Some sports seem to come out of nowhere and before you know it are amongst the most popular around. About 25 years ago, for example, squash courts were suddenly taken over by the rise of racketball. Although that remains a sport that many people enjoy, it has nowhere near the ubiquitousness that it once did.
Whether the same will be said of pickleball in a few decades’ time remains to be seen, but for now we know that badminton courts are being flooded by people who want to play pickleball instead. For Guildford residents, there is a tournament coming up that they might want to get involved in.
Why Pickleball Is So Popular
The emergence of pickleball as a game that people want to get involved in is largely down to the fact that it is reasonably easy to play. It takes aspects of tennis and table tennis and plays out on a badminton court, all with specific rules, bats and balls for the sport itself. It was invented back in 1965 when Joel Pritchard came home from playing golf to find his family bored on account of the fact that they couldn’t find all of the equipment for a game that they wanted to play. As a result, they used the leftover equipment from the various things that they had lying around to invent a new game.
Nowadays, the game has travelled far and wide and become as popular as it has thanks to the accessibility of the sport. It promises a social way of playing, whilst people of all ages and fitness levels can get involved in it. It is also reasonably easy to learn, whilst the fact that it isn’t as physically demanding as something like badminton or tennis means that even beginners can enjoy it from the get-go. Of course, those that are likely to take part in Guildford’s pickleball tournament aren’t likely to care how relatively cheap the equipment is to buy, but that is another factor that contributes towards its popularity.
Details of the Tournament
If you don’t know much about pickleball, the tournament that is taking place in Guildford should be considered as a chance to find out more about it. If you’ve played a few times and feel like you’ve got a shot, then the bad news is that the tournament is invitation-only. It has also seen the main draw having closed several weeks ago, with the players having been finalised. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t consider getting along to watch it, however, given the fact that it will show you exactly the level you need to be at in order to be able to compete at the highest level.
The tournament is due to take place on the 26th of July 2025 at Surrey Sports Park. It will see the top players from the United Kingdom and Europe come together, as well as those from further afield, with the athletes involved looking to compete for a share of a £10,000 prize. There is sure to be an electric energy at the ONE British Pickleball GP, with an atmosphere that can only be created by people who have a passion for the sport. The competition is likely to be world-class, which will provide a thrilling spectacle for those who are lucky enough to get tickets to attend.
What You Can Expect
In terms of what to expect from the competition, you can guarantee that there will be the best pickleball players from far and wide coming together to go head-to-head for impressive prize money. The courts are being provided by RSI Sports Group and are of a professional grade, whilst the equipment being used is from Core USA. That means that the balls and nets are of premium quality, so you can expect the players to be able to produce some genuinely excellent pickleball play. The entire thing is being filmed by FW Live, offering a live stream of the action.
It is also worth noting that there will be a 21 & Under Championship taking place on the same day, which is aimed at junior pickleball players who aren’t quite good enough to make it into the main tournament. The players will be aged between ten and 21, being given the opportunity to compete in an event that has all the trappings of being a professional environment. The finals will take place on the centre courts in front of a live audience, so it is a great opportunity for young people who are into pickleball to get themselves front and centre and play in a big competition.
What Is the Surrey Sports Park?
If you fancy getting along to watch the pickleball tournament, then you will need to head to the Surrey Sports Park. Located on the outskirts of Guildford, it is a £36 million facility that has support from Sport England. The likes of the Harlequins rugby union team and Surrey Storm Netball use it, as do the Surrey Scorchers basketball team. The 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup was hosted by the venue, as was the Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in 2017, so you can be assured of a venue that knows how to host important events and can handle large audiences arriving to watch.
The arena itself has 1,000 seats, which means that there is a good chance that you will be able to enjoy watching the pickleball tournament if you buy your tickets in time. It is seen as a ‘beacon for high-performance sports’ in the UK, thanks to the fact that there are numerous indoor and outdoor courts as well as a 50-metre Olympic Standard swimming pool on-site. It is based on the Manor Park campus of the University of Surrey, so is very much worth a visit even if only to have a look at the facilities on offer for those who might want to use it in the future.