DETROIT ROLLS UP ITS SLEEVES: THE APP TOUR ARRIVES IN THE MOTOR CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME
Resilient. Gritty. Full of heart. We're not just talking about Detroit — we're talking about the players who this week turn Vibe Credit Union Showplace into the center of the pickleball world.
Four days. Hundreds of players. And a city that has never seen the APP Tour in action — until now. This week, the circuit arrives for the first time in Novi, Michigan, for the 2026 APP Detroit Open, bringing with it several storylines that have been brewing since Chicago.
From amateurs of all ages, to elite professionals, to the AARP Champions (50+) and Masters (60+) divisions and the Humana Cup — everyone competing for ranking points, prize money, and their spot on the national broadcast across ESPN 2 and CBS Sports Network.
Start your engines — because in Detroit, that's not just a figure of speech. Here are the storylines to watch.
Jack Munro And Richard Livornese Jr.: The Three-Peat Is Now History
Chicago made it clear this pair isn't just good — they're dominant. Munro and Livornese Jr. took home their third straight men's doubles title together, defeating Quang Duong and Patrick Kawka. With that win, Munro now has four gold medals this year, leading all men's pros. They arrive in Detroit as the No. 1 seeds — and for good reason.
Katerina Stewart, "kat-Tastic"
Stewart claimed her first career mixed doubles gold alongside Ronan Camron in Chicago. And as if that wasn't enough, she remains the No. 1 women's singles pro in the U.S. rankings. Miami watched her rise — now Detroit gets to watch her defend.
Ammar Wazir: The Champion Who Won't Let Go Of Home Court
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A native of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and a former tennis player at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Wazir won the men's singles title in front of his own hometown crowd in Chicago — for the second year in a row. He beat Jayden Broderick, and made it clear that playing at home suits him just fine.
Megan Fudge: One Step From History
Fudge is already the APP Tour's all-time leader in career medals, with 90 — a record she set in 2025 in Cincinnati. Now she's just one gold medal away from tying Simone Jardim for the most career women's pro golds (33). Will history be written in Detroit? We'll be there to find out.
Bobbi Oshiro Brings It All
Nobody on tour has more medals in 2026 than Bobbi Oshiro — seven and counting. The Hawaii native already knows Michigan well: in 2025, in Midland, she took home women's doubles gold and two silver medals. Detroit isn't new ground for her — it's familiar territory.
Ronan Camron's Empire Keeps Growing
At just 21 years old, the Fort Myers, Florida native made the podium twice in Chicago — gold in mixed alongside Kat Stewart, bronze in singles. He's the No. 1 men's singles pro in the U.S. rankings, and leads all men's pros with five medals in 2026. The question isn't whether he keeps rising — it's how much higher he can go.
Simone Jardim: From Michigan State To The Hall Of Fame
Before becoming one of the most decorated players in pickleball history, Simone Jardim was head coach of the Michigan State University women's tennis team for eight seasons. From the Green & White to the Pickleball Hall of Fame — her story connects directly to this stop on the calendar.
Domenika Turkovic: Dominating On Both Sides Of The Ocean
Turkovic arrives in Detroit fresh off a silver in Chicago and a recent gold at the Proflex English Open in Birmingham. Four straight singles medals, and still chasing her first APP Tour gold of the season. We already covered her week in England — now it's time to see if Detroit gives her what's missing.
Five New Names, One First Time Each
In Chicago, five pros earned their first career APP Tour medals: Nicola Schoeman, Selina Turulja, David Bieger, Zack Marceau, and Carlota Trevino. You always remember your first — and in Detroit, someone else is about to have theirs.
How To Follow The Action
Live coverage kicks off Friday, August 21 at 12pm ET from Novi, Michigan, and continues through Sunday, August 23, with full coverage on both the Championship Court and the Chex Mix Players Court — all on ESPN Plus and APPTV on YouTube.
