Fairfield & Suisun Valley PPA Challenger: Fairfield is preparing for the Fairfield & Suisun Valley PPA Challenger, a big pickleball tournament happening August 22 to 24 at Allan Witt Park. The event, part of the Professional Pickleball Association Challenger Series, will bring amateurs and pros together to compete for a $10,000 prize pool.
The tournament is sponsored by Caymus-Suisun Winery and powered by JOOLA. Around 400 to 600 players are expected to register. Men’s and women’s singles will be held Friday, gender doubles on Saturday, and mixed doubles on Sunday. Registration is open now at pickleballtournaments.com.
Boost for Local Pickleball
George Kennedy, USA Pickleball regional director, said,
“It’s going to be a blast. This tournament is backed by the biggest pickleball pro circuit in the country. Players in the top 20 are not eligible, but we could have players ranked from 21 and under.”
Kennedy shared that this event has already drawn more interest than last year’s USA Pickleball Select Series: Wine Country, which was also held at Allan Witt Park.
“We were able to get Caymus-Suisun as a sponsor and the PPA recently came out to visit our facilities and were very excited. It’s really a chance to put Fairfield on the map with the pickleball community and also publicize the Suisun Valley.”
Kickoff Celebration and Community Support
On August 21, Caymus-Suisun Winery will host a pickleball-themed party with wine tasting, a live DJ, appetizers, and raffles for branded gear. Jenny Wagner, a board member of the Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association, said,
“We’re excited to be part of such a great event. For us, this is about how the Suisun Valley community can support the region and bring people together. We hope that guests of the tournament will have a chance to visit some of the wineries here and discover Suisun Valley for themselves.”
A Growing Sport
Pickleball has become very popular in Fairfield. The Fairfield Pickleball Club now has over 100 members. The city recently upgraded Allan Witt Park to include 16 pickleball courts.
George Kennedy got into pickleball during the COVID-19 pandemic when indoor racquetball shut down. He and his friends tried pickleball and quickly loved it.
Pickleball was created in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island. The sport combines tennis, badminton, and table tennis and is played with paddles and a plastic ball.
Allan Witt Park is located at 1741 West Texas Street. The event will also be streamed live on the PPA Tour YouTube Channel. Grounds passes for friends and fans will be sold for $15 through TIXR. All players will receive passes with their registration.
News in Brief: Fairfield & Suisun Valley PPA Challenger
Fairfield will host the Fairfield & Suisun Valley PPA Challenger pickleball tournament August 22–24 at Allan Witt Park. The event will feature amateur and pro players, a $10,000 prize pool, and a kickoff party. Over 400 players are expected to compete. Registration is now open online.
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