The LifeTime Open: A Harsh Reality Check

The LifeTime Open aimed to shake up pro pickleball with its $250,000 prize pool for a singles-only tournament. With a promise to offer the largest prize money to date and exclusives like ESPN2 finals, expectations were high. LifeTime, emerging as the official ball of the PPA Tour, had enabled PPA and non-PPA players to compete head-to-head. Yet, the tournament started with a bang but fizzled out with a low turnout of players and a condensed schedule.

The No-Shows

With originally planned accommodations for 512 players, only 141 registrations came through. Many top PPA and APP players bowed out, with names like Hunter Johnson, Christian Alshon, and Ben Johns absent. Even #1 ranked APP players like Ammar Wazir and Sofia Sewing skipped the event. 

A Disappointing Event

Despite hefty prize money, players like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh might earn more appearing at PPA events. The players' heavy schedules and loads of games in a weekend make choices understandable, though the absence of APP players remains puzzling.

Uneventful Matches

The tournament lacked the excitement it promised, with Friday's main draw being uneventful. Matches were without commentary, creating a dull atmosphere. Notable moments included Dustin Boyer's victory over Noe Kliff and Donald Young's dominance over Connor Garnett. However, having more baseline play with the new ball seems fitting for players like Chris Haworth.

Sunday Showdowns and Lessons Learned

The final day saw Federico Staksrud and Chris Haworth clashing, with Haworth taking the crown, overcoming recent challenges posed by the LifeTime ball. On the women's front, Lea Jansen bested Parris Todd and claimed the $50k grand prize.

Reflections on the Tournament

Make sure to check out the full YouTube video as I dive into my main takeaways from the weekend:

1. UPA (PPA/MLP) rules pickleball
2. You can’t sell tickets without Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters
3. Singles is becoming watered down tennis
4. 3 out of 5 is just boring

Overall, while the intentions were promising with daily matches and extensive sets, execution fell short. There's hope for another try next year with more commitment from top players globally.