Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships 2026: Day-by-Day

Last updated: June 17, 2026

Quick Answer: The Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships 2026 marked the tournament’s record-breaking 10th anniversary, drawing over 60,000 spectators and 3,800+ players from all 50 U.S. states and dozens of countries. Dusty Boyer won Men’s Singles gold, Katerina Stewart claimed Women’s Singles, and Anna Leigh Waters dominated two divisions. The total prize purse reached $187,500.

Key Takeaways

🏆 10th anniversary milestone — the biggest US Open in the event’s history by every measure
📍 Held at East Naples Community Park, Naples, Florida, with 59 courts and 6,000+ matches played
👥 3,800+ players competed; 60,000+ fans attended across the week
💰 Total prize pool: $187,500, with $121,300 paid to 64 prize winners
🥇 Dusty Boyer (Men’s Singles), Katerina Stewart (Women’s Singles), and Anna Leigh Waters (Women’s Doubles + Mixed Doubles) were the standout champions
♿ DUPR debuted a dedicated wheelchair pickleball rating system at this event
📺 Championship finals aired on CBS Sports Network, raising the sport’s mainstream profile
🌍 Players from dozens of countries competed, reflecting pickleball’s fast-growing global reach
🎯 The open format let amateurs compete alongside pros, making it uniquely community-driven

What Exactly Are the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships?

The Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships is the largest and most prestigious open pickleball tournament in the world. Held annually in Naples, Florida, it welcomes players of every skill level — from first-time competitors to world-ranked professionals — all competing on the same courts during the same week. [1]

The 2026 edition was especially significant. It marked the 10th anniversary of the event, and Franklin Sports stepped in as the Official Title Sponsor, cementing a partnership that signals serious investment in the sport’s future. [2]

What makes this tournament different from most professional events is its open-entry format. Recreational players, juniors, seniors, and adaptive athletes all have a place here. That community-first spirit is a big reason the event has grown so fast. If you’re curious about how pickleball has built such strong communities, this tournament is one of the best examples anywhere.

Where Is the 2026 Tournament Being Held?

The 2026 championship took place at East Naples Community Park in Naples, Florida. The venue features 59 dedicated pickleball courts and is widely considered the sport’s spiritual home in the United States. [1]

Weather conditions were nearly perfect throughout the week — temperatures ranged from the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit with minimal wind, giving players consistent outdoor conditions. [6] For a tournament with thousands of matches running simultaneously, that kind of weather matters enormously.

Who Are the Top Players That Competed in 2026?

The 2026 US Open featured some of the biggest names in professional pickleball, plus a wave of emerging stars making their mark on the biggest stage.

Champions by division:

Division	Champion(s)	Prize Per Player
Men’s Singles	Dusty Boyer	Not published
Women’s Singles	Katerina Stewart	$6,000
Women’s Doubles	Anna Leigh Waters & Leigh Waters	$8,000 each
Mixed Doubles	Anna Leigh Waters & Jay Devilliers	$8,000 each
Men’s Doubles	Jack Munro & Richard Livornese Jr.	$8,000 each

[5]

Dusty Boyer delivered what many are calling the most dominant men’s performance in US Open history. His path to gold was clean, controlled, and remarkably consistent across every round. [4]

Anna Leigh Waters was the tournament’s biggest story overall, winning two gold medals in the same week alongside her mother Leigh in doubles and with Jay Devilliers in mixed doubles. That kind of multi-division dominance is rare even at this level.

💬 “Watching Anna Leigh Waters compete across two divisions in the same week is a reminder of why pickleball’s top players are genuine multi-dimensional athletes.”

For a deeper look at the profiles of notable pickleball players who are shaping the sport, the 2026 US Open class is a great place to start.

What Were the Biggest Upsets and Day-by-Day Highlights?

The Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships 2026 delivered several memorable moments across its multi-day schedule, with upsets in both pro and amateur brackets keeping fans on their feet.

Early rounds (Days 1–2): Higher-seeded players in several age-group divisions fell to unseeded competitors. The amateur brackets, which run parallel to the pro draws, produced some of the week’s most exciting rallies.

Midweek action (Days 3–4): The pro singles draws narrowed quickly. Boyer’s run through the men’s bracket stood out for its efficiency — he rarely dropped a third game. In the women’s draw, Katerina Stewart’s semifinal win was the match of the tournament, featuring extended dink exchanges and sharp third-shot drops.

Finals weekend (Days 5–6): Championship matches in all major pro divisions aired on CBS Sports Network, giving the sport its biggest mainstream TV moment of the year. The junior championships also concluded during this stretch, with several young players drawing attention from coaches and scouts.

The open format means upsets happen at every level, every day. That’s part of what makes attending (or watching) this event so engaging for the whole pickleball community.

Which Divisions Compete at the US Open, and How Can Amateur Players Qualify?

The US Open runs divisions across age groups, skill ratings, and adaptive categories. Any registered player can enter — there’s no qualifying round required for most divisions.

Main division categories include:

Men’s and Women’s Singles (Pro, Amateur, Age-group)
Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles
Senior divisions (50+, 60+, 70+, 80+)
Junior divisions
Wheelchair/adaptive divisions

Registration opens months in advance through the official US Open Pickleball website. Players are placed in skill-based brackets using their DUPR rating (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), which ensures competitive matches at every level. [3]

A notable 2026 addition: DUPR launched a dedicated wheelchair pickleball rating system that debuted at this event, improving competitive fairness for adaptive athletes. [3] This is a meaningful step for inclusion in the sport.

