The PPA Masters kicked off at La Quinta Resort & Spa in La Quinta, CA, on Thursday, where more than 1,000 pickleball players are facing off through the weekend, culminating with the crowning of the PPA’s seasonal champion. Folks who sit courtside or tune in online or on ESPN3, will see some of the biggest names in the sport today, including Ben Johns, Jessie Irvine, Tyson McGuffin, and Callie Smith.
Singles took center stage yesterday, with mixed doubles on deck for today, men’s and women’s doubles tomorrow, and the championship matches for all categories on Sunday, airing on Fox Sports 1. It’s the first tournament of its kind in La Quinta, but the PPA is doing it right. “It’s like a big pickleball festival,” PPA Commissioner Connor Pardoe told the Desert Sun. “We have a live DJ and MC; there’s music going on; we have tons of different vendors; food options; games.” The level of play is serious, but as with all things pickleball, the fun is too!
