May 21, 2025
World-Class Event Lights Up Paradise Coast
The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World descended on East Naples Community Park in late April for the 2025 Minto US Open Championships.
By Drew Wathey

As if the sport of pickleball needed any more residual hype, who comes along now but a tennis legend to grace the courts of the Pro Mixed Doubles division at the US Open in Naples, Florida. The name should be familiar to you: Andre Agassi. The eight-time Grand Slam singles champion was paired with another recognizable name, Anna Leigh Waters, who just happens to be the queen of the courts in the world of pickleball.
Agassi, winner of the career Golden Slam in tennis—and recently coming off a win at Pickleball Slam 3 in his hometown of Las Vegas—had high praise for ALW. “She’s right up there with the greatest ever in what she does, and the idea of challenging myself to not screw things up for her is daunting.”
At 18 years old, ALW is the top-ranked women’s player in the world and has accumulated an astonishing 173 PPA titles, including 148 gold medals while playing in all three divisions. She came into the US Open at East Naples Community Park on the Paradise Coast as the defending women’s doubles and mixed doubles champion, having captured the latter title with JW Johnson. But for now, JW is out and Andre is in.
Agassi, who celebrated his 55th birthday at the tournament, had displayed supreme confidence on the tennis court throughout his career but was a bit apprehensive sharing the court with Anna Leigh at such a prestigious event, taking a lighthearted jab at himself: “She’s probably sick of winning so much, and that’s why she called me and asked me to play.”
ALW did initiate the conversation with Agassi, and despite an early onset of nerves, was glad she did. Before the tournament, she said, “While everyone is saying how excited they are to see Andre Agassi and me play together at the US Open Pickleball Championships, they don’t realize how excited I am to play with AA!”
The Minto US Open Pickleball Championships, Powered by Margaritaville, is “the Biggest Pickleball Party in the World” and the tournament has made that claim for almost nine years now. To add to that notable accomplishment, tournament organizers announced prior to Championship Saturday that the lease in Naples has been extended to 2032.
Enthusiasts of the sport made their way to the west coast of Florida from all 50 states and 40 countries. Some made the trek from as far away as Armenia and Zimbabwe. There were 3,450 competitors of all ages and skill levels who competed on the 60 courts, and 400 of them were professionals playing for a purse of a little over $163,000. A record crowd of 55,000+ fans were on hand to see the sport’s finest throughout the week, with an expected economic impact for Greater Collier County to be about $14 million.
As the highly anticipated mixed doubles match got underway on the Zing Zang Championship Court, it was clear from the outset that both Waters and Agassi were a bit nervous. Across the net were two players younger than Anna Leigh—16-year-old Tristan Dussault and 13-year-old Stevie Petropouleas. After winning the opening game 11-8, Waters/Agassi found themselves at 9-all in the second game when an Agassi backhand sailed wide, followed by an unforced error, and the match was evened up at one game apiece. The dynamic duo had made 15 unforced errors in the game.
In the third and decisive game, at 2-2, ALW got the crowd on their feet with a return around the pole and down the line for a winner. They would go on to capture the match 11-7 after Agassi hit a winner down the center of the court.
“It was definitely a different experience. I think we were both a little nervous in the beginning, but I’m glad we were able to pull it out in the third,” said Waters. Agassi, never shy to add a comedic element, said, “I was as nervous as a gypsy with a mortgage!”
Next up for the marquee matchup was the tandem of Trang Huynh-McClain and Len Yang, both highly talented players. After a quick 5-0 start, Agassi and Waters won the first game 11-7, but couldn’t maintain that pace, losing the following two games.
“It’s disappointing, but at the same time, I felt that we proved what we wanted to prove. I’m sure Andre is very proud of himself, but we’re both still disappointed and we’re both such competitors. I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish,” said ALW.
Waters’ mom, Leigh, was courtside offering coaching tips throughout the match, and despite the loss, felt it was a big win for the sport of pickleball. “Of course, everybody wanted to see them win, but one of the major goals was, let’s put them out there and really grow the sport and let’s reach eyeballs that haven’t been reached yet.”
What was also reached was Andre’s increased passion for the sport. “Next time you see me, I’m going to have this shot, and that shot!”
The shots kept coming for Megan Fudge, who was attempting to win the Triple Crown at this year’s event. The last woman to do it was Parris Todd in 2023. Fudge was paired with Jack Munro, reaching the mixed doubles final where they met Riley Bohnert and Richard Livornese Jr. After jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first game, Fudge/Munro cruised to an easy 11-7, 11-4 win to capture the gold medal.
Livornese and Munro were back out on the court to face each other with their respective partners in men’s doubles action. Munro, who celebrated his 21st birthday during tournament week, was playing with Len Yang while Livornese shared the court with Ryler DeHeart, husband of Megan Fudge.
Yang and Munro had battled valiantly in their semifinals match against Armaan Bhatia and Harsh Mehta. After splitting the first two games, Munro/Yang made their way into the finals, winning the third game 12-10.
They took game one 14-12 after a backhand attack winner by Yang. Then at 5-all in the second game, the duo reeled off six straight points to take home gold.
“This is amazing. This is my day-one tournament back in 2016 and it just keeps getting better and better. It’s just phenomenal the way the tournament was put together,” said the ambidextrous Munro.
