Who is leading the way?

Two Australian Ranking tournaments took place over the month of July with Pickleball ACT hosting their first Australian Ranking tournament, The BIG Chill (AR1) and the team at NPL hosting the NPL – Melbourne Championships (AR2).

In the Opens Category, Tom Evans (VIC) continues to lead the way in the Open Men’s Singles after dominant performances at the PPA Sydney, NSW Championships and VIC Championships and a run to the final of the NPL – Melbourne Championships, losing to Zach Grabovic (VIC). Tom has burst on to the scene in 2024 and has brought an unrivalled level of athleticism to the court in 2024.

After securing the win alongside Zach Grabovic at the NPL Championships – Melbourne, Tom has also taken the top spot in Open Men Double’s away from Joey Wild (QLD).  A mere 100 points separates these two players.

Speaking of Joey Wild, Joey stays atop the Open Mixed Doubles – men’s ranking after winning titles at PPA Brisbane alongside Danni-Elle Townsend (QLD) and QLD Championships alongside Sarah Burr (QLD). The cool, calm Wild has a 450point lead over closest rival and sometimes double partner, Mitchell Hargreaves (NSW).

In Open Women’s, Somer Dalla-Bona (QLD) stays a top the singles leaderboard thanks to strong results on the PPA Tour (and also one of the best two handed backhands in the game). With a run to the title at the QLD Championships and the NPL Melbourne Championships and recent selection in MLP Australia, one would definitely suggest to Somer needs to keep an eye on the fast improving, Nicola Schoeman (QLD).

Consistent performances across the entire season have cemented Sarah Burr’s spot atop the Women’s Doubles rankings. Sarah has medalled in every women’s doubles event she has played on Australian shores in 2024. Coming up fast behind Sarah though, is once again, Nicola Schoeman.

With just over a year of pickleball under her belt, Danni-Elle Towsend has the slightest of leads over Emilia Schmidt in the Open Mixed Doubles – women’s rankings. Danni-Elle is one of the few players (currently) in the upper echelon of the game that brings a table tennis background to our sport and this variety a long with a fiery on-court presence has served her will in 2024. Will we see a Wild/Townsend vs Hargreaves/Schmidt showdown at the upcoming PPA Tour Gold Coast

With the upcoming PPA Tour Gold Coast coming up in August, we are bound to see some changes in the overall open’s rankings as this is an Australian Ranking – Level 3 Tournament (AR3). With a strong international contingency playing at this event, how will our Aussie’s shape up against the likes of Shelby Bates, Kyle Yates, Harsh Mehta and Michelle Esquivel?

The 2024 Australian Pickleball Championships presented by Trilogy Funds is the pinnacle event on the Australian Ranking Tournaments (AR4) calendar and with a maximum 1000 points available at this event, you certainly need to be in it if you want to finish at the top of the Australian Rankings in 2024.

To find out more about the Australian Rankings, please visit: Rankings (pickleballaus.org)

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