Top pickleball players from around the world are heading to Cape Coral for the city’s first-ever major pickleball tournament. The Carvana PPA Tour 2025 Veolia Cape Coral Open is set to take place from March 5 to 9 at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center, giving professionals and amateurs the chance to compete.
A Milestone Event for Cape Coral
The tournament marks the debut of the Carvana PPA Tour in Cape Coral, with registration open to players of all ages and skill levels.
More than 500 players have already signed up, making for a highly competitive event. Jason Smith, Lake Kennedy Racquet Center’s director of operations, emphasized the significance of hosting the tournament.
“The entire staff at Lake Kennedy is excited for this event. The staff is working tremendous amounts of hours to have this run as smoothly as possible. We’re also excited that this will put the city of Cape Coral on the map for pickleball.” – (Jason Smith)
Pros and Amateurs Compete Side by Side
The Veolia Cape Coral Open provides amateur players with a rare opportunity to showcase their skills on the same courts as the world’s top professionals. The PPA Tour’s mission is to create an inclusive environment where players can “play where the pros play.”
“A debut tournament is always a cause for excitement and in particular when it’s being held at such an incredible facility as the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center.” – (Connor Pardoe, founder & CEO of the PPA Tour)
“The Cape Coral community has always demonstrated an intense passion for the game of pickleball and we couldn’t be happier to bring the best players in the world to their doorstep. For the many amateur players in the area, this is a golden opportunity to compete with your peers and rub shoulders with the best of the best.” – (Connor Pardoe)
Star-Studded Lineup of Players
The professional division of the tournament will feature some of the biggest names in the sport, including World No. 1 players Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns, and Argentine star Federico Staksrud. Former tennis professionals Genie Bouchard and Jack Sock will also take part, bringing even more excitement to the event.
“This is the first professional tournament not only in Cape Coral, but for our racquet center.” – (Jason Smith)
Cape Coral’s Growing Role in Pickleball
The Lake Kennedy Racquet Center, which opened in August 2023, features 32 pickleball courts and 12 tennis courts. The facility was designed with professional tournaments in mind, and Smith believes events like the PPA Tour will help establish Cape Coral as a major pickleball destination.
“This sport is growing at a rate that’s never been seen before. The city built these courts… and the city asked for assistance from pro tournaments to help them design it. So it’s very much designed to host an event of this size. Having 32 pickleball courts, there’s not many facilities throughout the country that even have that many courts at one center.” – (Jason Smith)
Hosting a tournament of this scale is expected to bring economic benefits to Cape Coral, drawing spectators and participants from across the country.
“It’s huge for the city. Once we start running more of these events, businesses in the area will benefit from it with the amount of participants and spectators coming in.” – (Jason Smith)
Additional Opportunities for Players
Alongside the main tournament, the PPA Tour will offer Pickleball Camps led by professional players, providing amateurs with expert coaching. The Junior PPA division will also take part, giving young athletes a platform to compete and develop their skills.
Smith expressed hope that the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center will continue to host professional tournaments in pickleball and tennis.
“We want some of the best players in the world, and the PPA is going to have the top pickleball players in the world playing in our city.” – (Jason Smith)
Lake Kennedy Racquet Center is located at 420 SW 2nd Ave.
News in Brief: 2025 Veolia Cape Coral Open
Cape Coral will host its first major pickleball tournament, the Carvana PPA Tour Veolia Cape Coral Open, from March 5 to 9 at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center. Featuring top professionals and amateurs, the event is expected to boost the city’s pickleball presence and bring economic benefits. Registration is now open.
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