Ben Johns won a triple crown. Again. While for some, that may feel like a slightly boring outcome, it’s a testament to the legacy he’s built within the sport.
Not to diminish what the best player in the world did during the extended weekend in Florida, but it’s less surprising than an April Fool’s joke.
Johns does this sort of thing. It’s his third triple of the year, and he dominated once again. That’s what you expect out of the No. 1 player in the world.
Meanwhile, Anna Leigh Waters won a pair of titles during the Florida Open, too. That’s what you expect from the No. 1 women’s player in the world. Speaking of top players, the No. 2 women’s player, Catherine Parenteau, also lifted the trophy twice on Sunday. Another great tournament for one of the truly elite players in the game.
But something else happened in Holly Hills, Fla. that may not have jumped out at you. There was no seismic shift in the pickleball universe, but the landscape is moving. Maybe not an in-your-face sort of thing, but things are certainly changing.
There were a number of “first-times” and unheard-of upsets throughout the bracket. There were new faces in new places. And it’s all good for the game.
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