Ben Johns Captures 2nd Straight Triple Crown at US Open Pickleball Chps.
May 4, 2022
NAPLES, FLORIDA – MAY 3, 2022 – The largest and most prestigious pickleball tournament in the world — the 2022 Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships powered by Margaritaville awarded more than 1,000 medals to pickleball players of all ages and skill levels plus more than $100,000 in prize money to many of the best professionals in the sport from April 23-May 1 in Naples, Florida. And after a record 2,880 players competed in more than 5,000 matches, the world’s top ranked men’s professional, Ben Johns captured his second consecutive Minto US OPEN Triple Crown by winning gold medals in men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Johns, the 23-year-old Maryland native began the week by defending his men’s singles title, defeating second seeded JW Johnson (5-11,12-10,11-7) in the finals. He then partnered with his brother Collin Johns in men’s doubles to beat second seeded Matt Wright and Riley Newman (11-8, 11-9) in the finals. Due to a rain delay on Saturday, Johns and partner Simone Jardim had to wait until Sunday to defend their mixed doubles title, defeating seventh seeded Jessie Irvine and Tyler Loong (11-5, 11-2) in the finals. In all, Johns won 30 of 34 games in the three divisions.
In the women’s pro singles bracket, second seeded Catherin Parenteau defeated top seeded Lea Jansen (11-4, 11-5) in the finals while Ann Bright captured the bronze. In doubles, Parenteau and Jansen, seeded second, teamed up to earn the women’s pro doubles title by defeating fourth seeded Andrea Koop and Irina Tereschenko (11-1, 11-13, 11-5) in the finals with top seeded Callie Smith and Lucy Kovalova earning bronze. For a complete list of all pro and amateur medalists, visit PICKLEBALLTOURNAMENTS.COM.
“We congratulate all of the medalists for their outstanding play and thank the thousands of players who traveled from 49 states and 30 different countries to play this year,” said Minto US OPEN co-founder Terri Graham. “We also want to give a shout out to our supportive sponsors and tireless volunteer and staff who helped us ensure that the record-breaking crowds attending the most exciting pickleball tournament in the world had the time of their lives.”
Known as the “Biggest Pickleball Party in the World™” for the electric atmosphere that pulsates through East Naples Community Park—the largest permanent pickleball facility in the world with 64 courts including the world-famous Zing Zang Championship Court – the event attracted a record 35,000 spectators. The energy, spirit of community, pure joy and fun are unlike any other pickleball event. And to prove it, Racquet Sports Industry Magazine, named it the 2021 Pickleball Tournament of the Year in its January 2022 edition.
The event was once again an economic boom for Collier County, Fla, certainly surpassing the economic impact of $9.4 million in 2021. Collier County offers sports in paradise, beautiful beaches, world class restaurants and more. The US OPEN once again benefits two charities: Kiwanis which services children by fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance as well as St. Matthews House, “the main food concessionaire for the US OPEN” – a social enterprise of St. Matthews House, which works to fight homelessness, hunger, substance abuse and poverty in Southwest Florida.