The Desert Delivered Drama
The final weekend of March delivered one of the most compelling stops of the 2026 PPA Tour season.
The Greater Zion Cup, played at the spectacular Black Desert Resort in southern Utah, brought together many of the sport’s biggest stars in an event that showcased both the evolution of professional pickleball and the emergence of a new generation of contenders.
Over the course of an intense week of competition, fans witnessed the rise of a new world No.1, another dominant performance from the sport’s most unstoppable champion, and dramatic doubles battles that confirmed how competitive the tour has become.
But beyond the medals and trophies, the tournament offered something even more significant.
A glimpse of where professional pickleball is heading.
“In the middle of the Utah desert, the PPA Tour delivered one of the most memorable tournaments of the season.”
New champions, dominant performances, and one of the most spectacular venues the PPA Tour has ever seen.
A New No.1 Emerges
Chris Haworth defeats Federico Staksrud and reshapes the PPA Tour singles hierarchy.
The men’s singles final at the Greater Zion Cup carried more weight than a typical championship match.
“The match wasn’t just a final. It was a shift in the balance of power.”
On one side of the court stood Federico Staksrud, one of the most consistent and disciplined competitors on the PPA Tour. On the other was Chris Haworth, a player whose rapid rise had already begun to change the dynamics of the singles game.
The match quickly revealed the contrast between the two.
Staksrud relied on his well-known patience near the kitchen line, looking to control rallies and force mistakes.
Haworth brought something different.
Power from the baseline.
Relentless pace.
And a willingness to attack early in points.
The strategy worked.
Haworth closed the match 11–9, 11–5, securing the biggest singles victory of his career and officially moving into the No.1 position in the PPA Tour rankings.
For a sport that continues to evolve, the result felt symbolic.
A new generation is not just arriving.
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It is beginning to take control.
The Waters Era
Another Triple Crown confirms Anna Leigh Waters’ dominance in professional pickleball.
While the men’s singles draw delivered a new No.1 in Utah, the women’s side of the Greater Zion Cup told a far more familiar story.
“Every tournament raises the same question: who will eventually challenge Anna Leigh Waters?”
Anna Leigh Waters continues to dominate the sport.
The young superstar once again secured a Triple Crown, capturing gold in singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles during an impressive week of competition at the Black Desert Resort.
At this point, her victories are no longer surprising.
What continues to impress is the consistency with which she achieves them.
But the road to the singles title in Utah briefly offered something the pickleball world rarely sees: uncertainty.
In the championship match, Kate Fahey stunned the crowd by taking the opening game, momentarily disrupting Waters’ rhythm and forcing the favorite to reset.
For a brief moment, it appeared that the tournament might deliver one of the biggest surprises of the season.
Waters responded the way great champions do.
She adjusted her positioning, increased the pace of the rallies, and quickly re-established control of the match.
The final two games were decisive.
What had briefly looked like vulnerability quickly returned to dominance.
Waters closed out the match with authority, reminding the field why she remains the most formidable competitor in professional pickleball.
The performance completed another Triple Crown, further extending one of the most remarkable runs the sport has seen.
Tournament after tournament, the same question continues to echo across the professional tour.
Not whether Anna Leigh Waters will win.
But who will eventually challenge her.
Where The Tour Is Headed
The Greater Zion Cup showcased not only champions — but the continued evolution of professional pickleball.
Beyond the medals and the scorelines, the Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert Resort offered a glimpse into the future of professional pickleball.
Set against the dramatic red-rock landscape of southern Utah, the venue provided one of the most visually striking backdrops on the PPA Tour calendar.
Black Desert Resort is quickly becoming one of the sport’s most iconic destinations — a place where world-class facilities meet the growing scale of professional pickleball.
Throughout the week, the tournament delivered exactly what fans have come to expect from the PPA Tour: elite competition, packed schedules, and storylines unfolding across multiple divisions.
New champions emerged.
Established stars reinforced their dominance.
And the gap between contenders continued to narrow as the level of play across the tour keeps rising.
For players, tournaments like the Greater Zion Cup are no longer simply stops on the calendar.
They are part of a rapidly expanding global circuit where rankings, rivalries, and reputations are constantly on the line.
The crowds in Utah reflected that growth.
Fans followed matches court to court, eager to watch the sport’s biggest names compete under the desert sun.
What once began as a niche pastime has now evolved into one of the fastest-growing professional sports ecosystems in North America.
The Greater Zion Cup served as another reminder of that transformation.
The Greater Zion Cup wasn’t just another stop on the calendar.
It was a reminder that pickleball’s biggest moments are still ahead.
“What once began as a niche pastime has evolved into one of the fastest-growing professional sports ecosystems in North America.”
