My name is Bobbi Oshiro, and I’m a professional pickleball player from the United States. Along with a large group of players from the APP Tour, I had the opportunity to travel to Birmingham, UK, to compete in the English Open. It was my first time in England, and my first time in Europe…and what an incredible experience it was! Getting the chance to compete in a different country made the trip especially memorable. Tito, CEO of DUPR was also in attendance at this event this past week, alongside our Director of International, Johnnie. 

The History of the English Open 

The English Open is considered one of the biggest pickleball tournaments outside the United States. For comparison, the US Open in Naples, Florida (one of the largest tournaments in the U.S.) attracted 3,750 players from 53 countries. Since its start in 2019, the English Open has continued to grow year after year, further highlighting pickleball's rapid rise across Europe. This year, the tournament welcomed nearly 3,400 players from 56 countries. That's a lot of matches being played! Even better, those matches are being added to DUPR through the partnership between the two organizations. The more players, communities, and countries we can connect through competition, the more data can be added to DUPR, helping create one universal rating system with everything living in one place.

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The Tournament Experience 

The tournament experience was probably one of the best I’ve had at an international event on a professional level. The venue was held inside a massive convention hall with around 62 courts, including two Championship Courts and plenty of space for vendors.

One thing I really appreciated was how organized everything was. Players received the draws early, with their scheduled match times and court assignments clearly listed. We also played a different format than what I’m used to in the United States, and honestly, I really enjoyed it because you get to play a lot of matches throughout the day. Another huge benefit was knowing exactly when you were scheduled to play next. All match times were listed on the website, which made planning warm-ups and managing your day much easier.

The English Open was also sponsored by ProPlex, which set up all the courts inside the convention hall. It was a surface I had never played on before and was slightly elevated off the ground. I thought this helped reduce the number of bad or dead bounces you can sometimes experience on rollout courts placed directly over concrete.

Both Championship Courts featured livestreaming for every match, along with video challenges. It was great to see those additions, which help further professionalize and legitimize the sport in England.

There was a big “vendor village” section located in the middle of the hall. This was a big plus as it shows how many brands and companies are involved and willing to invest in pickleball events!

Lastly, the level of organization from the volunteers stood out. Each section of courts had volunteers available to ensure everything ran smoothly and answer any questions. Everyone seemed well-informed on the same procedures and policies, which made for a seamless experience overall.

Would I Come Back Again?

Actually, I would. It seems like they’ve continued to improve the tournament every year, both in terms of the player experience and the level of competition. The player field keeps getting stronger, so it will be interesting to see how the event continues to grow and develop in 2027!

I’d also be arriving with a completely different mindset. Going into this tournament, I had fairly low expectations based on some of my previous international experiences, but the English Open completely exceeded them.

If I could do anything differently, I’d spend more time exploring the area and connecting with players from different countries. I think that’s one of the things that makes pickleball so special, bringing communities together, experiencing different cultures, and creating connections through the sport.

We’ll be back.

For more information on DUPR or other tournament recaps, visit the DUPR Website.