The Veolia Texas Open, held March 9-15, 2026, at "The Courts of McKinney" in McKinney, Texas (PPA Tour). Amid the harsh conditions of winds gusting past 40 mph,Anna Leigh Waters(ALW) swept all three events -- women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles -- achieving the 42nd triple crown of her career. It was her third already in the 2026 season alone, a display of overwhelming dominance.
Upheaval Brought by Strong Winds: Tournament Overview in Texas
The Veolia Texas Open in McKinney, Texas was exposed throughout to winds exceeding 40 mph (about 64 km/h). Controlling the ball became extremely difficult, with serve errors and unexpected bounces occurring in droves. Conditions in which results in line with ability were hard to achieve persisted, yet through it all, it was ALW who kept standing at the top.
The impact of the strong winds spread to men's singles too. In an upset-filled tournament, top seed Christian Alshon suffered a shocking loss to John Lucian Goins. It was a tournament in which adaptability to court conditions and mental toughness heavily swayed the outcomes.
Related articles:ALW Masters the Strong Winds, Achieving a Triple Crown at the PPA Texas Open ／ Celebrate the New Year with a Dink! The Altoona Tournament 2026
ALW Unstoppable: The Overwhelming Numbers of 16-0 and 35-1
ALW's performance at this tournament was, in a word, "on another level."
- Women's Singles Gold: Anna Leigh Waters def. Kate Fahey 11-4, 15-13
- Women's Doubles Gold: Anna Leigh Waters & Anna Bright def. Alix Truong & Parris Todd 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 (an average of just 3 points lost per game)
- Mixed Doubles Gold: Anna Leigh Waters &Ben Johns def. Anna Bright & Hayden Patriquin 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6
Through the tournament, her match record was 16-0 and her game score 35-1. The only game she dropped was the second set of mixed doubles; otherwise her play was flawless. With this she updated an unprecedented record -- her third triple crown of the 2026 season and the 42nd of her career.
Men's Singles: Staksrud Wins, Alshon Falls in an Upset
In men's singles, Federico Staksrud took gold, beating Chris Haworth. He dropped just two games through the tournament, displaying consistent strength. Staksrud, with a play style combining power and precision, was unshaken by the strong winds and showed a rock-solid performance.
Meanwhile, the upset highlight was Christian Alshon's defeat. When it seemed the seed would advance as the odds predicted, his loss to John Lucian Goins surprised the venue. The external factor of strong winds is thought to have been one cause of such upsets.
Ben Johns & Gabe Tardio: A Record of 30 Straight Wins and 6 Straight Titles
A historic record was born in men's doubles too. The pair of Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns took gold, beating Federico Staksrud & Andrei Daescu 11-0, 12-10, 11-7. With this they achieved the astonishing record of 30 consecutive match wins and 6 consecutive tournament titles.
Ben Johns took two titles at this tournament -- men's doubles and mixed doubles. His mixed-doubles pairing with ALW is going strong too, and the "Johns family dominance" on the PPA Tour continues in 2026.
There was also the welcome news that Alix Truong won her first medal on a Championship Sunday on the US mainland.
Implications for Japanese Players: Handling Strong Winds and Technical Analysis
The biggest theme of this tournament is "adaptability to strong winds." In Japan too, feeling the effect of wind on outdoor courts is not uncommon, and how the pros played at this tournament offers many insights.
- Keep the Ball Trajectory Low: In strong winds, a high trajectory is easily carried by the wind. Low, flat shots like ALW's are effective.
- Go Easy on Spin: In strong winds, the trajectory of spin shots becomes hard to read. It's important to raise consistency with simple shots.
- Mental Stability: How to keep your composure in an environment where errors increase. Alshon's defeat illustrates the difficulty.
Related articles:The Surprising Depths of Pickleball Paddle Technology
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is Anna Leigh Waters' triple crown?
A. It means winning all three events -- women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles -- in a single PPA Tour tournament. At this tournament she achieved it for the 42nd time in her career and for the third time in the 2026 season alone.
Q. How long is Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio's winning streak?
A. As of the end of this tournament, they have recorded 30 consecutive match wins and 6 consecutive tournament titles in men's doubles. It's one of the greatest records in PPA Tour history.
Q. Where was the Veolia Texas Open held?
A. It was held at "The Courts of McKinney" in McKinney, Texas, from March 9-15, 2026.
References:
The Dink Pickleball – PPA Texas Open Recap
