The Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open is set to introduce an exciting new tournament format when it begins on March 25, 2025, at the Little Valley Sports Complex in St. George, Utah. This Carvana PPA Tour event will showcase the sport’s top players and receive national television coverage, including a FOX broadcast for the finals on Sunday, March 30.
With the goal of building excitement and highlighting key storylines, the hybrid tournament format will create a more structured and engaging schedule, ensuring fans enjoy the biggest matchups on the main stage.
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How the New Tournament Format Works
The competition will unfold over five days, with an updated match structure designed to maximize competitiveness and viewer engagement. Unlike traditional formats where events are spread out, this structure ensures that all early-round matches are played midweek, while semifinals and finals are saved for the weekend’s prime-time coverage.
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Wednesday: Men’s and women’s singles up to the quarterfinals.
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Thursday: Mixed doubles up to the quarterfinals.
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Friday: Men’s and women’s doubles up to the quarterfinals.
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Saturday: All semifinals on Humana Championship Court, with Pickleball TV coverage from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET and FS1 coverage from 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM ET.
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Sunday: All finals on Humana Championship Court, with Pickleball TV coverage from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET and FOX coverage from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM ET.
By saving all semifinals for Saturday and all finals for Sunday, this format ensures that fans won’t miss key matchups, making for a thrilling weekend of championship pickleball.
Why the Change?
The new format was designed to increase excitement, improve storytelling, and provide a better experience for fans and players. By consolidating semifinals and finals into prime-time television slots, the event ensures that key moments are showcased on major networks, such as FOX and FS1.
Additionally, playing early-round matches midweek allows the weekend to focus on battles, drawing more attention to the biggest showdowns. This setup also benefits players, as they can prepare for the most crucial matches with proper rest and recovery time.
National Coverage Brings Pickleball to More Fans
For those unable to attend in person, the Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open will have extensive media coverage, making it one of the most widely accessible pickleball tournaments of the year.
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Pickleball TV will stream early-round matches and semifinals.
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FS1 will air the semifinals on Saturday night.
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FOX will broadcast the championship matches on Sunday from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM ET.
With prime-time television slots, the new format is expected to bring increased visibility to the sport, attracting dedicated fans and new audiences.
Looking Ahead
The Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open is shaping up to be a major event in the 2025 PPA Tour, offering top-tier competition and a fresh viewing experience. With the best players in the world competing in an optimized schedule, fans can expect high-energy matches, intense rivalries, and unforgettable moments on the court.
As the sport of pickleball continues to grow in popularity, innovations like this new hybrid format help elevate its presence on a national stage. The weekend focus on semifinals and finals will create must-watch moments, ensuring that pickleball remains one of the fastest-growing and most exciting sports today.
News in Brief: Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open
The 2025 Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open will introduce a new tournament format when it begins on March 25, 2025, in St. George, Utah. Early-round matches will be played midweek, while all semifinals take place on Saturday and all finals on Sunday. FOX will air the championship matches on Sunday from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM ET.
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