Day 2 at the US Open: Veterans Shine and the Party in Naples Keeps Growing
Day 2 at the US Open: Veterans Shine and the Party in Naples Keeps Growing
The second day of the 2026 US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples delivered exactly what everyone expects from what many call the biggest pickleball party in the world: packed courts, nonstop matches, and the unmistakable buzz of thousands of players and fans moving through the complex from sunrise to sunset.
Walking through the USOP National Pickleball Center in East Naples, the atmosphere felt bigger than the day before. More spectators had settled into the stands, more players were warming up across the dozens of courts, and the rhythm of paddle strikes echoed constantly across the venue.
Everywhere you looked, something was happening.
On one court, players battled through tight rallies. On another, families and teams gathered around the fences cheering for friends advancing through their brackets. The US Open has always been about scale, but by Day 2 the tournament had fully found its rhythm.
Split-Age Battles Take Center Stage
One of the most fascinating formats on display was the Pro Split Age Doubles division, a category unique to the US Open where each team pairs a player under 50 with a partner over 50.
It creates an unusual dynamic: experience meets speed.
Watching some of those matches unfold, you could see how the strategy changes. The younger partner often covers more court, chasing down drives and lobs, while the veteran controls tempo at the kitchen line with patience and precision.
In the Women’s Pro Split Age Doubles, the duo of Simone Jardim and Eugenia Carolina López showed exactly why they remain two of the most respected names in the sport.
Their combination of calm control and surgical shot placement proved too much for the field.
Final Podium
🥇 Simone Jardim / Eugenia Carolina López
🥈 Andrea Olson / Trang Huynh-McClain
🥉 Bobbi Oshiro / Lee Whitwell
Every point in their final matches felt deliberate — the kind of high-IQ pickleball that comes only with years at the top of the sport.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Experience and Firepower in the Men’s Division
The Men’s Pro Split Age Doubles bracket delivered equally intense battles.
The pairing of Jamie Oncins and Jack Munro navigated a competitive field to capture gold, combining veteran awareness with explosive court coverage.
Final Podium
🥇 Jamie Oncins / Jack Munro
🥈 Brandon Lane / José Derisi
🥉 Dayne Gingrich / Kyle Koszuta
Several of the matches extended into long kitchen exchanges that drew loud reactions from the crowd gathered around the championship courts.
Senior Divisions Show Their Strength
Another highlight of the day came from the 50+ divisions, where experience and shot selection often take priority over power.
In Mixed Doubles 50+, the pairing of Peggy Green and John Dohogne emerged on top after navigating a competitive bracket.
Mixed Doubles 50+ Podium
🥇 Peggy Green / John Dohogne
🥈 Jennifer Conover / Billy Jacobsen
🥉 Nancy Meyer / Michael Keeley
Meanwhile, in Women’s Doubles 50+, seasoned competitors continued to prove that elite pickleball has no age limit.
Women’s Doubles 50+ Podium
🥇 Lee Whitwell / Bobbi Oshiro
🥈 Nicole Havlicek / Susan Wright
🥉 Linda Thompson / Michele Meritt
Many of these matches featured long, tactical rallies that had spectators leaning over the fences to catch every shot.
The US Open Atmosphere
But beyond the medals and results, what truly defines the US Open is the atmosphere.
Between matches, the walkways around the venue filled with players swapping stories about their games, vendors showcasing the latest gear, and fans searching for the next great match to watch.
Everywhere you turned, someone was playing.
Dozens of courts ran simultaneously, and the sound of paddles striking balls never seemed to stop.
By the end of Day 2, it was clear that the tournament was building momentum.
And with the biggest divisions and championship matches still ahead, Naples is only getting started.
What Comes Next
As the week progresses, the tournament will shift toward the later stages of competition, with deeper brackets, tighter matches, and larger crowds gathering around the feature courts.
If the first two days are any indication, the 2026 US Open Pickleball Championships is shaping up to deliver another unforgettable week for the sport.
And here in Naples, the party is just beginning.
