New York was waiting for the APP Tour and the 2024 Zimmer Biomet APP New York City Open did not disappoint. From new champions to the 2024 NYC Pro Shuffle, the sixth APP Tour stop of the year had everything on site at the iconic USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Check out the social media memory book and start spreading the news!
Pocket Full of Dreams: Tennis legend Kim Clijsters made plenty of dreams come true at Arthur Ashe Stadium in her hey day, and she returned to the venue where she won three US Open singles titles, but this time for some APP Tour action! We loved having this champ in our presence!
I Love New York: Move over, Mickey Mouse, there’s a new Happiest Place on Earth and that’s the 2024 Zimmer Biomet APP New York City Open! With the best pros in the world playing on Championship Court, to the Arthur Ashe Stadium tours, to the vibrant vendor village with everything from breakfast sandwich, protein bar, and gin giveaways, this APP Tour stop was all the theme park entertainment without the theme park price tag.
You Wanna Find Love Then You Know Where the City Is: For Yana and Ben Newell, who met playing pickleball, it was a Saturday Night Love to remember, as both played for gold on Championship Court. Yana and her partner, Megan Fudge, took the title against Simone Jardim and Allison Harris in women’s pro doubles, while Ben and Eric Pailet won a silver in men’s pro doubles. It was the first-ever title for Yana and the first medal for Ben on the year. What a night for love and pickleball.
These Streets Will Make You Feel Brand New: The APP is just over here creating opportunities for people to try pickleball for the first time ever - and who isn’t getting addicted? There’s a reason why pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and the APP is spreading the joy.
The City That Never Sleeps: It was only right that the New York City tour stop saw some late nights on the pickleball courts. Megan Fudge won her singles gold medal well after the sun set, so that when she was leaving the facility, the famous US Open raccoons made an appearance. What an honor to have met Boris, Andy and Serena - but next time they want snacks.
Life In The Big APPle: Bobbi Oshiro and Will Howells took a big bite out of the Big APPle when they beat Mari Humberg and CJ Klinger to take the mixed pro doubles title on Friday evening. It was Oshiro’s second gold of the year and the third for Howells, who now has a gold in each of the three disciplines in 2024. Must have been one of those perfect Ruby Frost apples from the vendor village.
King of the Hill, Top of the Heap: Fans watching the men’s pro singles final on Friday night were treated to a New York deli feast that left only a third game to be desired. The match between Chris Haworth and Grayson Goldin, the last two men’s pro singles champs - Haworth in Delray Beach and Goldin in Cincinnati - was an edge-of-your-seat thriller, with the first game to 15 finishing with the score of 20-18. Haworth sealed the deal in game two though, 18-16, with this Around-the-Post return that was as smooth as a piece of New York cheesecake.
New York Shuffle: The APP debuted a new tournament format called the NYC Pro Shuffle - how apropos! With the goal of determining the best men’s and women’s doubles players in the field, the Shuffle was like a clothing subscription - you keep the ones you like and move on to the next box. Judging by the laughter and camaraderie on court, the format was a hit and the perfect way to end the weekend.
Dear New York, This Is A Love Letter: Megan Fudge gave new meaning to the term “mommy blogger” this week when she swooped in and craftily commandeered the APP player blog during her time in New York. With a whopping five days of blog content with insider insight to her new partnership with Franklin, her three titles on the week, including winning the first ever New York City Shuffle, plus being a pickleball wife and mom, her blog is the ultimate pickleball bible for those who are inspired to be their best at…well, everything.
I See You're Still Strong After All That's Gone On: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade…and that’s exactly what Jack Munro did. When a last-minute partner change was necessary, he teamed up with Mario Barrientos, and the two ended up winning the men’s pro doubles title. A day later Jack won the inaugural NYC Pro Shuffle for the men after a tiebreaker with Will Sobek was played out on Championship Court. The proof of a good weekend? Those guns, baby.
Everything Can Change In A New York Minute: Jack Munro went from not qualifying for mixed pro doubles and going 0-2 in men’s pro doubles in NYC in 2023 to winning gold in men’s pro doubles and the inaugural Shuffle title in NYC in 2024 - what a difference a year makes, and this guy believes it! Congrats to all the folks who won their first USA Pickleball Golden Tickets in New York; always work hard and never stop betting on yourself!
Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of: Count all your victories - especially the ones your younger self would have squealed over. We love this reaction from Jenna Hessert upon seeing her flag for the first time - outside Arthur Ashe Stadium no less!
Whew! There may not have been much sleep, but you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who says it wasn't worth it. That's all from the 2024 Zimmer Biomet APP New York City Open. Next stop: Newport Beach!
*Coming to a future APP Tour stop? Tag @OfficialAPPTour in your posts and you could be featured in a future Social Roundup!
