The US Open Pickleball Championship is arguably the most reputed pickleball tournament in the world. The tournament started in 2016 and has been held each year except 2020. It is held in the East Naples Community Park in Florida.
The tournament hosts a range of events based on age and skill, for amateurs and professionals alike. The professionals can participate in singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and split age doubles events. In the split age category, both players must be professional or have a skill level of at least 4.0. Furthermore, one player must be 49 or under, and one must be 50 or over. Professional players are not allowed to enter in the events of the amateur category. There are also age doubles events that are reserved for players with a high skill rating, i.e., 4.0.
There are various junior competitions in both singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. These age-based competitions include U-10, U-12, U-14, U-15, and U-18 categories. In the amateur events, skill based events in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events are played in the following age categories: 19+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 55+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+, and 85+. The various categories based on skill level include: 3.0 and below, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0. The tournament has also made provision for wheelchair pickleball players and thus has a parapickleball category as well.
Players compete in a single or double elimination main draw. Based on the number of entrants, a qualifying draw may be held. There will also be a consolidation bracket wherein players will compete for the bronze medal. Players can enter the event through their World Pickleball Rating.
At the end of the event, a prize money is given only to the players who participated in the men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles in professional and senior professional categories. The total prize pool of the event is over $150,000. There is also a bonus prize money for the player who completes a triple crown in the professional category.
