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2023 Beer City Open: A Preview

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The sixth annual Beer City Open returns to Grand Rapids, MI this weekend, with $100,000 in prize money up for grabs. Pro Singles action at Belknap Park gets underway Thursday at 10 AM ET and will be streamed live through the Professional Pickleball Association’s (PPA) YouTube channel. 

WATCH LIVE / OFFICIAL BEER CITY OPEN WEBSITE

Friday’s Pro schedule features Mixed Doubles, followed by Women’s and Men’s  Doubles on Saturday before wrapping up with Championship Sunday. Each day will kick off at 10 AM ET. Wednesday’s packed schedule includes Senior Pro Women’s and Men’s Doubles, Men’s Singles (19 & 35) and Men’s Doubles (50, 60 & 70+). Check out the full schedule by clicking HERE.

Andrea Koop and Altaf Merchant (Photo credit: Andrea Koop)

The tournament, co-founded by pickleball pro player and lawyer, Andrea Koop, and fellow pickleball player and retired wealth management advisor Paul Richards, has witnessed massive growth since the inaugural edition in 2018.

“We have grown from $12,000 in prize money and 400 players in 2018 to $100,000 and 1000-plus players,” explained Andrea Koop, who also serves as the Pro Tournament Director. “I’m always excited to bring the high level of the sport to my hometown community.”

Last year’s five-day event was highlighted on the men’s side by James Ignatowich capturing his first pro event Gold in the Men’s Singles Division, while the women’s side saw hometown star Simone Jardim continuing her unbeaten streak at Belknap Park to capture Gold in both Pro Mixed Doubles with J.W. Johnson and Pro Women’s Doubles with Koop. Last year’s pro divisions were represented by over 20 countries.

The Beer City Open operates as a non-profit, with all proceeds going to the Belknap Enhancement fund, the park the tournament is played at. Since 2018 and with the help of the Grand Rapids Pickleball Club, the fund has committed over $100,000 towards park improvements.

For information related to sponsorship, volunteering, refereeing or other inquiries, please contact Paul Richards at PRPickleball@gmail.com.

Pro Women’s Doubles

  1. Andrea Koop/Jessie Irvine
  2. Lauren Stratman/Jorja Johnson 
  3. Jade Kawamoto/Jakie Kawamoto
  4. Lacy Schneeman/Tyra Black
  5. Irina Tereschenko/Rianna Valdes
  6. Ewa Radzikowska/Judit Castillo 
  7. Milan Rane/Rachel Rohrbacher
  8. Lee Whitwell/Alison Harris

Pro Men’s Doubles

  1. JW Johnson/Dylan Frazier
  2. Federico Staksrud/Pablo Tellez
  3. Jay Devilliers/Zane Navratil
  4. DJ Young/Callan Dawson
  5. Andrei Daescu/Rob Nunnery
  6. Rafa Hewett/Connor Garnett
  7. James Ignatowich/Altaf Merchant
  8. Andre Mick/Jason McNulty

Pro Mixed Doubles

  1. JW Johnson/Jorja Johnson
  2. Zane Navratil/Jessie Irvine
  3. Dylan Frazier/Lauren Stratton
  4. Federico Staksrud/Irina Tereschenko
  5. Andrei Daescu/Andrea Koop
  6. Rafa Hewett/Jackie Kawamoto
  7. DJ Young/Jade Kawamoto
  8. James Ignatowich/Ava Ignatowich

Pro Women’s Singles

  1. Irina Tereschenko
  2. Juditt Castillo
  3. Tyra Black 
  4. Jorja Johnson
  5. Ava Ignatowich 
  6. Tatian Ruhl

Pro Men’s Singles

  1. Federico Staksrud
  2. Jay Devilliers
  3. Connor Garnett
  4. Dylan Frazier 
  5. Pablo Tellez
  6. Juame Martinez-Vick
  7. Frank Anthony Davis
  8. Zane Navratil 
  9. Jack Foster

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