The American Southwest is a sight to behold, with breathtaking scenery, rich culture and history, and gorgeous weather. Arizona, however, is in a class of its own.  

Home to more than 800 species of native fish and wildlife, 300 sunny days per year, nearly 100 different kinds of cactus, and this week – hundreds of pickleball players of all ages and abilities – Arizona seems like a great place to set up shop.

That’s exactly what the APP Tour will do this week for its penultimate tournament, the 2025 APP Mesa Open. Pickleball players from around the world will hit the courts on Nov. 5-9 at the sprawling Arizona Athletic Grounds, featuring amateurs of all ages, the AARP Champions and Masters Divisions, and the sport’s elite professionals. Medals and prize money are up for grabs on a national TV broadcast on ESPN2.

On Friday, Nov. 7, the APP will honor three distinguished members of the Pickleball Hall of Fame Class of 2025, recognizing exceptional results throughout their careers, both as players and contributors, to the growth, development and leadership of the sport of pickleball. Chris “Mills” Miller and Cammy MacGregor, two longtime pickleball professionals with dozens of accolades, will be enshrined into the Hall as competitors. The APP’s own Melissa McCurley, current EVP of Competition, is a true pickleball pioneer and ambassador for the sport, and will join her colleagues in the Hall as a contributor. Fans can tune in to the APP’s live coverage of the ceremony on its ESPN Plus livestream.

The battles are heating up in the desert for the APP Tour pros, who are ready to showcase their skills for fans worldwide. Here are the top pro storylines heading into the 2025 AARP Open.

SUPER SOFIA

Sofia Sewing, the No. 1 ranked women's singles pro on tour, won big at the AARP Open in her hometown of South Florida. Sewing won her seventh women's pro singles title, plus another women's pro doubles gold medal alongside Shelby Bates, bringing her season medal count to 19 total with 11 golds - the most among APP Tour women's pros.

FUDGE ON TOP

Megan Fudge heads to The Fort as the APP Tour's all-time leader in total career medals (81). Fudge took home gold in mixed pro doubles with Jack Munro and a bronze in women's pro doubles with Amanda Hendry at the AARP Open in Fort Lauderdale.

THE PERFECT PARTNER

Jack Munro is the APP Tour's No. 1 ranked player in both men's and mixed pro doubles, making him the quintessential doubles partner. The Austin, Texas native took home another gold in men's doubles with Will Howells and in mixed doubles with Megan Fudge at the AARP Open, bringing his APP Tour-leading total to 12 golds.

THREE-PEAT FOR AMMAR

Ammar Wazir won his third consecutive men's pro singles gold medal at the AARP Open, continuing his unprecedented run. Wazir has soared to become the No. 1-ranked men's pro singles player in the APP World Rankings, and looks to keep his streak going in Mesa.

BATES BREAKS OUT

Shelby Bates continued her breakout campaign at the AARP Open, winning her second women's pro doubles title with Sofia Sewing. Bates has medaled in each of her last three APP Tour events, bringing her season medal total to five.

WILL POWER

Will Howells is tied for the lead among all APP Tour pros with 12 gold medals in 2025. Howells and Jack Munro took home another men's pro doubles title in Fort Lauderdale, and Howells also earned silver in mixed pro doubles with Bobbi Oshiro. Howells reunites with each partner and looks to add to his medal count in Mesa.

OSHIRO ALL DAY

Bobbi Oshiro earned two silver medals at the AARP Open, bringing her APP Tour season total to 13 medals including six golds. Oshiro pairs up with Will Howells in mixed pro doubles and with Alexa Schull in women's pro doubles.

RICHARD & TANNER HANGING BANNERS

Richard Livornese, Jr. and Tanner Tomassi have medaled in each of the last four APP Tour events, including a bronze last time out in Fort Lauderdale and two gold medals together along the way. Livornese ranks fourth among APP Tour men's pros with seven total medals in 2025, while Tomassi has four total medals on the season.

BRAVERMANIA

Jill Braverman ranks third among APP Tour women's pros with 14 total medals and six golds in 2025. Braverman and her trusty women's doubles partner Megan Fudge are the top seeds in Mesa, and Braverman also pairs up with fellow Floridian Randy Blanco in mixed pro doubles.

SIMONE SHINES BRIGHT

Simone Jardim is the APP Tour's all-time women's gold medal leader with 33 career golds, and returns to action in Mesa to add to her total. Jardim will compete in all three categories - women's pro singles, women's pro doubles with Christine Maddox, and mixed doubles with Zack Taylor. Jardim took home a women's pro doubles gold medal at the APP Tour's last event in Mesa in 2023.

DON’T MISS THE ACTION

Live coverage from the 2025 APP Mesa Open begins Thursday, November 6 on ESPN Plus, and continues through Sunday, November 9. ESPN2 will carry a linear television recap show on November 16 from 9-11 pm ET. Dorian Craft, Director of APP Collegiate Series 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.

Venue:

Arizona Athletic Grounds

6321 S Ellsworth Rd.

Mesa, AZ 85212

Broadcast Info (all times Eastern):
Championship Court

Thursday, 11/6 | 12 - 6 pm | ESPN+

Friday, 11/7 | 2 - 8 pm | ESPN+

Saturday, 11/8 | 2 - 8 pm | ESPN+

Sunday, 11/9 | 3 - 8 pm | ESPN+

Players Court

Thursday, 11/6 | 10 am - 4 pm | APPTV on YouTube

Friday, 11/7 | 12 - 6 pm | APPTV on YouTube

Saturday, 11/8 | 12 - 6 pm | APPTV on YouTube

Sunday, 11/9 | 11 am - 2 pm | APPTV on YouTube

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