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What you need to know going into the 2025 Fort Lauderdale Open

Daniel Sagerman

April 2, 2025

They say: “home is where the heart is”. This week, our hearts are full of pickleball as the APP Tour returns to The Fort for the 2025 APP Fort Lauderdale Open, the first Major of the season, for five days of elite pickleball action.

The world’s first and world’s best pickleball tour returns to its global headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, The Fort, for the second time this season. Dubbed the "Wimbledon of Pickleball" by Sports Business Journal, The Fort is home to 43 courts, the world's first pickleball stadium and the APP Academy, further supporting the APP's dedication to the future of pickleball.

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 Fort Lauderdale 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 ESPN2, the APP Tour is bringing four full days of livestream coverage on Championship Court on ESPN Plus, as well as a second broadcast featuring thrilling matches throughout the day on the Players Court on APPTV on YouTube.

Following an electric APP U.S. Collegiate Championships presented by PB5star, the APP Tour ventured across Alligator Alley on I-75 and officially arrived back home. Here are the top storylines heading into the APP Fort Lauderdale Open.‍

CHASING HISTORY‍

Megan Fudge and Chris Haworth, both top-ranked pros in the APP World Rankings, have a shot to make history in Fort Lauderdale. At 67 career APP Tour medals, Fudge is two medals away from becoming the all-time leader for most career medals. A dominant force on the men's singles circuit with 10 career golds, Chris Haworth needs one more men's pro singles gold to become the all-time APP Tour record holder in that category. Will they make history at The Fort?‍

SUPERB SOFIA‍

Sofia Sewing has been nearly unstoppable on the women's pro singles circuit to start 2025, earning two golds and a silver thus far. Sewing won back-to-back women's singles golds in Daytona Beach and Sacramento and will look to keep that streak alive. The Coconut Creek, Fla. native returns to her home state as the No. 8 seed in women's pro singles in Fort Lauderdale.

‍WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY‍

Will Howells continues to be one of the top doubles players in the game, winning gold in both men's pro doubles and mixed pro doubles in Sacramento. Howells, a Boca Raton, Fla. native, also took home men's and mixed doubles golds in the season-opening APP Tour event in Fort Lauderdale in January.‍

OSHIRO ALL DAY‍

Bobbi Oshiro was the big winner in Sacramento, taking home gold medals in mixed pro doubles (with Will Howells) and women's pro doubles (with Susannah Barr) for her first two APP Tour medals of 2025. Check out our recent feature story on Bobbi Oshiro here!‍

MONEY MUNRO‍

Jack Munro secured his third-straight men's pro doubles gold medal to start 2025 with another win in Sacramento. Munro also shined in last weekend's APP U.S. Collegiate Championships in Cape Coral, representing the University of Texas and taking home the men’s doubles and mixed doubles titles in the individual competition portion.

‍RAISING THE BARR‍

Susannah Barr took home her first gold medal of 2025 in Sacramento, winning the women's pro doubles final with Bobbi Oshiro. The Boise, Idaho native is the APP Tour's all-time total medal leader in women's pro doubles (34) and mixed pro doubles (women - 21). Barr's 55 total medals are the third-most all-time among all APP Tour pros.‍

PURPLE POWER‍

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

BRAVERMANIA‍

Jill Braverman ranks second among APP Tour women's pros with five total medals and three golds thus far in 2025. After earning silver in women's pro doubles in Sacramento with Megan Fudge, the duo return to Fort Lauderdale, where they took home gold in January.‍

DON'T MESS WITH DARIA‍

Daria Walczak is off to a strong start to 2025 with four total medals in three events, already matching her medal total from 2024. Walczak and Patrick Kawka earned the mixed pro doubles silver medals in Sacramento, and will pair up again in their quest for gold in Fort Lauderdale.‍

DON’T MISS THE ACTION‍

Live coverage from the 2025 APP Fort Lauderdale Open begins Thursday, Apr. 3 on ESPN Plus, and continues through Sunday, Apr. 6. The APP Tour will also stream live coverage from the Players Court, featuring thrilling pro matches throughout the day, on APPTV on YouTube. ESPN2 will carry a linear television show on Apr. 7 at 8 pm ET. 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

Tickets:

Available via SITickets.com

Broadcast Info (all times Eastern):
Championship Court

Thursday, April 3: 10 am - 4 pm ET | ESPN+

Friday, April 4: 12-6 pm ET | ESPN+

Saturday, April 5: 12-6 pm ET | ESPN+

Sunday, April 6: 12-6 pm ET | ESPN+

Players Court