Short answer: The Virginia Beach Open results, October 18, 2026: Kate Fahey won women’s singles and mixed doubles, Catherine Parenteau and Sofia Sewing won women’s doubles, Jaume Martinez Vich and Elliott Schupp won men’s doubles, and John Lucian Goins won men’s singles. The same day, PPA Tour Australia crowned its champions in Brisbane.
The 30-second version
- Kate Fahey’s weekend: two golds at one event for the first time in her career, the day before her 30th birthday.
- Three first-timers: Sewing, Schupp and Martinez Vich all won their first career PPA titles.
- Goins: men’s singles without dropping a game in six matches.
- Brisbane: Hunter Johnson won men’s singles; Tyra Black and Gabe Tardio each won two golds.
- Why it matters: with Waters and Johns absent, the tour’s next tier got its chance, and it took it.
What happened at the Virginia Beach Open?
The Mojo Energy Pouches Virginia Beach Open was a PPA Tour Open worth 1,000 points, played October 12-18, 2026 at Pickleball Virginia Beach, per the PPA’s event page. Before it started, Pickleball.com’s preview noted there was “no Anna Leigh Waters and no Ben Johns.” It said many top players were skipping it ahead of the MLP Nations Cup and the World Championships.
What were the Virginia Beach Open results?
Championship Sunday finals, from Pickleball.com’s recap. The Virginian-Pilot’s report gives the same winners and scores:
- Women’s singles: Kate Fahey d. Helena Jansen Fink (No. 21 seed), 11-1, 11-9.
- Mixed doubles: Kate Fahey / Eric Oncins d. Catherine Parenteau / Riley Newman (No. 4), 11-13, 11-4, 11-9.
- Women’s doubles: Catherine Parenteau / Sofia Sewing (No. 1) d. Alix Truong / Layne Sleeth, 11-8, 11-6.
- Men’s doubles: Jaume Martinez Vich / Elliott Schupp d. Noe Khlif / Riley Newman (No. 3), 11-4, 4-11, 11-4.
- Men’s singles: John Lucian Goins d. Jaume Martinez Vich, 11-5, 11-3.
Who were the storylines in Virginia Beach?
Kate Fahey had the best weekend of her career, and three players won their first PPA titles, according to Pickleball.com’s recap.
- Fahey doubles up. Pickleball.com says it was the first time Fahey won two titles at the same event, and she turned 30 the next day. She also came through a three-game mixed final after losing the first game 13-11.
- First titles for three players. Pickleball.com reported Sewing’s win as her first career PPA title. Schupp and Martinez Vich each won their first title in their first event as a team. It was Schupp’s first final and Martinez Vich’s eleventh.
- Goins without a game lost. He won all six matches in straight games, per Pickleball.com.
Fahey is worth watching. She was runner-up to Waters at September’s Nationals (see our Nationals recap), and two titles in one weekend is a good sign heading into Worlds.
What happened at the Australia Pickleball Cup in Brisbane?
PPA Tour Australia’s WALKER Australia Pickleball Cup, a PPA 1500 event, finished the same day at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane. Finals from Pickleball.com, with winners also confirmed by Forbes contributor Todd Boss:
- Men’s singles: Hunter Johnson (No. 1) d. Christian Alshon (No. 3), 11-8, 5-11, 11-8.
- Women’s singles: Andie Dikosavljevic (No. 7) d. Judit Castillo (No. 4), 11-6, 11-6.
- Men’s doubles: Gabe Tardio / Hayden Patriquin (No. 1) d. JW Johnson / Tama Shimabukuro (No. 2), 3-11, 11-6, 11-7.
- Women’s doubles: Tyra Black / Jorja Johnson (No. 1) d. Parris Todd / Danni-Elle Townsend, 11-5, 11-6.
- Mixed doubles: Tyra Black / Gabe Tardio (No. 3) d. Parris Todd / Christian Alshon (No. 4), 7-11, 11-6, 11-7.
The Forbes recap also notes that Federico Staksrud was blocked from entering Australia over a visa issue, so Alshon played men’s doubles with a substitute partner. It says Tardio’s two golds extended his lead as the No. 1 men’s doubles player in the individual race ranking.
What does it mean for New England fans?
The players who filled the gap this week are the ones you will see in the later rounds at the big events. Next up, per the PPA schedule, is the Opendoor Pickleball World Championships in Farmers Branch, Texas, November 2-8. The MLP Nations Cup is October 30 to November 1. Our guide to how to watch pro pickleball has the channels, and the world rankings explainer covers what these points do.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Virginia Beach Open?
Kate Fahey won women’s singles and mixed doubles with Eric Oncins. Catherine Parenteau and Sofia Sewing won women’s doubles, Jaume Martinez Vich and Elliott Schupp won men’s doubles, and John Lucian Goins won men’s singles.
Did Anna Leigh Waters play the Virginia Beach Open?
No. Pickleball.com’s preview said neither Anna Leigh Waters nor Ben Johns was in the field.
Who won men’s singles in Brisbane?
Hunter Johnson beat Christian Alshon 11-8, 5-11, 11-8 at the WALKER Australia Pickleball Cup on October 18, 2026.
What tier was the Virginia Beach Open?
It was a PPA Tour Open worth 1,000 points, played October 12-18, 2026 at Pickleball Virginia Beach.
What is the next big pro pickleball event?
The MLP Nations Cup runs October 30 to November 1, followed by the Opendoor Pickleball World Championships in Farmers Branch, Texas, November 2-8, 2026.
