Top Pickleball Tournaments in the United States
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with over 36 million players estimated to have played the sport last year alone. With more players joining the sport, it’s no surprise that there has also been a substantial increase in the number of competitive tournaments and the prize money that goes along with it. With so many tournaments occurring almost every weekend, it’s hard to follow which tournaments are the major events that the sport has to offer. Here’s a brief overview of some of the biggest tournaments that pickleball currently has to offer:
- Minto US Open Pickleball Championships: Occurring during mid to late April in sunny Naples, Florida, the US Open is one of the largest tournaments that pickleball has to offer. The tournament venue, East Naples Community Park, has over 60 courts which help tournament operations run smoothly and keep players on the court. This past year (2023), the tournament had over 3,500 combined amateur and professional registrants, offering a prize purse of over $125,000 between the professional divisions. Since its inception in 2016, the tournament has seen continued growth and is one of the most sought-after destinations where players come to try to be victorious.
- USA Pickleball National Championships: It’s tough to argue a tournament that holds similar prestige to the USA Pickleball Nationals. Formerly taking place at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA, the event will move this year to a new venue at the Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, TX. Over $5 million in upgrades will be completed to improve the facility prior to this event, so one can imagine the magnitude and importance that this tournament has to offer. Players from all over the world compete in “Golden Ticket” qualifiers leading up to this event, with the gold medal winners earning direct qualification into the Nationals tournament taking place in November. This tournament has always offered the largest prize purse pickleball has seen year after year, and while this year’s purse hasn’t been publicly announced, there’s very little doubt that it will be record-breaking once again in 2023.
- APP New York City Open: Speaking of Golden Ticket qualifiers, the New York City Open is the APP Tour’s largest event and is a direct qualifier for Nationals. 2023 was the second year of the New York City Open, and registration numbers shattered anything prior seen by the APP. Taking place in Flushing Meadows, New York, directly where the US Open is held for tennis, entrants have the chance to compete at the same facility where world-renowned tennis champions have been victorious. 2023’s New York City Open had over 1,500 entrants and media coverage at several major outlets, with the finals being aired on ESPN2.
- PPA Championship: Another major tournament taking place in pickleball is the PPA Championship, located at the Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Just like Las Vegas, this tournament is a party, with loud music, high energy, and the top level of professional play that the sport has to offer. This year’s event will take place in early October and is expected to amass over 2,000 players, both amateur and professional. With Las Vegas also offering so many fun activities off the court, it’s no shock that players put this tournament on this calendar every year.
- Tournament of Champions: The Tournament of Champions was one of the original major pickleball tournaments, first taking place in 2013. It was the first tournament to offer prize money in the professional division. Located in Brigham City, Utah, this tournament holds a high status and boasts an extensive history of past champions. Known for its kind tournament volunteers and directors, along with a player-friendly atmosphere, this event maintains a high reputation in the tournament space。
Want to find out more about tournaments? Check out pickleballbrackets.com for information on which tournaments are occurring near you and how to register. Also, be sure to check out Niupipo’s product offerings to make sure you have everything you need prior to entering a tournament!