Nearly 3,000 of the best professional and amateur pickleball players in the world gathered at East Naples Community Park in Naples, Fla. from April 23-30, at the 2022 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships powered by Margaritaville. And by the time the action concluded on Saturday, nearly 500 participants earned U.S. Open Championship medals while the other nearly 2,500 players simply had the time of their lives at the “Biggest Pickleball Party in the World™.

Two of these playerscompeting for the title of Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Champion was Victor Betancourt from Greensboro and Sara Betancourt alsofrom Greensboro. They competed in the Mixed Doubles Division, age 65. They earned a gold medal in their respective Division by competing and beating a group of 22 Teams.You can see the complete tournament results at https://www.pickleballtournaments.com/tournamentinfo.pl?tid=5363 

Victor and Sara Betancourt, a husband and wife team, have been playing pickleball for the last six years, after a 35-year-long career in competitive tennis. Sara is a former college tennis player. Victor is currently a sponsored player with Gearbox Sports. They have traveled the world competing, teaching and promoting the sport of pickleball.

The most prestigious event in pickleball was staged from April 23-30 in “The Pickleball Capital of the World,” with a record 2,880 players, a record $100,000 prize purse, and a world-class field of players.  Known as the “Biggest Pickleball Party in the World™” for the electric atmosphere that pulsates through the largest permanent pickleball facility in the world with 64 courts, a record 25,000 spectators attended the weeklong competition.  

The event was streamed live on the Pickleball Channel all week and the women’s pro doubles and mixed doubles finals were broadcast live on CBS Sports Network on April 30 from 7-9 p.m. Complete matches and event highlights are available at https://www.pickleballchannel.com/ 

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sports in the country, with more than 4.8 million players in the U.S., up from just 3.1 million in 2018.  It is easy to learn and fun to play, with a population of athletes coming from a variety of other sports, including tennis, racquetball, ping pong, badminton, and squash. Information on the Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships is available at www.USOPENPickleball.com.