Day 2 at the US Open: Veterans Shine and the Party in Naples Keeps Growing
The second day of the 2026 US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples delivered exactly what everyone expects from what many call the biggest pickleball party in the world: packed courts, nonstop matches, and the unmistakable buzz of thousands of players and fans moving through the complex from sunrise to sunset.
Walking through the USOP National Pickleball Center in East Naples, the atmosphere felt bigger than the day before. More spectators had settled into the stands, more players were warming up across the dozens of courts, and the rhythm of paddle strikes echoed constantly across the venue.
Everywhere you looked, something was happening.
On one court, players battled through tight rallies. On another, families and teams gathered around the fences cheering for friends advancing through their brackets. The US Open has always been about scale, but by Day 2 the tournament had fully found its rhythm.
Split-Age Battles Take Center Stage
One of the most fascinating formats on display was the Pro Split Age Doubles division, a category unique to the US Open where each team pairs a player under 50 with a partner over 50.
It creates an unusual dynamic: experience meets speed.
Watching some of those matches unfold, you could see how the strategy changes. The younger partner often covers more court, chasing down drives and lobs, while the veteran controls tempo at the kitchen line with patience and precision.
In the Women’s Pro Split Age Doubles, the duo of Simone Jardim and Eugenia Carolina López showed exactly why they remain two of the most respected names in the sport.
Current Issue
Dink Authority Magazine – April 2026
Read Now →
Their combination of calm control and surgical shot placement proved too much for the field.
Final Podium
🥇 Simone Jardim / Eugenia Carolina López
🥈 Andrea Olson / Trang Huynh-McClain
🥉 Bobbi Oshiro / Lee Whitwell
Every point in their final matches felt deliberate — the kind of high-IQ pickleball that comes only with years at the top of the sport.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Experience and Firepower in the Men’s Division
The Men’s Pro Split Age Doubles bracket delivered equally intense battles.
The pairing of Jamie Oncins and Jack Munro navigated a competitive field to capture gold, combining veteran awareness with explosive court coverage.
Final Podium
🥇 Jamie Oncins / Jack Munro
🥈 Brandon Lane / José Derisi
🥉 Dayne Gingrich / Kyle Koszuta
Several of the matches extended into long kitchen exchanges that drew loud reactions from the crowd gathered around the championship courts.
Senior Divisions Show Their Strength
Another highlight of the day came from the 50+ divisions, where experience and shot selection often take priority over power.
In Mixed Doubles 50+, the pairing of Peggy Green and John Dohogne emerged on top after navigating a competitive bracket.
Mixed Doubles 50+ Podium
🥇 Peggy Green / John Dohogne
🥈 Jennifer Conover / Billy Jacobsen
🥉 Nancy Meyer / Michael Keeley
Meanwhile, in Women’s Doubles 50+, seasoned competitors continued to prove that elite pickleball has no age limit.
Women’s Doubles 50+ Podium
🥇 Lee Whitwell / Bobbi Oshiro
🥈 Nicole Havlicek / Susan Wright
🥉 Linda Thompson / Michele Meritt
Many of these matches featured long, tactical rallies that had spectators leaning over the fences to catch every shot.
The US Open Atmosphere
But beyond the medals and results, what truly defines the US Open is the atmosphere.
Between matches, the walkways around the venue filled with players swapping stories about their games, vendors showcasing the latest gear, and fans searching for the next great match to watch.
Everywhere you turned, someone was playing.
Dozens of courts ran simultaneously, and the sound of paddles striking balls never seemed to stop.
By the end of Day 2, it was clear that the tournament was building momentum.
And with the biggest divisions and championship matches still ahead, Naples is only getting started.
What Comes Next
As the week progresses, the tournament will shift toward the later stages of competition, with deeper brackets, tighter matches, and larger crowds gathering around the feature courts.
If the first two days are any indication, the 2026 US Open Pickleball Championships is shaping up to deliver another unforgettable week for the sport.
And here in Naples, the party is just beginning.
