2025 US Open Pickleball Unity: The humid Florida air clings to every paddle swing and sidestep. Over 3,400 players from around the globe are chasing rallies and medals under the Naples sun at the 2025 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships. But this is more than a tournament. It’s a magnet pulling together legends of sport, weekend warriors, and the unexpectedly obsessed—all for a game that just a few years ago was still explaining itself to the world.
Among the names on this year’s roster is Ivan Lendl, the eight-time Grand Slam tennis champion whose return to competitive sports has taken a surprising detour.
“I used to play golf almost every day,” said Lendl, now 65 and living in Vero Beach. “Now I’m on the court playing pickleball five, six times a week. I’ve probably played golf ten times in the past year.”
Initially coaxed into the sport by his daughter, Isabelle, Lendl’s athletic instincts kicked in immediately. The short court, fast hands, and strategic shot placement—none of it felt unfamiliar. Once the paddle was in his hands, the former world No. 1 was all in.
JoAnne Russell, a fellow tennis champion and now the director of pickleball at Kensington Golf & Country Club in Naples, has teamed up with Lendl in mixed doubles. She knew from the first match that his competitiveness hadn’t dulled.
“He told me, ‘I’m going to win 99 pickleball tournaments,’” Russell said, laughing. “He wasn’t joking.”
Former Heisman Trophy winner and Florida Gator legend Danny Wuerffel is another crossover star. Now 50, Wuerffel has gone from leading championship drives on the gridiron to grinding it out in 64-team doubles brackets at the US Open.
“This is my third year, and I’m signed up for four events this time. The competition’s great, the energy’s unreal, and it keeps me active in a way that’s fun and sustainable.” – (Wuerffel)
For Wuerffel, quarterback vision and quick decision-making translated seamlessly to pickleball.
“You have to process so many things at once—how someone’s leaning, paddle angle, court positioning. That mental speed is huge.” – (Wuerffel)
Everyone’s Welcome: A Tournament That Bridges Age, Ability, and Borders
Step onto the grounds of East Naples Community Park and the first thing you notice isn’t the skill level—it’s the diversity. Players span from 8 to 87. Countries represented stretch from Thailand to Hungary. Some glide across the court; others roll. It’s a sport that brings everyone in.
Robert Doyle, 31, is one of those players. Paralyzed at age 10 due to a vascular condition, he found sports through wheelchair basketball and recently, through pickleball—a sport he now plays almost daily.
“Pickleball is like a universal language. You can show up at any park and jump into a game. And I’ve been welcomed with open arms.” – (Doyle)
Doyle competes in adaptive and hybrid divisions, sometimes pairing with or against able-bodied players. He views it not as a challenge, but a chance to prove just how level this playing field can be.
“People see the chair and assume a disadvantage. I see a challenge to outthink and outplay.” – (Doyle)
Swarin Ruby, originally from Thailand and now a Bradenton-Indiana transplant, is one of the tournament’s most passionate personalities. Known on court as the “Bangkok Banger,” she plays with the fire of someone who believes every match might be her last.
“I told my husband, if I die, bury me with my paddle. He said that’s fine, just don’t make me play with you.” – (ruby)
Then there’s Hungarian athlete Ildiko Varhelyi—“Ildi” to fellow players—who combines athleticism and neuroscience in her approach to the game. A former basketball standout, Ildi now coaches others using her background in vision therapy and concussion rehab.
“I do eye exercises every day. In pickleball, if you can see it early, you can hit it well. Vision equals performance.” – (Ildi)
Her training drills include reaction lights, balance boards, and gaze-stabilization techniques—all designed to sharpen perception.
“It’s not just about hitting hard. It’s about seeing smart.” – (Ildi)
More Than Medals: The Magic of a Shared Passion
While gold medals and podium pictures are part of the draw, ask anyone at the US Open why they’re really here, and you’ll hear a common theme: connection.
“This is the biggest pickleball party in the world. I’m seeing people I met last year, playing next to people I’ve only met online, and having a blast whether I win or not.” – (Wuerffel)
Families camp out under shade tents, watching grandparents compete while grandkids dink on side courts. Pros offer tips between matches. A former Olympian warms up next to a retired accountant from Ohio. It’s competitive, yes—but it’s also deeply human.
For Lendl, who once faced off with McEnroe and Connors on the world’s grandest tennis stages, it’s a return to the purity of sport.
“I still want to win. That never leaves you. But I also love the friendships and the simplicity of it. It’s fun. That’s enough.” – (Lendl)
Whether a beginner, a five-time national champion, or just trying the sport on vacation, the Minto US Open offers a space to compete, learn, and belong. It’s the rare arena where everyone—regardless of skill, age, or background—is on equal footing. Or, as Swarin Ruby put it best: “Pickleball is not just a game. It’s a joy you share.”
News in Brief: 2025 US Open Pickleball Unity
Tennis legend Ivan Lendl, Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel, and over 3,400 players from 49 states and 30 countries gathered in Naples, Florida, for the 2025 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships.
The pickleball tournament welcomed competitors of all ages and abilities, including wheelchair athlete Robert Doyle and Thai-born fan favorite Swarin Ruby. With its inclusive spirit and global draw, the event continues to showcase pickleball’s rapid growth and unifying power—on and off the court.
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