ROSEVILLE, Calif. — A pickleball tournament is serving up competition in Roseville through Sunday.
More than 1,500 players are expected to participate in the APP Sacramento Open at Johnson Ranch Sports Club. The tournament lasts from Wednesday, March 6 until Sunday, March 10. Pickleball is a combination or tennis, badminton and table tennis, and it became popular especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s hard to believe how much pickleball and the tournament has grown in such a short period,” said Kim Summers, CEO of Placer Valley Tourism and @the Grounds. “Placer Valley will be the center of the pickleball world.”
Ability ranges from amateurs to professionals and they will compete in singles, doubles and mixed-doubles matches. There are more than 40 pickleball courts where hundreds of matches will be played daily. There's also a center court for championship rounds.
The professional pickleball players could win $100,000 in prize money. Winners are also guaranteed an automatic spot in the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships, according to Placer Valley Tourism.
“Pickleball is easy to learn, but it’s very hard to master,” said Samantha Martinez, the pickleball director for Spare Time Sports Clubs, owner of the Johnson Ranch Sports Club. “It’s like a chess match, a game of strategy.”
According to Placer Valley Tourism, about 1,500 fans are expected to attend the tournament, bringing in a $2.5 million impact to the area through hotels and restaurants.
People can find tickets, which cost $15, HERE.
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