The final weekend of March delivered one of the most compelling stops of the 2026 PPA Tour season.
The Greater Zion Cup, played at the spectacular Black Desert Resort in southern Utah, brought together many of the sport’s biggest stars in an event that showcased both the evolution of professional pickleball and the emergence of a new generation of contenders.
Over the course of an intense week of competition, fans witnessed the rise of a new world No.1, another dominant performance from the sport’s most unstoppable champion, and dramatic doubles battles that confirmed how competitive the tour has become.
But beyond the medals and trophies, the tournament offered something even more significant.
A glimpse of where professional pickleball is heading.
“In the middle of the Utah desert, the PPA Tour delivered one of the most memorable tournaments of the season.”
New champions, dominant performances, and one of the most spectacular venues the PPA Tour has ever seen.
A New No.1 Emerges
Chris Haworth defeats Federico Staksrud and reshapes the PPA Tour singles hierarchy.
The men’s singles final at the Greater Zion Cup carried more weight than a typical championship match.
“The match wasn’t just a final. It was a shift in the balance of power.”
On one side of the court stood Federico Staksrud, one of the most consistent and disciplined competitors on the PPA Tour. On the other was Chris Haworth, a player whose rapid rise had already begun to change the dynamics of the singles game.
The match quickly revealed the contrast between the two.
Staksrud relied on his well-known patience near the kitchen line, looking to control rallies and force mistakes.
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Haworth brought something different.
Power from the baseline.
Relentless pace.
And a willingness to attack early in points.
The strategy worked.
Haworth closed the match 11–9, 11–5, securing the biggest singles victory of his career and officially moving into the No.1 position in the PPA Tour rankings.
For a sport that continues to evolve, the result felt symbolic.
A new generation is not just arriving.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
It is beginning to take control.
The Waters Era
Another Triple Crown confirms Anna Leigh Waters’ dominance in professional pickleball.
While the men’s singles draw delivered a new No.1 in Utah, the women’s side of the Greater Zion Cup told a far more familiar story.
“Every tournament raises the same question: who will eventually challenge Anna Leigh Waters?”
Anna Leigh Waters continues to dominate the sport.
The young superstar once again secured a Triple Crown, capturing gold in singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles during an impressive week of competition at the Black Desert Resort.
At this point, her victories are no longer surprising.
What continues to impress is the consistency with which she achieves them.
But the road to the singles title in Utah briefly offered something the pickleball world rarely sees: uncertainty.
In the championship match, Kate Fahey stunned the crowd by taking the opening game, momentarily disrupting Waters’ rhythm and forcing the favorite to reset.
For a brief moment, it appeared that the tournament might deliver one of the biggest surprises of the season.
Waters responded the way great champions do.
She adjusted her positioning, increased the pace of the rallies, and quickly re-established control of the match.
The final two games were decisive.
What had briefly looked like vulnerability quickly returned to dominance.
Waters closed out the match with authority, reminding the field why she remains the most formidable competitor in professional pickleball.
The performance completed another Triple Crown, further extending one of the most remarkable runs the sport has seen.
Tournament after tournament, the same question continues to echo across the professional tour.
Not whether Anna Leigh Waters will win.
But who will eventually challenge her.
Where The Tour Is Headed
The Greater Zion Cup showcased not only champions — but the continued evolution of professional pickleball.
Beyond the medals and the scorelines, the Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert Resort offered a glimpse into the future of professional pickleball.
Set against the dramatic red-rock landscape of southern Utah, the venue provided one of the most visually striking backdrops on the PPA Tour calendar.
Black Desert Resort is quickly becoming one of the sport’s most iconic destinations — a place where world-class facilities meet the growing scale of professional pickleball.
Throughout the week, the tournament delivered exactly what fans have come to expect from the PPA Tour: elite competition, packed schedules, and storylines unfolding across multiple divisions.
New champions emerged.
Established stars reinforced their dominance.
And the gap between contenders continued to narrow as the level of play across the tour keeps rising.
For players, tournaments like the Greater Zion Cup are no longer simply stops on the calendar.
They are part of a rapidly expanding global circuit where rankings, rivalries, and reputations are constantly on the line.
The crowds in Utah reflected that growth.
Fans followed matches court to court, eager to watch the sport’s biggest names compete under the desert sun.
What once began as a niche pastime has now evolved into one of the fastest-growing professional sports ecosystems in North America.
The Greater Zion Cup served as another reminder of that transformation.
The Greater Zion Cup wasn’t just another stop on the calendar.
It was a reminder that pickleball’s biggest moments are still ahead.
“What once began as a niche pastime has evolved into one of the fastest-growing professional sports ecosystems in North America.”
