Tennis stars Genie Bouchard, Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, and Donald Young are gearing up for their premier appearances at the 2024 Carvana PPA Tour, specifically at the Hyundai Masters powered by Invited, scheduled to unfold at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA, from January 10th to 14th.
Captivating Performance
Sock, having previously showcased his skills at the 2023 PPA North Carolina Open by clinching the Mixed Doubles title with World No.1 Anna Leigh Waters, is surely set to produce another captivating performance.
Meanwhile, Querrey will mark his second consecutive participation at the Masters. As for Bouchard and Young, this will mark their maiden professional outing in the realm of pickleball, presenting an opportunity to hone their abilities and ascend the ranks of the game.
Sock is gearing up for mixed doubles alongside Canadian World No.2 Catherine Parenteau and doubles with Collin Shick. Bouchard, on the other hand, will pair up with Utah native Tyler Loong for doubles, while Querrey will team up with close friend Wes Burrows in doubles and former USC tennis standout Kaitlyn Christian for mixed doubles.
Additional pairings will be disclosed closer to the event.
“Training Hard”
Bouchard was enthusiastic about the upcoming experience when she spoke to ppatour.com, “I’m so excited to make my PPA Tour debut at the Masters in Palm Springs in January,” she said. “I don’t really have any expectations, as this will be my first event. I’m training hard and am excited to compete against the best players in the world. This will be a great moment to start my pickleball career.
Jack Sock was equally thrilled: “Competing in the PPA Tour event in North Carolina last summer was a great experience,” he said. “I’m excited to play a full schedule of tournaments in 2024, and I’m thrilled to partner with a champion in Catherine Parenteau to play the first event in Palm Springs.”
The Masters, one of the pinnacle “Slams” on the PPA Tour, offers the highest allocation of ranking points and consequently attracts the top players as they aim to dominate the global rankings.
Bouchard, Sock, Querrey, and Young will join other eminent players like Waters and men’s World No.1 Ben Johns at the inaugural event of the 2024 season, competing across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
“Biggest Year Of Pro Pickleball Yet”
Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of PPA Tour, said, “The 2024 PPA season is set to be the biggest and most exciting year of pro pickleball yet. The level of play has never been higher, and we’re looking forward to welcoming new talent to the tour.
“Genie, Jack, Sam, and Donald have proven themselves on the tennis court time and time again, and now fans will be able to see them train to challenge the top players in the world on the pickleball court.”
Tennis Backgrounds
The backgrounds of these tennis luminaries in their respective tennis careers are noteworthy. Bouchard attained the Wimbledon final in 2014 and reached a career-high singles ranking of No.5, becoming the first Canadian to reach the Top 5 in singles.
Sock, a four-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic Doubles Gold and Mixed Doubles Bronze Medalist, climbed to No.8 in singles and No.2 in doubles at the peak of his tennis career.
Querrey attained a career-high singles ranking of No.11 in 2018, following notable runs in Wimbledon and the US Open. Young’s accomplishments include reaching the top 50 in both singles and doubles and being a Grand Slam doubles finalist.
While pickleball shares several skills with tennis, such as hand-eye coordination and court awareness, transitioning from tennis to pickleball isn’t seamless. Players often grapple with aspects like play around the non-volley zone line (Kitchen Line), requiring finesse in dinks and volleys, and navigating this specific area with agility and strategy.
About The PPA Tour
The PPA Tour stands as the professional pinnacle of pickleball, where top players engage in rigorous battles week after week to claim the title of the best in the world.
Tickets for the Masters can be purchased at ppatour.com, and the tournament will be broadcast across various platforms, including FS1, FS2, Tennis Channel, PickleballTV, and the PPA Tour YouTube Channel. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit ppatour.com/watch.
In addition to the seasoned professionals, approximately 1,000 amateur players actively participate in each PPA Tour stop across different levels and age divisions. Those interested in registering to play can visit ppatour.com.
About Carvana PPA Tour
Established in 2019, the Carvana PPA Tour serves as the arena where pickleball’s elite athletes vie for supremacy, determining the finest male and female players globally.
This tour orchestrates and executes tournaments at top-notch facilities nationwide, establishing player rankings and offering over $5.5 million in annual prize money during the 2023 season, ensuring equal play and pay.
Embracing amateur players to join and “play where the pros play,” the Carvana PPA Tour caters to divisions across all age groups and skill levels. Recognized for its vibrant and enjoyable ambiance, Carvana PPA Tour events promise unmatched experiences for on-site fans, including pro-player meet-and-greets, clinics, food, beverages, live entertainment, giveaways, games, shopping, and VIP upgrades.
For more information, go to ppatour.com and follow them on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
