US Open Winners of Women’ s Doubles Pro Corrine Carr and Simone Jardim
More than 1,300 players squared off during the course of the week, which, as is becoming a pattern for the event, included a mid-week heat wave. However, this year, Graham and her expansive network of event planners, volunteers and local government officials were ready to beat the heat.
“ The big thing that changed this year from last year was the shade. The first year was extremely hot and sunny, as Naples can be this time of the year,” she said.“ Last year, we had great action. We had a party going on, but it was hard to get people to sit there in the bleachers from 2-5 in the afternoon. This year, the county ended up building us a shaded structure over center court.”
Collier County officials not only erected the massive, $ 750,000 permanent shade structure out of commitment to the US Open, but to pickleball’ s popularity in Naples as
US OPEN PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
a whole. The tent covers the county’ s outdoor pickleball arena year round. When the Open is done, the bleachers come out and there are five permanent pickleball courts for community use. The space is also used to house the Pickleball Academy, taught by Simone Jardim.
“ It’ s definitely an asset to the players and the spectators,” Graham said.“ We had 1,000 people in that court Friday and Saturday. We were sold out, and a lot of that success had to do with a build-up of people coming into that area and seeing how unique and comfortable it was.”
That crowd was privy to some of the best pickleball the world has to offer, with players like Simone Jardim winning the Women’ s Singles Pro, the Doubles Pro and the Mixed Doubles Pro, Ben Johns winning the Men’ s Pro Singles, and more.
During timeouts and intermissions, the crowd was entertained by musical acts that got them on their feet, something that’ s unique to the sport of pickleball.
“ Pickleball is a social sport,” Graham said.“ People will play 3 to 4 hours and go have lunch. We now have this competitive part of the game coming on strong with all the pickleball pros and tennis pros playing, but we still want to preserve this rock concert-type feeling we’ re creating. I don’ t know who enjoys it more, the players or spectators. You walk into the championship court and people are smiling ear to ear. They’ re having a blast. The people have taken it to a whole other level including the pro players. There’ s nothing better than a timeout and music playing and seeing Simone dancing. It’ s just a fun atmosphere.”
Another significant change to the Open from last year included a flag ceremony held the Saturday night before the men’ s finals, which included 17 flags representing countries
US Open Winners of Men’ s Doubles Pro Kyle Yates and Dave Weinbach
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MAY / JUNE 2017 | MAGAZINE 35