Grab your paddles and hop on the 7 train, pickleball is back in Queens.
The fourth annual Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Tournament will return to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park from May 20–25, transforming the iconic tennis grounds into a pickleball destination.
The 2025 APP New York City Open will welcome athletes from across the country, including top professional pickleball players and local competitors of all ages and skill levels. Participants will battle it out on the same courts that host the U.S. Open, vying for titles and a share of the event’s $150,000 prize pool.
This year, the event will be broadcast nationwide on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The annual event is a USA Pickleball Golden Ticket event and will be the sixth of 12 APP tour events this year. The event will include the AARP Champions Division, as well as the Humana Cup.
The game of pickleball has grown dramatically in the past several years, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, when people sought a way to work out and enjoy the company of others while staying safely distanced. Since then, the sport has transformed from a popular game amongst seniors to a competitive game for all ages, and was even named the fastest growing sport from 2021-2024 in the United States by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. While initially viewed as a hobby, in 2019, pickleball became a professional sport when the APP was established. The organization’s inception marked the start of competitive pickleball with prize money and professional events.
The group turned heads even more in 2022, when they held their annual tournament at the Billie Jean Tennis Center. This event marked the first time that the home of the U.S. Open since 1978 had hosted a pickleball tournament, and its tennis courts were temporarily transformed into pickleball courts for the major event.
Last year, the APP hosted more than 1,400 pickleball players, and they expect to see even more this year. The week-long event will feature games from amateur and professional pickleball players of all ages and skill levels. It will also feature pickleball demonstrations and tips for players to improve their game, as well as the organization’s plans to continue to expand throughout the country.
To see the full schedule of events or for professional and amateur players to register to play, visit their website.
