What’s the Score?
Fort Lauderdale, USA – The 2025 professional pickleball season concluded with a flourish at the GEICO APP Tour Championships, held at The Fort in Florida. The season-ending event was defined by breakthrough performances in the singles brackets and continued dominance in the doubles categories. Seone Mendez and Ryler DeHeart etched their names into the history books by capturing their first-ever career APP Tour gold medals in women’s and men’s singles, respectively,. Meanwhile, the powerhouse duo of Will Howells and Jack Munro cemented their status as the team to beat, tying the APP Tour single-season record with their eighth gold medal.
Hit it deeper!
The atmosphere at the APP’s global headquarters was electric as players battled for the final titles of the year. In the women’s pro singles, Seone Mendez, a former professional tennis player, faced off against the seasoned Katerina Stewart. Mendez had momentum on her side, coming off a bronze medal finish at the APP Mesa Open. She took the first game 15-10, but Stewart fought back to force a tight second game. In a display of nerves and skill, Mendez rallied late to secure a 16-14 victory, claiming her maiden gold. Reflecting on the win, Mendez admitted, “I was nervous to come out today – it was my first final in a pickleball tournament… I just thought to myself ‘play your game’ and it ended up working out”.
The men’s singles final was an all-Florida affair between Ryler DeHeart and Dusty Boyer, both hunting for their first career singles gold. The match was a grueling test of endurance, with DeHeart edging out Boyer in two identical, nail-biting games of 16-14. An emotional DeHeart credited his support team for the victory, marking a significant milestone in his pickleball career.
In doubles action, the story was one of established dominance. Will Howells was the standout player of the tournament, securing two gold medals. He partnered with Bobbi Oshiro in mixed doubles to defeat Sofia Sewing and Casey Diamond, overcoming a tight second game to win 11-8 and clinch their fourth title of the year. Howells then teamed up with Jack Munro in men’s doubles to dismantle the pair of Richard Livornese, Jr. and Tanner Tomassi. The duo cruised to victory with scores of 11-6 and 11-7, tying the single-season record for titles.
The women’s doubles final provided the day’s most dramatic comeback. Shelby Bates and Sofia Sewing faced the formidable team of Jill Braverman and Megan Fudge. After dropping the first game 11-5, Bates and Sewing rallied to win the second. In the deciding third game, they found themselves down 5-2 but staged a stunning turnaround, scoring the final nine points consecutively to win 11-5 and secure their third title of 2025.
The event also highlighted the depth of the sport in the AARP Champions (50+) and Masters (60+) divisions. Jaime Oncins and Lee Whitwell were particularly impressive, winning golds in their respective gender doubles and teaming up to win the mixed doubles title in the Champions division. In the Masters division, Lupita Curiel and David Spearman took top honors in singles. The tournament also concluded the Humana Cup, with Team Welsher and Team Johnston/Moorin crowned overall champions for their respective age groups.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The 2025 APP Tour Championships served as a microcosm of the sport’s current trajectory: a blend of rising new talent and established dynasties. The breakthrough wins for Mendez and DeHeart suggest that the singles field is becoming increasingly deep and unpredictable, offering opportunities for players with tennis backgrounds to make immediate impacts.
However, the doubles results—specifically the record-tying performance of Howells and Munro—remind us that chemistry and long-term partnerships remain king in this format. As the APP looks toward its 2026 opener in Daytona Beach, the bar has been raised, particularly for the senior divisions, which continue to show that pickleball is fiercely competitive at every age level.