A new year is here, and a new season of APP pickleball is on the horizon. Excitement is in the air as the APP Tour returns to Southwest Florida to begin its 2024 season, with the APP Punta Gorda Open, held January 17-21 at PicklePlex.
Amateurs of all ages – debuting a revamped amateur format, pickleball’s elite pros, and the AARP Champions (50+) and AARP Masters (60+) Divisions will participate in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competition throughout the week in Punta Gorda, all vying to bring home some hardware.
The stage is set for world-class pickleball competition, as defending champions Riley Bohnert, Andrei Daescu, Jenna Hessert, Simone Jardim, Hunter Johnson, Rob Nunnery and Parris Todd return to action. APP Tour mainstays Susannah Barr, Shelby Bates, Judit Castillo, Ryler DeHeart, Megan Fudge, Vivian Glozman, Bobbi Oshiro, Will Sobek, Alix Truong, and members of the APP Next Gen National Team all return to action in Punta Gorda.
Andrei & Co.
Andrei Daescu led all APP pros with 29 total medals and 20 gold medals in 2023. The Romania native returns to men’s doubles alongside Rob Nunnery, a duo that brought home eight titles together last season. Daescu will play mixed pro doubles with Megan Fudge, who led all APP women’s pros with 28 total medals in 2023. Fudge brought home six gold medals last season, including four in women’s pro doubles.
A Welcome Return
Fort Myers native Parris Todd returns to Punta Gorda, where she earned the first of her two Triple Crowns with three gold medals at last year’s tournament – becoming the second woman and fifth player in APP history to accomplish that feat. Todd led all APP women’s pros with 16 gold medals in 2023, and finished with 22 total medals.
#Twinning
Hunter Johnson’s 26 total medals and 13 golds in 2023 were both the second-most among APP men’s pros, while Yates Johnson’s 13 total medals were the fourth-most among APP men’s pros last season. The Johnson twins were a force to be reckoned with in men’s pro singles, winning the gold medal in 11 out of 15 events last season.
Raising the Barr
Susannah Barr earned 24 total medals–including 11 golds—in 2023, both the second-most among APP women’s pros. Team “Fudge-Barr” returns to action in women’s doubles in Punta Gorda, and Barr will team up with Rob Nunnery in mixed doubles.
The Champs are Back
Salome Devidze earned six gold medals in 2023 – all in women’s singles – and returns to action in Punta Gorda. Defending women’s singles gold medalist Jenna Hessert and women’s doubles gold medalist Riley Bohnert return to action in Punta Gorda. 2023 APP Tour gold medalists Judit Castillo, John Cincola, Vivian Glozman, CJ Klinger, Brendon Long, Andre Mick, Bobbi Oshiro, William Sobek, and Alix Truong all return to action in Punta Gorda looking to get back on top of the podium.
The 2024 APP Punta Gorda Open will be streamed live on APPTV, available on YouTube, on Friday Jan. 19, Saturday Jan. 20, and Sunday Jan. 21, and four hours of extended highlight coverage will air Sunday Jan. 28 on CBS Sports Network from 6-10 pm ET. Fans can stay posted on all the action by following the APP’s social media pages - @OfficialAPPTour on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Threads, and APP Tour on Facebook.
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Venue:
PicklePlex
26300 Airport Rd.
Punta Gorda, Florida
Broadcast Info:
Fans can tune in to the action all weekend long via APPTV, Court Sports Network, and Caffeine TV. Then, catch the recap special on January 28 on CBS Sports Network.
Friday, January 19 | 12-6 pm ET | APPTV (YouTube), Court Sports Network, Caffeine TV
Saturday, January 20 | 12-6 pm ET | APPTV (YouTube), Court Sports Network, Caffeine TV
Sunday, January 21 | 11-4 pm ET | APPTV (YouTube), Court Sports Network, Caffeine TV
Monday, January 28 | 6-10 pm ET | CBS Sports Network, Court Sports Network, Caffeine TV
Ticket Info:
Tickets for the 2024 APP Punta Gorda Open are now available via SITickets.com for $15, and kids 12 and under are free. Tickets will also be sold at the venue, which opens at 8 am ET each day of the tournament.
Event Schedule
(All dates and times subject to change)
