Starting Saturday, Wildwood Racquet and Wellness Club will host the Fort Wayne Amateur Open, a pickleball tournament run by the Amateur Pickleball Association (APA). Players of all skill levels will compete in round-robin matches before advancing to bracket play. The tournament runs through Sunday, with matches beginning at 8 a.m.
A Major Tournament for Wildwood
The APA, which calls itself the “largest amateur player tour” in the U.S., organizes nearly 150 tournaments annually. Other host cities include Orlando, New Orleans, and Boston. Wildwood’s director of pickleball, Michael Carpenter, emphasized the importance of the event, saying,
“The APA is one of the leading pickleball tournament organizations, so it’s a huge honor for us to have it here. I know it attracts people from all over the country that kind of follow their brand.” – (Carpenter)
Growth of Pickleball in Fort Wayne
More than 60 players are expected to participate in the tournament. Carpenter believes the sport’s popularity in Fort Wayne is still growing.
“I don’t believe [pickleball] has hit its peak popularity throughout the country, and Fort Wayne is kind of a hidden gem.” – (Carpenter)
Wildwood’s New Dedicated Courts
The event is the first major tournament to be held on Wildwood’s six new pickleball courts. The facility recently completed the first phase of a multi-million-dollar renovation.
Previously, courts were shared between tennis and pickleball, but now the club has dedicated courts for the fast-growing sport. Carpenter praised Wildwood’s president, Josh Rifkin, for investing in the facility.
“Just to see [Wildwood President Josh Rifkin’s] commitment to making this facility better and better for the Fort Wayne area is spectacular. It’s truly remarkable to see an owner put so much effort into the club, and to see that pay off so quickly is just exciting. We couldn’t ask for more than that.” – (Carpenter)
More Than Just a Tournament
Wildwood hosts other pickleball programs, including youth camps, to help grow the sport. Carpenter, who recently moved from West Virginia, has seen firsthand how active the local pickleball scene is.
“I came from an area about a fifth the size of this city, so to come in and see hundreds and hundreds of people playing pickleball seven days a week basically and for hours at a time, it is very exciting.” – (Carpenter)
News in Brief: Fort Wayne Amateur Open
The Fort Wayne Amateur Open, hosted by the Amateur Pickleball Association, will take place this weekend at Wildwood Racquet and Wellness Club. Over 60 players will compete in round-robin and bracket play. The event marks the first major tournament on Wildwood’s newly renovated pickleball courts. Games start at 8 a.m.
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