What Is the US Open in Pickleball?
The Minto US Open Pickleball Championships are the most prestigious tournament on the pickleball calendar. Known as pickleball’s crown jewel, the US Open attracts over 3,000 contestants in dozens of events. Held in beautiful Naples, Florida, over 25,000 spectators pack East Naples Community Park for a week of competition, fun, and celebration, with parties and entertainment featured throughout the tournament.
- Location: Naples, Florida
- Venue: East Naples Community Park
- Main Court: Zing Zang Championship Court
- First Tournament: 2016
- Tour: PPA Tour
- Guaranteed Prize Pool: $126,350
- Most Wins in Women’s Pro Singles: Simone Jardim - 4 (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- Most Wins in Men’s Pro Singles: Ben Johns - 3 (2017, 2021, 2022)
History
The inaugural US Open Pickleball Championships was held from April 27 to May 1, 2016, in Naples, Florida. The first tournament was already a sizable event, attracting over 800 contestants from all over the world to play on an incredible 46 courts. The first US Open featured an amazing array of events, including singles and doubles competitions in several skill levels and age groups and the Doubles Zing Zang Challenge. The winner in pro men’s singles was Marcin Rozpedski, and the women’s champion was Simone Jardim.
Format
The format of the US Open is made up of five separate double-elimination competitions. Much like in tennis, these competitions include Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. Each of these events is then divided by age (19+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+, 85+, Split Age), skill level (Amateur, Pro), and whether or not the players use wheelchairs. Every level then competes round-robin style until players are eliminated by losing twice. Once a player or pair has lost twice, they take part in a consolation bracket.
Players
A unique aspect of the US Open is that there are no qualifying events or rounds, and the competition is open to all eligible players. Instead, players and pairs are set into skill brackets according to their World Pickleball Ratings (WPR). The different bracket categories are 3.0 and below, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, and Pro. Players must be officially registered with the WPR system and enter the lottery for the US Open according to their respective rankings.
FAQ
What is the US Open in pickleball?
The US Open is the biggest and most prestigious championship tournament for the sport of pickleball. Since it was first held in 2016, winning the tournament has been the pinnacle of any professional player making their rounds on the PPA tour. There is a competition for men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Who has won the most US Open men’s singles titles in pickleball?
The legendary Ben Johns has won the most US Open men’s singles titles in pickleball, with three wins thus far. In the six editions of the tournament so far, Johns has won half of them, winning his first in 2017, his second in 2021, and his third in 2022.
Who has won the most US Open women’s singles titles in pickleball?
Powerhouse singles and doubles player Simone Jardim has won the most US Open women’s singles titles in pickleball, earning four wins to date. In the six editions of the women’s tournament so far, Jardim has won more than half, winning all four titles consecutively from 2016 to 2019.