One of the most anticipated Pro seasons is upon us, and the doubles scene is as stacked as ever. Hundreds of teams vying for an opportunity to call themselves “Pro Doubles Champion”. Join me as I break down Pro doubles at the Miller’s Ale House Signature #1.
This preview is all about doubles. Four doubles brackets, 27 teams in each bracket, unquestionably loaded with talent. I will go over who I expect to perform well, who may surprise you, and who I think will win and be crowned Pro Doubles Champion.
Much like singles, since there are four teams tied for the number one spot, they were all randomly placed as the 1 seed in each bracket.
Mark Richards and Tony Smith are obviously the number 1 seed, and it’s impossible to pick against them… right? They’ve won the last three events, have looked unstoppable, and now these games matter more than ever. How will they be stopped?
There is one significant outlier in all of this: The last three wins for Mark and Tony have all been classic format. Games to 21. This event is round-limited, and we all know anything is possible. There is one team in their quadrant I have my eye on, and that would be the 8-seed of Dillon Turpin and Eddie Grinderslev. When these two announced their partnership, I loved it. Both coming off of a lackluster season and decided to switch things up. Both have success and I expect big things. I’m callin’ an upset in round 3: Grinderslev and Turpin over Smith and Richards.
Bottom left quadrant has Jimmy Youmans/Eian Cripps vs. AJ Sims/Brayden Wilson written all over it. No other teams in that quadrant caught my eye. Winner of this match will have a tough test to get to the winner's final.
I really like 7-seed Bret and Matt Guy to complete the upset and win the top right quadrant. They performed very well in Brighton and I think they keep the momentum going. This will be a tough test for Austin Waskow and Quinn Reeves, the 2 seed of bracket A.
With Ryan Weidenfeld unable to make it, Ryan Smith has teamed up with Juwan Smith and I really like this team. Their first round game is against Anthony Mayball and Bobby Hunt, which may be one of the toughest round one matches we see. Whoever wins this will have a ton of momentum, which they will need against 3-seed Steven Bernacet and Philip Lopez Jr.
But when it's all said and done, you need two losses to be eliminated, and I have Mark Richards and Tony Smith coming back through the losers’ bracket and double dipping to win their bracket.
Jordan Power and Cheyenne Bubenheim are the 1 seed for bracket B, and their path seems… dare I say… easy? There isn’t a team in their quadrant I’m worried about, especially with the disappointing start Ryker Wells has had. I’m not sure how he and Frank Verona will perform together. Assuming Power/Bubenheim make it out of that, it looks like they will play 12-seeded Chris Kingsbury and Alan Rawls. I’m not worried about Logan Dupler and Austin Kipple, and I’m not worried about Jay Rubin and Ryan Traiteur. This feels like it's Cheyenne and Jordan’s side to lose.
The right side is a different story. I’m looking at the 15 seed of Ryan Hart and Chris Roybal. Both players had good seasons last year, but not a lot to talk about this year. Maybe they just need some motivation. Knocking off 2-seed Ethan Walker and Cody Henderson would be a great way to start.
Whoever wins that will either play Jordan Camba and Eric Zocklein, or Erick Davis and Matthew Sorells, and let’s not forget, it's round-limited. Erick Davis is the king of round-limited.
Going chalk for bracket B, I have Jordan Power and Cheyenne Bubenheim beating Cody Henderson and Ethan Walker in the finals.
Bracket C feels vastly different compared to B. I truly believe there are five or six teams that can win this bracket. If the 1 seed Sammy Soto and Gavin Cano can win their first game, they get the privilege of facing one of the most talked about teams in the off-season in Jeremiah Ellis and Devon Harbaugh.
The quadrant below has the 21 seed of Vincent Frisch and Auston Cameron. They had a ton of success last year, but their lack of playing leaves them as a low seed, ready to play bracket buster. Chad Hunt and Tommy Sliker are on upset alert, but if they can hold off Frisch and Cameron, that will give them a much needed boost against the defending World Champions and 4 seed Adam Hissner and Trey Burchfield.
The right side of the bracket has an all Elite team of Hayden Gonzales and Gabriel Clauson. Not only are they the 2 seed, but they may have the easiest path out of anybody. Nobody in their quadrant scares me, and the only teams that can put up a fight are Cash Chamness and Mason Traiteur, as well as Nico Mireles and Ryan Windsor.
I have Hissner/Burchfield in the finals against Clauson/Gonzales, with the young studs pulling out the bracket victory.
In recent years, bracket D has always been known as the “death” bracket, and I believe that reigns true again in Ft. Lauderdale. Justin Burton Jr. and Logan Chamberlain as the 1 seed. Jamie Graham and Jacob Trzcienski as the 2 seed. Alex Rawls and Derek Holland as the 3 seed. Hunter Thorne and Hunter Thorson as the 4 seed. Every game will be tough.
Chamberlain/Burton Jr will probably have to play either Jayden Ellis and Anthony Eastridge, or Rilee Schoff and Zack Aiken in their second game. Whoever wins that will most likely play Hunter Squared or Bryce Forbes and Levi Haddock.
The right side isn’t much better. Graham/Trzcienski’s first game may be against Tanner Halbert and Justin Reul, a genuine sleeper team who will upset brackets every event. You can never count out Zayne Crots and Tony Forbes either.
Below that, Derek Holland and Alex Rawls will play either Fisher Hamilton and Landen Crabtree or Corey Gilbert and Dean Norton in their first game. I give a slight edge to Hamilton/Crabtree.
I hate to go chalk again, but it's so hard to bet against the Texas boys and Jamie/Jacob. I do have Trzcienski and Graham taking down the bracket however.
I am well prepared for all of these predictions to be completely wrong, as that’s usually what happens when I think someone will win, but that’s just the way it goes. This weekend is going to be incredible. If you’re in the area, make sure you stop by and check it out. If not, keep up with the livestreams all weekend long on the ACL Social media pages and ESPN+.
Jake’s Takes
Bracket A: Mark Richards and Tony Smith over Aj Sims and Brayden Wilson
Bracket B: Jordan Power and Cheyenne Bubenheim over Cody Henderson and Ethan Walker
Bracket C: Hayden Gonzales and Gabriel Clauson over Adam Hissner and Trey Burchfield
Bracket D: Jacob Trzcienski and Jamie Graham over Justin Burton Jr and Logan Chamberlain
Overall Pro Doubles Champion: Jamie Graham and Jacob Trzcienski
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