Detroit has never seen the APP Tour before. After this weekend, it won't forget it.
Resilient. Gritty. Full of heart. We're not just talking about Detroit — we're talking about the players who this week turn Vibe Credit Union Showplace into the center of the pickleball world.
Four days. Hundreds of players. And a city that has never seen the APP Tour in action — until now. This week, the circuit arrives for the first time in Novi, Michigan, for the 2026 APP Detroit Open, bringing with it several storylines that have been brewing since Chicago.
From amateurs of all ages, to elite professionals, to the AARP Champions (50+) and Masters (60+) divisions and the Humana Cup — everyone competing for ranking points, prize money, and their spot on the national broadcast across ESPN 2 and CBS Sports Network.
Start your engines — because in Detroit, that's not just a figure of speech. Here are the storylines to watch.
Jack Munro And Richard Livornese Jr.: The Three-Peat Is Now History
Chicago made it clear this pair isn't just good — they're dominant. Munro and Livornese Jr. took home their third straight men's doubles title together, defeating Quang Duong and Patrick Kawka. With that win, Munro now has four gold medals this year, leading all men's pros. They arrive in Detroit as the No. 1 seeds — and for good reason.
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Katerina Stewart, "kat-Tastic"
Stewart claimed her first career mixed doubles gold alongside Ronan Camron in Chicago. And as if that wasn't enough, she remains the No. 1 women's singles pro in the U.S. rankings. Miami watched her rise — now Detroit gets to watch her defend.
Ammar Wazir: The Champion Who Won't Let Go Of Home Court
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
A native of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and a former tennis player at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Wazir won the men's singles title in front of his own hometown crowd in Chicago — for the second year in a row. He beat Jayden Broderick, and made it clear that playing at home suits him just fine.
Megan Fudge: One Step From History
Fudge is already the APP Tour's all-time leader in career medals, with 90 — a record she set in 2025 in Cincinnati. Now she's just one gold medal away from tying Simone Jardim for the most career women's pro golds (33). Will history be written in Detroit? We'll be there to find out.
Bobbi Oshiro Brings It All
Nobody on tour has more medals in 2026 than Bobbi Oshiro — seven and counting. The Hawaii native already knows Michigan well: in 2025, in Midland, she took home women's doubles gold and two silver medals. Detroit isn't new ground for her — it's familiar territory.
Ronan Camron's Empire Keeps Growing
At just 21 years old, the Fort Myers, Florida native made the podium twice in Chicago — gold in mixed alongside Kat Stewart, bronze in singles. He's the No. 1 men's singles pro in the U.S. rankings, and leads all men's pros with five medals in 2026. The question isn't whether he keeps rising — it's how much higher he can go.
Simone Jardim: From Michigan State To The Hall Of Fame
Before becoming one of the most decorated players in pickleball history, Simone Jardim was head coach of the Michigan State University women's tennis team for eight seasons. From the Green & White to the Pickleball Hall of Fame — her story connects directly to this stop on the calendar.
Domenika Turkovic: Dominating On Both Sides Of The Ocean
Turkovic arrives in Detroit fresh off a silver in Chicago and a recent gold at the Proflex English Open in Birmingham. Four straight singles medals, and still chasing her first APP Tour gold of the season. We already covered her week in England — now it's time to see if Detroit gives her what's missing.
Five New Names, One First Time Each
In Chicago, five pros earned their first career APP Tour medals: Nicola Schoeman, Selina Turulja, David Bieger, Zack Marceau, and Carlota Trevino. You always remember your first — and in Detroit, someone else is about to have theirs.
How To Follow The Action
Live coverage kicks off Friday, August 21 at 12pm ET from Novi, Michigan, and continues through Sunday, August 23, with full coverage on both the Championship Court and the Chex Mix Players Court — all on ESPN Plus and APPTV on YouTube.
Detroit has never seen the APP Tour before. After this weekend, it won't forget it.
