Halfway through 2025 but even more than halfway through the RTA year, it’s time for the second of the two 2000 tournaments with €5000 purse of prize money.
Who will be the prime contestants to lay hands on that money? Here are my best bets:
Friday 4th of July: Mixed Doubles (9.00am)
Final prediction:
María Fernandez Costantino 
/ Mauro García
vs.
Claudia Caymel / Pep Canyadell
An all-out Spanish affair in the Mixed doubles final on Friday. Why? Well, for starters: the weather. Pickleball outdoors and pickleball indoors are fundamentally different. And while we will not be playing in Spain luckily, with the temperatures there being wild right now, Stuttgart will still be hot. The outdoors factor will favor the type of play enjoyed by these four. The other factor that I think will be big is that three out of the four recently came back from a two weeks China trip playing everyday and competing on a very high level over and over again. Consistency is key in pickleball and I think this will come out big for these three.
Keep an eye on:
Karina Zustakova / Stuart Parminter
Since teaming up for the first time in December last year, these two have racked up more than a few impressive results. By style of play, both are natural giant slayers and I will not be surprised to see them take out one or more favorite teams on Friday!
Saturday 5th of July: Men’s Doubles (8.30am)
Final prediction:
Ben Cawston / Théo Platel
vs
James Chaudry / Matteusz Matysik
Men’s doubles is really what it says that it is – a doubles game. Regardless of how strong one player is, the team effort will decide the outcome in the end. And we really haven’t seen Ben Cawston teaming up with somebody equally strong so far this year. Enter: Théo Platel – one of the most brightly shining stars in European pickleball in 2025. Enter on the other side of the net: another radiant celestial body – James Chaudry, together with one of the brightest stars in 2024 – back from injury and hungry to get back on top at the Top – Matteusz Matysik.
Keep an eye on:
Mauro García / Yuri Santiago Syromolotovov Netrebin
With the amount of practice hours these two have together I wouldn’t be surprised if we will see some exotic plays emanating from those training sessions popping up from time to time. Or will they just rely on Mauro doing his things on the left and Yuri responding with quick reflexes on the right? For the audience’s sake I hope not. Although it would probably be pretty successful.
Women’s Doubles (10.30am)
Final prediction:
María Fernandez Costantino / Thaddea Locke
vs.
Karolina Owczarek / Caroline Nothnagel
María’s comeback on the RTA tour in Paris was nothing short of a full-out success. Teaming up with Thaddea they went through the tournament unbeaten, not losing a single match nor a single game. That could prove difficult to repeat in Stuttgart, given that Karolina is also back with her favorite partner. Paired with Caroline expectations on them both are lofty, but for good reason!
Keep an eye on:
Marta Zajac / Ellie Tomkinson
This is a fun pairing of two players who excel in singles and have all the potential to become awesome in doubles as well. Playing similar style pickleball, if these two find the rhythm early, they can definitely go far!
Sunday July 6th: Men’s Singles (8.30am)
Final prediction:
Matteusz Matysik vs. Mauro García
The Spiderman of pickleball has been working his alter ego Matteusz Matysik away from the RTA tour for some time. Some say it’s because of injuries – but maybe it is because the Avengers needed help somewhere… Regardless the reason, he’s back and hungry for ranking points. While injuries might prevent practising some parts of the game, others could get more focus. And there is a particular part of Spidey’s game that I think will come out big in men’s singles, favored by the Diadem balls which some players compare to the PPA tour’s Vulcans. With the balls working in favor of Matteusz’ game I think the weather and outdoors conditions will bring out the best of Mauro’s. Definitely see the potential for a very deep run for him this weekend.
Keep an eye on:
Mikolaj Biedermann
A player nobody wishes to meet due to his high ceiling, which has proved itself from time to time already this RTA year. Could this be the big breakout tournament in singles?
Women’s Singles (8.30am)
Final prediction:
Thaddea Locke vs. Karolina Owczarek
Decided in three games in Paris – Thaddea came out the winner. The respective high floors of these two make them strong bets to advance all the way to the finals. In singles especially it’s so difficult to maintain a strong high percentage base game that still puts pressure on the opponents, not giving away opportunities because you are playing too safe. Watch these two for how to do it. But then watch the final where they both would need to crank it up just a little bit to find each others’ openings.
Keep an eye on:
Claudia Caymel
With the vast majority of the top singles players coming from tennis backgrounds and building their game from the baseline and up, Claudia is a revelation. Her table tennis background gives her a skill-set ideal for doubles, but for singles – not really, really… But this high IQ-player finds ways to use what she does best to make life difficult for her tennis playing opponents still – and it is so much fun to watch!