Bronze: Dylan Frazier & Eric Oncins

This was the final that could’ve gone either way—ending with Tardio and Johns pulling off a tight 13-11 win in game four. It marked their second title together this year and established Tardio not just as a singles threat, but a doubles powerhouse.

Women’s Doubles

• Gold: Jorja Johnson & Hurricane Tyra Black
• Silver: Anna Leigh Waters & Catherine Parenteau
• Bronze: Jade & Jackie Kawamoto

Johnson and Black weren’t just good—they were fearless. After getting smoked 1-11 in game one, they turned it around and dominated the next three. And this wasn’t just any upset—they handed Waters and Parenteau their final loss as a team before the split. Anna Leigh Waters dropped Parenteau and is now partnering with Anna Bright.

Mixed Doubles

• Gold: Jorja Johnson & JW Johnson
• Silver: Ben Johns & Anna Leigh Waters
• Bronze: Anna Bright & Federico Staksrud

Buy Ben Johns' Joola paddle here.

A brother-sister win against the most dominant duo in pickleball? Yes, please. The Johnsons had never beaten Waters and Johns—not in 16 matches. But on this Sunday, they had the right strategy, the right energy, and the belief.

"I didn’t think it was possible," Jorja said post-match. "But here we are."

Upset City: The Bracket Didn’t Read the Script

This was the tournament of underdogs.

• Max Freeman (#34) took out Jack Sock (#8) in men’s singles. The home crowd favorite was gone early.
• Zane Ford upset Jaume Martinez Vich, showing once again that next-gen talent is knocking.
• In women’s doubles, the Kawamoto twins shocked Bright/Rohrabacher, proving again that chemistry beats rankings.
• In a spicy men’s doubles match, Oncins & Frazier upset Alshon & Daescu—and Alshon skipped the handshake. 👀

"It’s getting real out there," one Reddit user wrote. "You can feel the tension."

Beyond the Baseline: Drama & Discussions

Pickleball may be polite, but the drama? Oh, it’s real.

• Anna Leigh Waters withdrew from singles, citing safety concerns on the RollX court surface. She'd injured her ankle on a similar surface before.
• The handshake snub between Alshon and Oncins had fans buzzing. Was it disrespect? Miscommunication? You decide.
• During a crucial mixed doubles match, the PPA livestream glitched, switching mid-point to another match. Fans were not happy.
• Paddle controversies? Not this tournament—but the lawsuit between JOOLA and USA Pickleball still looms over the season.

Star Power, Family Feels, and Local Love

This Open wasn’t just about pickleball—it was about people.

• Gabe Tardio credited his mom for convincing him to play singles. Two golds later, we say: Mom knows best.
• Jorja and JW Johnson made history as the first brother-sister duo to take mixed gold in a PPA Open.
• Kate Fahey’s win is the feel-good underdog story you need this week.
• Jack Sock and Helena Jansen, both North Carolina locals, gave fans a hometown connection.
• Genie Bouchard continues her transition from tennis to pickleball. Still raw, still rising.

"This sport has heart," said one fan. "You can feel it in every point."

Final Serve: What This Means Going Forward

No top seeds. All golds went to new or lower-ranked pairings. A reminder that pickleball is evolving fast—and the game is no longer predictable, or polite.

The 2025 North Carolina Open proved this sport is no longer just for retirees or rec players—it's prime-time ready, with fierce rivalries, electric crowds, and rising stars rewriting the script.

With Major League Pickleball around the corner, this tournament felt like the opening chapter in a whole new pickleball era.

And if you're not following 11 PICKLES, you're missing the full picture. We’ve got the fire takes, behind-the-scenes tea, exclusive player stories, and drop-in coverage that goes beyond the box score. From live breakdowns to gear drops and hot match analysis—we’re building the go-to space for the pickleball obsessed.

So whether you're new to the sport or already tracking DUPR ratings like stock prices, bookmark 11pickles.com/products and grab some gear while you’re at it. We’re not just covering the game—we’re building the lifestyle. This is just the beginning. The torch is being passed—and 11 PICKLES will be courtside for every swing, smash, and storyline.