Pickleball tourney ‘record-breaking success’
The first professional pickleball tournament at Cape Coral’s brand-new facility was a smashing success according to local officials and tournament directors.
“The Courts, Cape Coral” played host to the first-ever Pro Pickleball Association Veolia Cape Coral Open last week, which saw pickleball fans of all ages witness the best professional players in the sport over five days.
According to city officials, Cape Coral’s inaugural PPA tournament was a record-breaking success, setting a new benchmark for first-time PPA venues with more than 4,400 spectators, which was 30% more than any previous debut event. The tournament also generated approximately $70,000 in concession revenue, which officials said is an impressive feat for the facility’s relatively small concession stand.
“The overwhelming attendance and positive reception confirm that Cape Coral is quickly becoming a top destination for professional pickleball,” said Parks & Recreation Director Joe Petrella in a prepared statement. “We are thrilled with the success of this tournament and look forward to hosting more high-caliber events in the future.”
Around 4,200 tickets were sold for the tournament, with Saturday seeing roughly 2,000 individuals at the venue between spectators, players, and volunteers. The Courts, Cape Coral features 32 pickleball courts, 12 tennis courts, and opened on Aug. 28 last year.
The Veolia Cape Coral Open featured some of the biggest names in pickleball, including World No. 1 players Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns, and Argentine Federico Staksrud. More than 500 players, from pros to amateurs, took to the court throughout the tournament.
The 18-year-old Waters did not disappoint with her play, as she won her 33rd Triple Crown. Waters won gold in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She first won gold in mixed doubles alongside Johns, who had been eliminated from singles competition earlier in the week. Waters followed that victory by winning doubles with Apple Music athlete Catherine Parenteau. Finally, in singles, Waters battled Lea Jansen, winning in a sweep.
Eighteen-year-old Anna Leigh Waters won her 33rd Triple Crown, winning gold in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Veoloa Cape Coral Open. Waters first won gold in mixed doubles alongside playing partner Ben Johns. She then followed that victory by winning doubles with Catherine Parenteau. Finally, in singles, Waters battled Lea Jansen, winning in a sweep. CARVANA PPA TOUR
In men’s singles, it was the No. 2 player in 2024, Christian Alshon, who earned his first career singles title, overcoming Jaume Martinez Vich. Alshon’s visceral elation was apparent and deserved after dropping the first game to Vich 8-11. ,
“I’ve been playing for a long time, and singles was the best event for me at first,” Alshon said in a prepared statement. “The title eluded me for so long that it felt like I couldn’t win, but Florida is my home state, so it’s awesome to win it here.”
A new star may have been born in Cape Coral, as 16-year-old John Lucian Goins, from Bradenton, defeated the “GOAT” of pro pickleball, Johns, in a massive upset. Coming from Wednesday’s qualifying rounds, Goins turned his jaw-dropping victory into a bronze, defeating Max Freeman to win his first-ever medal on the PPA Tour.
Prior to the tournament, Connor Pardoe, founder & CEO of the PPA Tour, stated, “A debut tournament is always a cause for excitement and in particular when it’s being held at such an incredible facility as (The Courts, Cape Coral). The Cape Coral community has always demonstrated an intense passion for the game of pickleball and we couldn’t be happier to bring the best players in the world to their doorstep. For the many amateur players in the area, this is a golden opportunity to compete with your peers and rub shoulders with the best of the best.”
At Wednesday’s Cape Coral City Council workshop, Councilmember Bill Steinke said, “The thought was, as we designed the free structure there, that if we could get events like this — and there were doubts that we could — that it would be able to be sustained without the amount of fee that was originally recommended. The decision-making body reduced the membership fees having faith that tournaments like this could be held to raise the funds necessary to run the facility.”
Former facility General Manager Tom Stegemen and the PPA worked in conjunction to make this event a reality. The team at Sport Facilities Companies, as well as General Manager Lisa Zuk, have worked tirelessly to bring tournaments of this caliber to the Cape.
For more information on The Courts, Cape Coral, visit sportsfacilities.com.
The Courts, Cape Coral, is at 420 SW 2nd Ave.
For more information on the PPA tour, visit ppatour.com.