No matter where you go, you can always go home. And if your home happens to have 43 dedicated pickleball courts, a full stadium, a bar, a pro shop, a training center, and sit right on a scenic lake – perhaps you’ll go home more often!

Home is where the heart is this week as the APP Tour returns to The Fort, our global headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, for the 2025 AARP Open. We're putting a special spotlight on our AARP Champions (50+) and Masters (60+) Divisions. Pickleball players from around the world will hit the courts, featuring amateurs of all ages, and pickleball’s elite pros. Medals and prize money are up for grabs on a national TV broadcast on ESPN2.

All eyes are on The Fort this week, and the APP Tour pros are ready to battle for gold. Here are the top pro storylines heading into the 2025 AARP Open.

Storylines:

SUPER SOFIA

Sofia Sewing, the No. 1 ranked women's singles pro on tour, claimed her sixth APP Tour women's singles title at the APP Women's Open pres. by The James, bringing her season medal count to 16 total with nine golds. Sewing also earned silver in women's doubles in Columbus alongside Shelby Bates.

FUDGE ON TOP

Megan Fudge heads to The Fort as the APP Tour's all-time leader in total career medals (79). Fudge took home gold in women's pro doubles at the APP Women's Open last week in Columbus, and looks to defend her title alongside Amanda Hendry as the top seeds in Fort Lauderdale.

TOP DOG

Jack Munro returns to action as the APP Tour's No. 1 ranked player in both men's and mixed pro doubles. The Austin, Texas native pairs with Will Howells as the top seeds in men's pro doubles, and with Megan Fudge as the mixed pro doubles top seeds.

RICHARD & TANNER HANGING BANNERS

Richard Livornese, Jr. ranks fourth among APP Tour men's pros with six total medals in 2025, including two golds. Livornese and men's doubles partner Tanner Tomassi have medaled in each of the last three APP Tour events, including a bronze last time out in Chicago.

BATES BREAKS OUT

South Florida native Shelby Bates had a tournament to remember in Chicago, winning her first career APP Tour gold medal by taking home the women's pro doubles title with Sofia Sewing. Bates and Sewing return as the No. 3 seeds in women's doubles in Columbus.

ALL ABOUT AMMAR

Ammar Wazir has been on a tear lately on the men's pro singles circuit, winning gold in each of the last two APP Tour events including in his hometown of Chicago. Wazir is the No. 1 men's pro singles seed in Fort Lauderdale and will look to make it a three-peat.

DON'T MESS WITH DARIA

Daria Walczak won her first career APP Tour gold medal at the APP Women's Open last week, winning the split-age doubles title alongside Lee Whitwell. Walczak has six total APP Tour medals in 2025.

RAISING THE BARR

Susannah Barr ranks third all-time in APP Tour history for total career medals (55) and eighth all-time for gold medals (17).

WILL POWER

Will Howells returns to Fort Lauderdale, where he made APP Tour history in April as the 10th player all-time to win a Triple Crown. Howells once again competes in all three events at The Fort, including as the No. 1 seed in men's pro doubles with Jack Munro and No. 2 seed in mixed pro doubles with Bobbi Oshiro.

LEGENDARY LEE

Lee Whitwell has been in a class of her own in the AARP Champions Division this year, winning multiple triple crowns including one at the APP Women's Open last week. In total, Whitwell has earned a triple crown in each of her last three APP Tour events Whitwell leads all AARP Champions players with 23 total medals and including 15 golds. Legendary stuff!

MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT

The AARP Masters Division competition has been fierce this year, with multiple players earning big-time hardware. Anna Shirley leads all AARP Masters pros with 11 total medals and seven golds, and Scott Moore paces all AARP Masters men's pros with nine total medals. Kristin Hickman has 10 total medals of her own, while Moore, David Spearman and Howard Mendel each have four gold medals.

DON’T MISS THE ACTION

Live coverage from the 2025 AARP Open begins Thursday, October 9 on ESPN Plus, and continues through Sunday, October 12. ESPN2 will carry a linear television recap show in the coming weeks. Dorian Craft, pro pickleball coach Dominic Catalano and APP U.S. National Team head coach Chad Edwards will be on the call.    

Fans can stay posted on all the action on UTR Sports and by following the APP’s social media pages: @OfficialAPPTour on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Threads and APP Tour on Facebook.

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Venue

The Fort

891 SW 34th St

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

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Broadcast Info (all times Eastern) and subject to change

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Championship Court

Thursday, Oct. 9 | 10 am - 5 pm ET | ESPN+

Friday, Oct. 10 | 12 - 6 pm ET | ESPN+

Saturday, Oct. 11 | 12 - 6 pm ET | ESPN+

Sunday, Oct. 12 | 11:30 am - 6 pm ET | ESPN+

Players Court

Thursday, Oct. 9 | 8 am - 2 pm ET | APPTV on YouTube

Friday, Oct. 10 | 10 am - 4 pm ET | APPTV on YouTube

Saturday, Oct. 11 | 10 am - 4 pm ET | APPTV on YouTube

Sunday, Oct. 12 | 8 - 11 am ET | APPTV on YouTube

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Schedule Of Events