U.S. Open Pickleball Championships Naples: The 2025 U.S. Open Pickleball Championships began Saturday in Naples, Florida, drawing 3,500 players from all 50 states and 40 countries. The event, hosted at East Naples Community Park, is expected to bring in over 50,000 spectators by the time it ends on May 3.
The tournament, now in its ninth year, is considered the largest pickleball event in the world. Competitors are battling in nearly 6,000 matches across around 300 brackets, including junior, amateur, wheelchair, and multiple pro divisions.
Tournament Reaches New Heights
“We’ve broken all records this year,” said Ben Weinberger, U.S. Open tournament director. “We have almost 3,500 competitors from all 50 states and 40 countries,” he added.
Weinberger explained the wide range of divisions.
“So, we have a lot of different divisions. There’s the amateur division, the junior division, the wheelchair division, and then within the pro categories we have the regular pros, the senior pros, and the split-age pros — which means one of the pros is over 50 and one is under 50” -(Ben Weinberger)
A Special Moment for Waters Family
One of the most anticipated events is set for Wednesday, when Anna Leigh Waters will play mixed doubles with tennis star Andre Agassi. Her mother and coach, Leigh Waters, shared how meaningful the event is to their family.
“I mean, the U.S. Open is really one of the tournaments that was the beginning for us”-(Leigh Waters)
“Anna Leigh started playing here as an amateur with her grandfather, which is really what this sport is about. We’re just really excited to be back. I’m both playing and coaching… Anna Leigh is playing with Andre Agassi in the pro mixed doubles, and there’s just a lot of excitement — a lot of buzz this year!”-(Leigh Waters)
What Comes Next
Winners across the professional divisions will be crowned on Saturday. A total prize pool of over $163,400 is up for grabs. The size of the tournament and the level of talent continues to show how much pickleball has grown.
The U.S. Open is not just a major event for players but also for fans and the Naples community. As the matches continue through the week, many eyes will be on new talent, returning champions, and landmark pairings like Waters and Agassi.
News in Brief: U.S. Open Pickleball Championships Naples
The 2025 U.S. Open Pickleball Championships kicked off in Naples, Florida, featuring 3,500 players from 50 states and 40 countries. Running through May 3, the event includes nearly 6,000 matches. Anna Leigh Waters will team with Andre Agassi, and over $163,000 in prizes will be awarded to winners.
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