What Is the US Open Pickleball Championships?

Quick Answer: The US Open Pickleball Championships is the largest open entry pickleball tournament in the world, held each April at East Naples Community Park in Naples, Florida. It has run since 2016. The tournament is the largest pickleball event in the world. The 2024 edition drew more than 3,250 competitors and more than 50,000 spectators.

The US Open is an open entry event, meaning recreational players and touring professionals compete at the same tournament in the same week. That combination is what makes it unusual.

Where and when is it?

East Naples Community Park in Naples, Florida, every April. The park was purpose built out for pickleball and is one of the largest dedicated complexes anywhere, which is why the event can run this many players at once.

The tournament runs across roughly a week, with amateur age and skill divisions occupying the early days and professional draws concentrated at the end.

The title sponsor has changed over the years, so you will see it referred to as the Minto US Open and more recently under a different sponsor name. It is the same tournament.

How big is it really?

Big enough that the numbers are the story.

• 2023. 3,043 players competed.
• 2024. More than 3,250 competitors.
• 2026. More than 3,250 competitors at the 2024 event, drawn from across the United States and internationally.
• Spectators. More than 55,000 attended the 2024 event.
• Running since. 2016, making it one of the oldest large scale pickleball events.

For comparison, a large regional tournament might run 400 players. This is an order of magnitude bigger, and it feels like it.

Who can enter?

Anyone, within the division structure. That is the defining feature.

Amateur divisions are split by age bracket and skill rating, so a 3.0 player in the 50 to 54 bracket competes against players matched on both. You do not need a qualifying result to enter, though registration fills quickly and the popular divisions close early.

Professional divisions are a separate draw with its own entry requirements. The practical point for a recreational player is that you can enter, play your own division, and watch the pro matches on championship court in the same trip.

If you have never entered a tournament, our guide to signing up for a pickleball tournament covers the mechanics of registration and partner finding.

What should you expect if you play it?

Long days and a lot of waiting. Large tournaments run on a schedule that slips, and a division that starts at 8am can have you playing your third match at 4pm.

Bring more than you think. Shade, food, fluids, a second shirt and a chair. April in Naples is warm and the complex has limited shade once the stands fill.

Expect a level bump. Tournament 3.5 tends to play harder than open play 3.5, partly because everyone has practiced and partly because the format rewards consistency over flair. A tournament 3.5 division is its own standard, and it is worth knowing that before you enter.

Watching a pro semifinal from twenty feet away after playing your own match that morning is a genuinely strange and good experience.

Where do you stay?

Naples books out during the tournament, and rates rise accordingly. Booking months ahead is normal rather than cautious.

Our guide to hotels near pro pickleball tournaments covers the general approach, and our piece on Naples as a pickleball destination covers what else is there, since the area has courts well beyond the tournament complex.

Is it worth going?

As a player, if you enjoy tournaments and want the biggest version of one, yes. As a spectator, it is the easiest place in the country to watch high level pickleball in person without a ticket to a pro only event.

If you want a competitive tournament experience without the scale and the travel, a regional event will give you more matches and less waiting for a fraction of the cost.

Frequently asked questions

When is the US Open Pickleball Championships? April each year, in Naples, Florida.

Do you have to qualify? Not for amateur divisions. It is open entry within age and skill brackets, though registration fills fast.

How much does it cost to enter? Entry fees vary by year and by number of events. Budget for the event fee plus per event charges, travel and accommodation, which typically dwarf the entry.

Is it the same as the USA Pickleball National Championships? No, they are separate events. Nationals is run by USA Pickleball and held later in the year.

Can you watch for free? Grounds access and ticketing arrangements vary by year. Championship court seating is generally ticketed.

What divisions are offered? Age brackets and skill levels across singles, doubles and mixed doubles, plus professional draws.

How early should I book accommodation? Several months. Naples fills and prices climb sharply as the event approaches.

Where can I find other big tournaments? Our guide to finding pickleball tournaments covers the calendars and registration platforms.

The US Open is the one event that works equally well as a bucket list tournament and as a spectating trip. Events, organizers and the venues hosting them are listed in our pickleball tournaments and events directory.

Written by the Pickler Junction Team.