Megan Fudge will be among the headline acts again at this summer’s Skechers English Open as the elite of the US pickleball flocks to Shropshire.
APP no.1-ranked Megan won the women’s singles and doubles and finished runner-up in the mixed doubles at last year’s English Open – and it will be a family affair for the German-born star when she returns to to the Telford International Centre on 8-13 August this year.
Megan will be accompanied by her husband, tennis-turned-pickleball pro Ryler DeHeart and their children JR and Lillian, who are both aspiring pickleball professionals. The family tours the US pickleball circuit in a giant RV and flies overseas to play in events together.
“It was wonderful to have Megan at last year’s English Open and we can’t wait to welcome her and the family back,” commented Pickleball England Chair Karen Mitchell. “They sum up the family-friendly vibe at our tournaments. It’s a great environment to compete, socialise and spectate together.”
Susannah Barr and Allison Harris, currently third and fourth respectively on the APP world rankings, and Major League Pickleball champion Rob Nunnery will join Megan in Telford. Eric Lange and doubles partner Max Manthou (aka ‘Purple Jesus’) are also set to entertain the crowds. William Sobek – who played at the Ramsgate Open way back in 2016 – returns to British shores.
No fewer than 13 players from the APP Next Gen (the US pickleball circuit for the most promising 16-23-year-olds) will be making the trip. This includes Jack Foster who won gold in singles at the recent US Open in Naples, Florida.
All of the top English pros who also travelled to Naples for the US Open will be competing on home soil in Telford – James Chaudry, Pei Chuan Kao, Thaddea Lock and Louis Laville. Freddie Powell is thought unlikely to return from the serious injury he sustained whilst in Florida.
At the time of writing, there have been 1,717 entries for the Skechers English Open, which this year has been extended to seven days to increase capacity. Registration closes on 6 July.
Among the many off-court activations and attractions will be a guest appearance by legendary US pickleball commentator Dominic Catalano, who will be holding a clinic for aspiring commentators as well as calling the live action along with Sam Basford.
