after he was introduced to pickleball about a year and a half ago .
“ We were already looking at entertainment and experience-based concepts . I knew pickleball could be a sport that could be plugged into a concept like this ,” he says . “ I didn ’ t realize the demand for pickleball until I was in Palm Springs and we heard about it everywhere we went . We decided to make it the centerpiece , and added other activities around it .”
Smash Park will open the first week of August for a month-long soft opening for invitation only and corporate events . The official grand opening is planned for early September .
Go to smashpark . com for more information .
THE
ULTIMATE KIDS PICKLEBALL
2018 Citi Open Adds Pickleball for Relish
By Jane Hoge
For the 50th summer and counting , Washington , D . C ., will host the Citi Open tennis tournament . Been there , done that ? Ho hum ? Not so fast . This year ’ s event will feature some new kids on the block .
The likes of tennis greats Caroline Wozniacki ( 2018 Australian Open champion ) and Andy Murray ( three-time Grand Slam champion ) will share the spotlight with the nation ’ s best pickleball players . Eight pickleball pros have signed on for the USAPA ’ s Pickleball Pro Exhibition and Clinic — Sarah Ansboury , Chad Edwards , Joey Farias , Simone Jardim , Lucy Kovalova , Ty McGuffin , Irina Tereschenko and Matt Wright .
Among others , Ansboury , Jardim and Wright should feel right at home . They traded their tennis rackets for pickleball paddles and their overhand serves for underhand action . The pros are leading a pickleball fever that ’ s sweeping the country — and making this the fastest-growing racket sport in the U . S .
Not only is the USAPA set to sanction the event , but also Jack Thomas — the association ’ s president — will play the role of emcee . Thomas will add color commentary to the pickleball action , which includes exhibition matches by the pros followed by skills clinics for 64 registered attendees . Others are encouraged to take in the exhibitions , observe the clinics , and stay for the tennis semi-finals – all on one ticket .
The Citi Open runs July 28 through August 5 at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center . The Pickleball Pro Exhibition and Clinic is August 4 from 8 to 10:30 a . m . All ages and skill levels are welcome . Registration and ticket information is at www . citiopentennis . com . •
www . usapajuniors . org
MAY / JUNE 2018 | MAGAZINE 63