The PPA Takes Melbourne By Storm in the First Ever Australia Pickleball Open

The PPA took a bold step onto the international stage this past weekend with the first-ever Australia Pickleball Open, marking the tour’s first pro event outside of U.S. soil. The 1000-level tournament saw 382 players compete in full pro draws, headlined by a mix of top traveling pros and Australia’s growing crop of elite players. With electric matchups across singles, doubles, and mixed divisions, the event was a thrilling showcase of pickleball’s global expansion. Gabriel Tardio, Kaitlyn Christian, Tyson McGuffin, and Lacy Schneemann were among the standout performers, with Tardio securing his first career PPA singles gold.

On the men’s singles side, Tardio stunned veteran Tyson McGuffin in straight games, cementing his arrival as a force to watch. The women’s draw was a battlefield of upsets, but Kaitlyn Christian held firm, outlasting Aussie Somer Dalla-Bona for the title. In mixed doubles, McGuffin & Schneemann staged a five-game comeback over Irvine & Tardio in what was arguably the best match of the weekend. McGuffin then teamed with Tardio for another five-game war in men’s doubles, clinching the title over the young guns Duong & Klinger. Meanwhile, Schneemann & Glozman controlled the women’s final to take gold, proving their dominance.

With the PPA’s successful foray into Australia, it’s clear that professional pickleball’s international growth is accelerating. The pros now rush back to the U.S. for the Tucson Open, but after Melbourne’s high-energy competition, one thing is certain: the global pickleball landscape will never be the same.