The 2024 APP Vlasic Classic in Delray Beach showed what top pickleball talent was all about, drawing in a thoroughly engaged audience to witness the action-packed Championship Sunday on CBS Sports Network.
Buzzing With Energy
For five days, the Delray Beach Tennis Center buzzed with the energy of hundreds of pickleball enthusiasts, ranging from novices to seasoned pros, all vying for victory and a slice of the $100,000 prize pool. Among the standout performers were local favorites JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson, the Boynton Beach siblings, who clinched gold at their hometown event.
They were joined by the victorious Megan Fudge of Belleair and Gabriel Tardio of Jupiter, both proudly representing Florida. Notable mentions also go to Judit Castillo and Chris Haworth, who secured their second singles titles of the 2024 season, along with other champions Jill Braverman and Dylan Frazier.
The championship matches lit up Saturday evening, being broadcast live on CBS Sports Network. In the women’s pro doubles, the dynamic duo of Braverman and Fudge faced off against Johnson and Rane. Braverman and Fudge edged a thrilling three-game showdown as they displayed a match-winning blend of trust, strategy, and resilience.
“The Trust Was Huge”
“The trust we developed was huge,” Fudge said after the win. “We kept reassuring each other that we could do it and that we were going to win the dogfight. We showed up and got it done. I had fun out there, and it’s nice that it all came together.”
“Our energy was really important,” added Braverman. “Huge kudos to Megan for her high pickle IQ and just being the most positive partner a girl could ask for.”
Allison Harris and Simone Jardim won the women’s pro doubles bronze.
The men’s pro doubles witnessed an epic battle between Johnson/Frazier and Daescu/Tardio, culminating in a nail-biting victory for Johnson and Frazier, who tactically adjusted their approach to outplay their formidable opponents.
“We had to be careful because they have great hands and like to play aggressive,” Johnson said. “Once we started playing more aggressive on our side, we played better and got the win.”
“Andrei and Gabriel are such great competitors – they gave us no breathing room, and we know they are going to fight until the very end,” added Frazier. “Thank you to Ken [Herrmann] and the APP for putting on another great tournament.”
Judit Castillo On Top
Sunday’s action continued to captivate the audience. Castillo dominated the women’s pro singles, while Johnson and Tardio emerged victorious in the mixed pro doubles after a fiercely contested match against Braverman and Daescu went down to the wire.
“It’s been amazing here in Florida”, Castillo said. “I got my first medal this year in Punta Gorda, and the weather helps my game a little bit more. The hard part is consistently getting results and getting back to the top. There’s a lot of sacrifice, travel, and hard work, so it means a lot to get this gold.”
“We’ve practiced a lot together and really trust our shots,” said Johnson. “Even though we’re both young, we’ve played in a ton of tournaments, and it definitely helps to have that experience.
“It was a very tight match all three games, and we were able to get lucky on a couple of balls,” added Tardio. “We just kept rolling each game until we got to 11.”
Boca Raton’s Milan Rane and JW Johnson won the mixed pro doubles bronze.
Chris Haworth Triumphs
In the grand finale of the men’s pro singles, Haworth claimed his second gold of the season, demonstrating skill and determination to overcome his opponent, JW Johnson.
Haworth commented, “I’m super happy with how I’m fighting right now. Obviously, winning is a huge accomplishment, but there are many more tournaments to go to, and the year is still young, so there is a lot to work on.”
Another Boca Raton resident, Will Howells, took home the men’s singles bronze.
AARP Champions And Masters Pro Divisions
Beyond the main events, the AARP Champions and Masters Pro divisions added another layer of excitement, with notable victories for Lee Whitwell, Jaime Oncins, Marcello Jardim, and Karin Ptaszek-Kochis.
Overall, the 2024 APP Vlasic Classic was a testament to the growing popularity and competitive spirit of pickleball, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the sport’s evolution.
Lee Whitwell and Jaime Oncins won two gold medals each in the AARP Champions Division (50+). Karin Ptaszek-Kochis captured the women’s singles title, while Marcello Jardim won the men’s singles gold.
Cynthia Dardis and Jenny Reifeis took the women’s doubles gold in the AARP Masters Division (60+) competition. Moira Roush and Chuck Feinstein won the mixed doubles, and Scott Moore and David Spearman triumphed in the men’s doubles.
The latest round of the Humana Cup was also played out at the tournament. The Humana Cup is a season-long team competition for pickleball pros aged 50 and above.
Full competition results can be found at theapp.global.
