A strong contingent of British players jetted out to Florida for last week’s Minto US Open Pickleball Championships – billed as the biggest pickleball party in the world.
The numbers definitely legitimise that claim: 4857 players registered, around 900 players played each day of the Championships and there were more volunteers (around 500) than most tournaments have players. The orange-shirted helpers were everywhere – managing parking, registration, goody bags, court monitors, trash pick-up, drinks delivery, help desk, lost and found, to name just a few of the roles.
All events were played in a Double Elimination format. i.e. You play in the main draw until you lose a match. You then go into the back draw and play until you lose your next match. In the back draw, bronze is the best you can achieve.
So how did the Brits fare in the searing heat of Naples? Pickleball England Chair Karen Mitchell was part of the army who flew across the Atlantic and she takes us through the highlights:
Women’s Doubles
Pei Chaun Kao and Thaddea Lock were seeded 25 and managed to get into quarter-finals with the other top seven seeds. They played none other than AL Waters (who famously turned pro at 11!) and Leigh Waters – who went on to win gold. The Brits acquitted themselves well, despite losing 11-6, 11-1. Quite the accomplishment!
Pei and Thaddea won their first game in the backdraw against Ryann Foster and Regina Goldberg (10th seeds) and went on to meet Megan Fudge and Alex Troung (fourth seeds). Sadly they lost that game but they came in seventh out of 29 and will have earned some prize money.
Men’s Doubles Qualifiers
James Chaudry and Louis Laville won their two games to qualify on Thursday, seeded 27. They lost to sixth seeds Jack Munro and Andre Mick 11-4, 11-2. They had a good run in the back draw, winning 15-5 against 22nd seeds Stephen Milo and Stephen Adelson. Their run included some awesome defensive lobbing – see below!
They won 15-9 against 17th seeds Brandon Anandan and Dustin Boyer and 15-6 eighth seeds Ross Whittacker & Brandon Lane to finish 17th out of 32.
Mixed Doubles
In the pro bracket, James and Thaddea and Louis and Pei had to win two matches to qualify for the Pro Mixed Doubles. Sadly neither team qualified.
Louis and Pei ranked 17th out of 40, winning one of their two matches. James and Thaddea ranked 27th out of 40.
Louise Stephens played with Cedric Chun (who was at last year’s English Open) in the 4.0 40-49 category. They got a bye to the quarter-finals where they lost 11-3, 11-8. In their first back draw match they won 15-5, then won the next game 15-5. Sadly they lost 15-9 in the back draw semi-final and lost just before the bronze play-off. These were great results given that Louise was playing down in age.
Singles
Pei finished seventh out of 32 (winning four in the back draw), while Thaddea finished 28 out of 32.
James and Louis had to pre-qualify for the singles (each winning three out of three matches) and were then put up against the top seeds in their first round. Louis finished 32nd out of 32, while James finished 8/32 (winning four in the backdraw).
Men’s Split Age
James and Martin Suarez 28/52 (won their first game, lost their second, won their third and lost their fourth match)
Louis and Martin Clark 19/52 (won first in main draw and two in backdraw before losing fourth match)
Women’s Split Age
Thaddea played with Jennifer Gallaas, finished 23/26 won no games.
Pei and Marilyn Kilgore finished 7/26, won two in main draw, lost their third game and lost the game in the backdraw.
Mixed Split Age
Louis 38/62 playing with Taylor Taylor – Won one game in the main draw, then lost their second match and lost the backdraw match.
Pei 13/62 playing with Angel Davila – Won two games in the main draw, then lost one and lost the next one in the backdraw.
James and Marilyn Kilgore 24/62 – won three games in the back draw.
Thaddea Lock and Jose Galan 26/62 – won one game in the main draw and one in the back draw.
Paul Dally, Simon Watson, Pam & David Stoten, Emma & Paul Dally, Paul Chard, Stuart Foster & Chris and Elaine, Karen Mitchell, Ray Puttick, Peter & Margaret Hunter.
The only medal winners were in 65+ Singles. Ray Puttick took silver in 3.5 and Chris Mitchell took silver in 4.0.
All results are available on Pickleball Brackets