If you’re thinking about entering your first tournament, start by finding local pickleball courts and clubs to build your rating before registering for a big event like this one.

How Much Do Tickets Cost, and Is It Worth Attending as a Fan?

General admission to the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships is free for most of the week. Premium seating for stadium court matches and finals weekend typically carries a modest fee, though exact 2026 pricing was not published in available sources.

For casual fans, this event is genuinely one of the best live sports experiences in racket sports. You can walk between courts, watch pro matches, and see amateur players competing in the same venue — all in one day. [1]

Why it’s worth attending:

Free access to most courts and matches
Vendor areas with gear demos and racket sports equipment reviews
Junior and senior divisions running all week
Community atmosphere that welcomes spectators of all ages

The appeal of pickleball across generations is on full display here — you’ll see 8-year-olds and 80-year-olds competing within the same complex on the same day.

What Are the Prize Amounts for Winning Different Categories?

The 2026 tournament offered a total purse of $187,500, with $121,300 distributed to 64 prize winners across divisions. [5]

Key payouts:

Women’s Singles champion: $6,000
Doubles champions (all categories): $8,000 per player

Prize money is awarded to finalists and semifinalists in pro divisions, with amounts decreasing by round. Amateur divisions typically award trophies and merchandise rather than cash.

What Equipment Do Professional Pickleball Players Use?

Pro players at the US Open use approved paddles that meet USA Pickleball (USAP) equipment standards. Most top competitors use carbon fiber or fiberglass composite paddles in the 7.5–8.5 oz range, paired with Franklin X-40 outdoor balls — the official ball of the US Open.

Standard pro equipment checklist:

USAP-approved composite paddle
Franklin X-40 outdoor pickleball (official tournament ball)
Court shoes with lateral support
Moisture-wicking apparel

If you’re building your own kit, our guide to essential pickleball gear covers everything from paddles to footwear. For budget-conscious players, check out the best budget pickleball paddles that still perform well in competitive play.

How Does Pickleball Scoring Work in Tournament Matches?

Tournament pickleball uses rally scoring or side-out scoring depending on the format, though most pro singles matches use best-of-three games to 11 points (win by 2). Doubles matches follow the same format.

Key scoring rules:

Games are typically played to 11 points, win by 2
In some tournament formats, a third game is played to 15 points
Only the serving side scores in traditional side-out scoring
The server calls the score before each point (server score, receiver score, server number in doubles)

For a full breakdown, the scoring systems in pickleball guide is a clear, beginner-friendly resource.

What Are Common Mistakes Beginner Tournament Players Make?

First-time tournament players at events like the US Open often make the same handful of errors. Knowing them in advance saves a lot of frustration.

Most common mistakes:

Rushing the third shot — hitting it hard instead of dropping it softly into the kitchen
Poor court positioning — staying back at the baseline instead of moving to the non-volley zone
Ignoring the score — forgetting to call the score before serving (automatic fault in tournament play)
Wrong footwear — using running shoes instead of court shoes, which affects lateral movement
Underestimating warm-up time — tournament courts are often different surfaces than your home court

Working on agility training and court positioning strategies before your first event will put you ahead of most recreational players making the jump to competition.

FAQ

Q: When does the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships 2026 take place? The 2026 event ran in late April through early May in Naples, Florida, consistent with the tournament’s annual spring schedule.

Q: How many players competed in 2026? More than 3,800 players from all 50 U.S. states and dozens of countries competed across all divisions. [1]

Q: Who won Men’s Singles at the 2026 US Open? Dusty Boyer won the Men’s Singles gold medal with a dominant performance throughout the bracket. [4]

Q: What is the total prize money for the 2026 US Open? The total purse was $187,500, with $121,300 paid out to 64 prize winners. [5]

Q: Do I need a DUPR rating to enter? Most competitive divisions use DUPR ratings for bracket placement. You can create a free DUPR profile and log match results to build your rating before registering.

Q: Can beginners enter the US Open? Yes. The open format welcomes players of all skill levels. Beginners are placed in appropriate skill brackets and compete against players at a similar level.

Q: Was the 2026 US Open on TV? Yes. Championship finals aired on CBS Sports Network, giving the event its largest mainstream broadcast audience to date.

Q: What is the official ball used at the US Open? The Franklin X-40 outdoor pickleball is the official ball of the US Open Pickleball Championships.

Q: What was new at the 2026 US Open? Two major additions: Franklin Sports became the official title sponsor [2], and DUPR launched a dedicated wheelchair pickleball rating system that debuted at the event. [3]

Q: How do I watch past matches from the 2026 US Open? Highlight footage and full match replays are available on the US Open Pickleball YouTube channel and through CBS Sports digital platforms. [8]

Conclusion

The Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships 2026 was more than a tournament — it was a statement about where pickleball is headed. Record attendance, a landmark title sponsorship, adaptive athlete inclusion, and national TV coverage all happened in the same week. [1][2]

Whether you watched from home, attended in person, or are just getting into the sport now, there’s a clear takeaway: pickleball’s biggest stage is growing fast, and there’s room for everyone on it.

Your next steps:

🎯 Start building your DUPR rating by playing local matches
🏓 Check out beginner-friendly pickleball drills to sharpen your game before your first tournament
🛒 Review your gear using our essential pickleball gear guide
📅 Mark your calendar for the 2027 US Open and register early — spots fill fast

The racket sports community keeps growing, and events like this one are exactly why. Get on the court, find your people, and keep improving.