APP Great Lakes Open Midland Debut: Pickleball fans packed the Greater Midland Tennis Center on Sunday, August 17, 2025, to watch five championship matches at the APP Great Lakes Open. Among the most excited spectators was Greater Midland Tennis Center executive director Jeff Rekeweg, who celebrated the success of the event’s first year in Midland.
A Tournament on Short Notice
Jeff Rekeweg said he was proud of how his staff and the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) worked together to organize the competition in just four months after a planned Los Angeles stop was canceled.
“We always talk about partnerships, and what I’ve really enjoyed is getting to meet and getting to know the APP team and how they came out and delivered.
And then just to see how the community comes out over and over and over again – the partnerships with all the volunteers (and) with the whole Greater Midland staff.(Jeff Rekeweg)
“It’s been great to see people come together and make something happen that we weren’t sure exactly what it was going to look like. We only had four months to prepare, so we had a pretty short runway.”(Jeff Rekeweg)
Why Midland Was Chosen
The APP approached Midland because of the city’s history of hosting major sporting events such as the Dow Tennis Classic, the LPGA’s Dow Championship, and Great Lakes Loons baseball.
“I appreciate that the APP had some faith in us. … We have a history of being able to respond and put on a good tournament, and the feedback we’ve heard from them has been very positive, and we’re certainly very excited to have them here.”(Jeff Rekeweg)
A Different Atmosphere from Tennis
Rekeweg compared hosting a pro pickleball tournament to managing the Dow Tennis Classic. He said the smaller venue allowed fans to be close to the action but noticed differences between the two sports.
“We’ve had 36 years of the Dow Tennis Classic here, and you love the energy, love the passion (of that tournament). With this, you’re even closer (to the action).
I think our stadium is unique in a lot of ways for the Dow Tennis Classic. You’ve got a smaller stadium court, and you’re right on top of it, and it’s the same thing here.(Jeff Rekeweg)
“ … It’s a little different mentality (in pickleball), though. It’s a little quieter in tennis, a little different etiquette, whereas, in pickleball here, they almost encourage more noise. … This has been a lot of fun.”(Jeff Rekeweg)
Fans Turn Out Despite Challenges
While attendance during the week was affected by hot weather and the Midland County Fair, Sunday’s finals drew a strong crowd on a cooler day.
“This has been exciting. If you can’t get energized watching this, something’s wrong. “You’re seeing the best players in the world right here in Midland and the excitement and the energy that they have. You can see that translate over to the spectators as well.(Jeff Rekeweg)
“ … We’re battling some challenges with the fair going on, and we’ve had some unseasonably hot weathe. … But it’s a perfect day today, and it’s great to see the fans.”(Jeff Rekeweg)
The Bigger Picture
The success of the APP Great Lakes Open showed that Midland can adapt quickly to host professional pickleball at the highest level. The community support, strong partnerships, and energy from fans suggest the event could become a regular stop on the APP Tour in the years to come.
News in Brief: APP Great Lakes Open Midland Debut
The APP Great Lakes Open ended Sunday at the Greater Midland Tennis Center with five championship matches. Executive director Jeff Rekeweg praised the community, volunteers, and APP staff for organizing the event in just four months. Despite hot weather and fair competition, strong fan support made the first-year tournament a success.
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