The APP put on a show as it debuted its brand-new world headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, The Fort, with five thrilling Championship Sunday matches in front of a capacity crowd at the Humana APP Fort Lauderdale Open. The world’s first and world’s best pickleball tour welcomed pickleball players from all parts of the United States and worldwide over five days at its 2025 season opener in its brand-new HQ.
Three APP Tour pros took home two gold medals apiece, including Florida’s own Megan Fudge (Belleair, FL), Will Howells (Boca Raton, FL) along with Jill Braverman. Fudge and Braverman teamed up for women’s doubles gold, Howells and Jack Munro won men’s doubles gold and Howells and Braverman battled for the mixed doubles title. Fudge then added the women’s singles title to her weekend accolades, and Chris Haworth earned another men’s singles title to round out the champions in Fort Lauderdale.
In addition to showcasing pickleball’s elite professionals, the Humana APP Fort Lauderdale Open welcomed a large field of amateur players, the AARP Champions and AARP Masters Divisions, and the conclusion of the 2024 season-long Humana Cup team competition for pros 50 and older. Gold medalists from the event secured their rights to pre-register for the 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships.
Women’s Pro Doubles
The championship action began with the APP Tour’s top-seeded women’s pro doubles team, Jill Braverman and Megan Fudge, taking on Allison Harris and Yana Newell. Braverman and Fudge set the tone early, utilizing a 7-0 run to win game one, 11-7. Harris and Newell jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game two, but Braverman and Fudge responded strongly and won 11-8, securing their first APP Tour gold medals of 2025.
“It was extremely windy out here, so we would constantly talk through the wind,” Fudge explained. “We had great resilience to get through every point and stay together as a team.”
“The wind was shifting a lot, so we were keeping the conversation going” added Braverman. “We tried not to be too perfect. I’m a big believer in these situations, that you have to try to raise your floor and not your ceiling.”
Kelsey Grambeau and Daria Walczak earned women’s pro doubles bronze in Fort Lauderdale.
Men’s Pro Doubles
Men’s pro doubles pitted Boca Raton’s own Will Howells and 2024 APP Next Gen U.S. National Team member Jack Munro against the Pacific Northwest duo of Erik Lange and Max Manthou. Howells and Munro struck first, winning game one 11-8. Lange and Manthou, who won three of the last four APP Tour men’s doubles golds to close out 2024, responded aggressively to take game two, 11-6. The pivotal game three was all Howells and Munro, who cruised 11-3 to clinch the gold.
Howells had high praise for his teammate following the match, commenting: “Jack’s a good player. Every time I step on the court I can trust all his shots, he moves super well and we flow well together. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves as a team and it’s been great playing with him.”
Ryler DeHeart and Richard Livornese, Jr. Took home men’s pro doubles bronze.
Mixed Pro Doubles
The mixed pro doubles final featured all four gold medalists from the first two matches, with Jill Braverman and Will Howells facing off against Megan Fudge and Jack Munro. Braverman and Howells displayed their chemistry en route to an 11-6 win in game one. Game two was neck-and-neck, but Braverman and Howells pulled away late, 11-9, to win each of their second golds of the afternoon.
“We know the players so well, and when it’s windy like today it’s absolutely anybody’s game” said Braverman. “Will’s a miracle worker – that was my first-ever gold in mixed pro doubles.”
Kelsey Grambeau earned her second bronze of the tournament alongside Robert Slutsky, who picked up his first career APP Tour medal.
Men’s Pro Singles
Chris Haworth, winner of seven men’s pro singles gold medal on the 2024 APP Tour, faced off against a familiar foe, Bradenton, Fla. native Grayson Goldin. Haworth showed why he’s one of the top men’s singles players in pickleball with a 15-10 win in the opening game. Goldin responded with resilience, taking game two, 15-8. Haworth reset and came out firing in game three, winning 15-9 to take home his eighth career APP Tour men’s singles gold medal and first of 2025.
“The conditions were really tough today. [Grayson’s] a tough competitor, but we found a way to win” said Haworth. “I want to give a shoutout to Ken Herrmann and the APP Tour – this is the nicest pickleball facility I’ve ever been to, so big round of applause for them.”
Ammar Wazir earned men’s pro singles bronze for his first career APP Tour medal.
Women’s Pro Singles
Women’s pro singles wrapped up the championship slate, with the APP Tour’s all-time women’s medal leader Megan Fudge matching up with Sofia Sewing, a former University of Miami tennis standout making her first finals appearance. Game one was back-and-forth, working its way to a 14-14 tie. Fudge then recorded the last two points of the game to win 16-14. Fudge’s momentum carried her to a 15-11 win in game two, awarding her a second gold medal in Fort Lauderdale.
After the win, Fudge offered praise to the host venue, commenting: “Shout out to The Fort. So excited that this place is open. How amazing is this place? It’s just incredible.”
Fudge also complimented her opponent Sewing after a hard-fought match: “She’s no stranger to me. We’ve played together and trained together, she’s a fantastic ball striker, and a great competitor coming from tennis, so I knew she was going to take it to me. It was a great match, congrats to her on a fantastic tournament.”
Judit Castillo took home the women’s pro singles bronze medal.
AARP Champions and Masters Pro Action
In AARP Champions Division (50+) competition in Fort Lauderdale, Marcello Jardim won two gold medals – one in men’s singles and another in men’s doubles with Jaime Oncins. Jennifer Dawson won the women’s singles title,Sheri Courter and Jose Derisi took home mixed doubles gold, and Angela Simon and Lee Whitwell teamed up for women’s doubles gold.
In AARP Masters Division (60+) action, Kristin Hickman and David Spearman won mixed doubles gold, Beth Bellamy and Anna Shirley took home women’s doubles gold, and Richard Brown and Lee Sponaugle secured the men’s doubles title.
Humana Cup Competition
The Fort played host to the Humana Cup, a season-long team competition for pros aged 50 and older, with one final event to conclude the 2024 standings race. Team Simon took home the age-50+ division, while Team Spearman/Hickman emerged with the age-60+ division. Full Humana Cup standings and results can be found at theapp.global.
Additional Details
All pro winners are shown below, with full tournament results available here. The five gold medal matches from the Humana APP Fort Lauderdale Open will air nationwide on CBS Sports Network on Jan. 27, 28 and 31, and Feb. 2, all at 6 pm ET.
The APP Tour returns to action February 5-9 for the APP Vlasic Classic in Daytona Beach, held at the world-class pickleball venue, Pictona at Holly Hill. More information about upcoming APP events—including APP Tour dates, player registration and ticket information—is available on theapp.global. Pickleball enthusiasts can also stay in the know by following the APP on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, Threads and LinkedIn.
