Pickleball's Gold Rush Returns

All you need to know going into the 2025 APP Sacramento Open

Daniel Sagerman

February 25, 2025

On the 2025 APP Tour, gold is the standard. Whether it’s a gold medal or USA Pickleball Golden Ticket, there’s plenty at stake for everyone. So, it’s only fitting that our next tour stop heads to the Golden Coast, and a major hub during California’s gold rush: Sacramento. The 2025 APP Sacramento Open is here!

The world’s first and world’s best pickleball tour is bringing five days of elite pickleball action at Johnson Ranch Pickleball Complex, the largest pickleball facility in Northern California. This marks the APP Tour’s fourth year at Johnson Ranch, and we’re so excited to be back.

Pickleball players from around the world will hit the courts to battle for hardware, featuring amateurs of all ages, pickleball’s elite pros, the AARP Champions (50+) and Masters (60+) Divisions and the Humana Cup competition.

The APP Sacramento Open is also a USA Pickleball Golden Ticket event, meaning gold medalists earn the right to secure their spot at the 2025 USAP National Championships.

In addition to national television coverage on CBS Sports Network, the APP Tour is bringing four full days of livestream coverage on Championship Court and introducing a second broadcast featuring thrilling matches throughout the day on the Players Court. Tune in to APPTV on YouTube for all the action!

The 2025 APP Tour is in full swing – pun fully intended. Here are the top storylines heading into the APP Sacramento Open.

CHASING HISTORY

Megan Fudge and Chris Haworth, both top-ranked pros in the APP World Rankings, have a shot at the record books this week in Sacramento. At 66 career APP Tour medals, Fudge is two medals away from tying the all-time record for most career medals. A dominant force on the men's singles circuit with nine career golds, Chris Haworth needs one more men's pro singles gold to tie the all-time APP Tour record in that category. Will we witness history in Sacramento?

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SOFIA, THE FIRST
It's hard to picture a better start to your APP Tour career than Sofia Sewing. After battling through the qualifier rounds to earn silver in women's pro singles in Fort Lauderdale to start the season, Sewing got it done in Daytona Beach, winning her first career APP Tour gold medal. The Coconut Creek, Fla. native is back as the No. 13 seed in women's pro singles in Sacramento.

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BRAVERMANIA

Jill Braverman returns to her home state of California fresh off of another women's pro doubles gold medal with Megan Fudge. Last year in Sacramento, Braverman also took home the gold in women's pro doubles. Will she and Megan Fudge defend their title?

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WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY

Will Howells racked up a three-medal performance in Daytona Beach, winning gold in men's pro doubles and securing silver in men's singles and mixed doubles. Howells won the men's pro singles title in Sacramento in 2024 - can he unseat Chris Haworth as the new champion?

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DON'T MESS WITH DARIA

Daria Walczak is off to a strong start to 2025 with three total medals, including earning two silver medals at the APP Vlasic Classic in Daytona Beach. Walczak and Patrick Kawka earned the mixed pro doubles silver medals in Sacramento in 2024, and will pair up again in their quest for Championship Sunday.

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DYNAMIC DUO

Max "Purple Jesus" Manthou and Erik Lange teamed up for men's pro doubles silver medals in Daytona Beach, and return as the No. 2 seeds in Sacramento. The duo have made Championship Sunday appearances in five of the last six APP Tour events, dating back to last season.

KELSEY CRUSHING IT

Kelsey Grambeau is off to a strong start to the 2025 APP Tour, garnering three bronze medals after the first two events. Grambeau pairs up with Riley Bohnert in women's pro doubles and Robert Slutsky in mixed pro doubles in Sacramento.

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RAISING THE BARR

Susannah Barr took home 10 total APP Tour medals in 2024, including three golds. The Boise, Idaho native is the APP Tour's all-time total medal leader in women's pro doubles (33) and mixed pro doubles (women - 21). Barr's 54 total medals are the third-most all-time among all APP Tour pros. Barr pairs with Brandon Lane in mixed pro doubles and Bobbi Oshiro in women's pro doubles.

DON’T MISS THE ACTION

Live coverage from the 2025 APP Sacramento Open begins Thursday, Feb. 27 on APPTV on YouTube, and continues through Sunday, March 2. The APP Tour will also stream live coverage from the Players Court, featuring thrilling pro matches throughout the day, on APPTV on YouTube. CBS Sports Network will carry linear television shows on March 3, 6 and 11. 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.

Venue:

Johnson Ranch Pickleball Complex / Spare Time Sports Club

2600 Eureka Rd

Roseville, CA 95661

Tickets:

Available via SITickets.com

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Broadcast Info (all times Eastern):
Championship Court

Thursday, Feb. 27 | 1 – 7 pm | APPTV on YouTube, Court Sports Network, Facebook

Friday, Feb. 28 | 3 – 9 pm | APPTV on YouTube, Court Sports Network, Facebook

Saturday, Mar. 1 | 3 – 9 pm | APPTV on YouTube, Court Sports Network, Facebook

Sunday, Mar. 2 | 3 – 8 pm | APPTV on YouTube, Court Sports Network, Facebook

Players Court