bragged about how wonderful pro player Joey
Farias is. His wife, Toni, is from St. Louis,
so when they visit her family, he coaches
the local players and they love him. And we
haven't even gotten to pickleball play!
Both the temperature and play were hot,
hot, hot. The medical tent was busy. The pros
were fantastic. Simone Jardim is beloved
by the fans. She is a hometown class act.
She and Kyle Yates were exciting hometown
favorites and came through for the crowd.
The stands were full, starting on the very first
day. Players received a badge when they first
checked in and this gave them entrance to the
stadium court. So no matter what your level
of play, you’re under the Big Top and part of
the action. There’s a feeling of community.
And the pros might be on the court next to
you or on one of the 49 outside courts. It’s a
family. As Chris Evon says, “Who doesn’t love
a good party?”
There were numerous personal stories
highlighting the joy and enthusiasm pickleball
brings to so many. Tony Childs is a member
of the Travelers Century Club and the Most
Traveled People Club. He has been to 192 of
193 countries in the world. He has achieved
being #7 in the MTPC and has recently
New Yorkers
gather to watch
hockey at a sports
bar just to cool off!
removed himself from the list so he can
devote more time to pickleball! Tony and his
wife Susan are taking pickleballs and paddles
to the North Pole this summer.
Whether it’s for health, friendship, fun,
competition or international flavor, the US
Open is attracting players. Smiles decorated
the grounds everywhere. It got even better
when Rusty Howes and the original team of
the Pickleball Channel, Meredith Howes, HR
Sweat, and Will and Cat Bigham, received the
US Open Pickleball Championships Impact
Award. It’s given to a person or group who
has had an impact on the sport of pickleball
and the growth and success of the US Open.
Congratulations to Rusty and his crew.
Pickleball has that special quality of joy
and a sense of community that has evolved
with the sport. The US Open showed how it
can be done in a major event
utilizing community support,
Florida sunshine, 2,161 players
and two very sharp women. The
US Open was special! •
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Quebecois were at the US Open enjoying the sunshine
and delighting the crowd with their “allez” cheers.
India was represented. Katy Dyer from Chattanooga
played with Altaf Merchant from Mumbai.
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