Yang started playing pickleball just two short years ago and gives much credit for his success in the sport to Munro. “I have to thank Jack a lot. I just moved to Austin in February and Jack took a chance on me in this tournament. I owe him a lot.”
Women’s singles featured reigning USAP National Champion Bobbi Oshiro and Fudge, who lost to Oshiro in the semifinals in Arizona. This time it was a different story, as Oshiro committed an uncharacteristically high number of unforced errors—28 in all for the two-game match—losing to Fudge 11-4, 11-7.
“Megan is a great competitor. It’s always going to be a good match playing her, and kudos to her and her game,” said Oshiro. “She was just a better player today.”
The 37-year-old Fudge, originally from Germany, played consistently throughout the finals and gave thanks in her post-match comments to those who support her. “I feel like I’m playing chess out there. Thanks to my team who allows me to stay calm on the court and to execute our game plan.”
A silver medalist in last year’s US Open, Chris Haworth was in complete control of his finals match against Grayson Goldin. Haworth took the first game 11-3—hitting five winners—while Goldin, unable to get it going offensively, suffered through eight unforced errors. Haworth closed out the match, taking game two 11-6.
“We’ve probably played six or seven finals throughout the year in doubles. We definitely know each other’s games, so it can go either way,” said Haworth. “I started playing pickleball a couple of years ago and I never imagined it would lead me here.”
After Agassi became a spectator at the US Open, perhaps the most highly anticipated match remaining in the tournament was in women’s doubles where the defending champions, the Waters, made their way back into comfortable surroundings—the finals on championship court, where they faced who else but Megan Fudge and her partner, Jillian Braverman.
The first game could not have been scripted any better for Anna Leigh and her mom, Leigh. Racing out to an early lead, they ended up winning 11-0 in a little over eight minutes.
Tennis uses the term “bageled” when one team or player loses without winning a game or point. In pickleball, the vernacular stays consistent with everything else the sport promotes, using the term “pickled.” And it certainly left a sour taste in the mouths of Fudge and Braverman.
Game two was a bit more competitive, but when the Waters are on their game, they are almost impossible to beat. They won the gold, polishing it off 11-4, and have now won back-to-back women’s doubles titles at the US Open.
After missing all of 2023 with a torn ACL, Leigh is starting to play more, increasing her playing schedule in 2025. And if her play at the US Open is any indication, she is back and maybe better than ever. She relishes (sorry for the pun) playing with her daughter and being on the pickleball circuit in general.
“Each year, the competition gets tougher and tougher, so the fact that I can be on the court with these amazing ladies is truly a joy and a blessing for me.”
When asked about a possible three-peat in 2026, she replied, “I don’t know about next year, but I hope so.”
Anna Leigh was a bit more ebullient in talking about spending time with Mom on the pickleball court. “I was super-excited to play with my mom and to reach the finals, and every time I get to play with her. You never know when it’s going to be our last time, so I enjoy every time.”
One of the featured pairings in senior men’s pro doubles was Matt Schiller and his partner, the often-excitable Dave Weinbach. They took home bronze this year, adding to Weinbach’s impressive stash.
“Dave has probably the most US Open titles that I’m aware of. Playing with him is so fantastic. He gets all the fans involved and he’s great for the sport,” said Schiller.
Weinbach, never at a loss for words, chimed in: “Playing on the Zing Zang Championship Court is so much fun. I love the energy and the electricity.”
One of the rising stars in senior men’s play is former professional tennis player Jaime Oncins, who represented his home country of Brazil at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Oncins’ best finish in a Grand Slam event was when he made it to the quarterfinals at the French Open in ’92. He did better than that at the US Open in Naples, capturing the gold medal in senior men’s doubles with his partner, Marcello Paiva Jardim, and more gold when he won in mixed senior pro doubles with Lee Whitwell.
In women’s senior pro doubles, Sheri Courter and Molly Carter defeated the team of Kara Williams and Hall of Fame member Jennifer Dawson. Dawson was the world’s first-ever Triple Crown champion when she captured gold medals in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the 2017 Minto US Open.
The tournament also featured a new Junior Championship, showcasing the future talent in pickleball. Indigo Dagnall became the first junior to achieve the Triple Crown, winning gold in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Congratulations also to JF Sylvestre who claimed the Triple Crown in the wheelchair division. •
Drew Wathey is a published author and screenwriter (“A Season With Hope”) and former director of communications for the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open. Wathey is the owner of SportsLink, a home-based sports public relations and marketing company. He is also a national sports anchor for iHeart Radio. His family lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Megan Fudge hits a forehand drive shot in the finals of the pro women's singles division at the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships. Photo by Michael Gauthier

Chris Haworth runs across the court and stretches to hit a forehand winner shot in the pro men's singles division at the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships. Photo by Bruce Yeung; IG: @yeungphotography

Indigo Dagnall poses for a photo with his three gold medals in a special celebration on the Zing Zang Championship Court as he is the first junior to achieve the triple crown at the US Open Pickleball Championships. Photo by Bruce Yeung; IG: @yeungphotography

Megan Fudge hits a forehand drive shot in the finals of the pro women's singles division at the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships. Photo by Michael Gauthier