Naples Hosts U.S. Open Pickleball Championships 10th Anniversary With Top Pros, Free Admission

Ten years after it launched as a bold idea in Southwest Florida, the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships returns to the USOP National Pickleball Center in Naples for its milestone anniversary edition, running April 11 through 18, with free admission across all 59 courts and a production footprint that long ago outgrew any simple definition of "tournament."

The matchup many fans will circle first: Anna Leigh Waters competing alongside her mother, coach, and manager Leigh Waters in women's pro doubles. The duo is the only mother-daughter team in professional pickleball and has previously won gold together in the category. Leigh Waters captured the pull of returning to Naples. "Playing in Naples every year truly brings everything full circle," she said. "There's a sense of history around this tournament, and that creates an environment where you want to play your best."

Anna Leigh Waters arrives carrying two high-profile brand announcements. She will debut a signature paddle series with Franklin Sports and steps onto the court in a new apparel and footwear relationship with Nike, making the Open a live product launch stage as much as a competition venue.

Admission is free for pro and amateur matches across all 59 courts. Attendees can also explore the U.S. Open Expo tents featuring product debuts, fan experiences, daily live music, multiple jumbotrons, and special anniversary celebrations. The Zing Zang Championship Court is the one ticketed exception, requiring entry through a lottery.

The 2025 edition drew more than 55,000 fans and 3,450 players from all 50 states and 40 countries, a scale that explains why equipment brands treat the Open as their most visible retail moment. Paddle debuts and athlete endorsements unveiled here tend to shape buying patterns through the spring and summer market, and the 10th anniversary gives manufacturers a particularly clean platform to work with.

What began as an ambitious vision in Naples has evolved into the most celebrated event in pickleball, known as The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World. The free-admission structure across 59 courts means anyone who shows up April 11 through 18 gets front-row access to top-tier competitive play; the Zing Zang Championship Court will deliver the highest-decibel atmosphere for those who secure a lottery spot. Either way, the 10th anniversary is shaping up to be the most commercially loaded and fan-accessible edition yet.