The Proton Australia Pickleball Open 2025 was a BIG event for Pickleball fans. The Global PPA Tour made it’s first ever International stop at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. And it had an unbelievable all star cast of players at the tournament. It was simply an event all pickleball fans would be crazy to miss.
The Bros attended Day 2 of the Event. After seeing Tyson McGuffin at the AO Pickleball Slam the week before, we needed to see some more of the big man. And Spoiler Alert, Tyson was amazing to watch, as were all of the players. The Tournament was fantastic, so let the Bros Tell you all about it my friend.
Key Takeaways:
- World-Class Talent in Melbourne: The best pickleball players in the world gathered in Melbourne for the Proton Australia Pickleball Open 2025, bringing elite-level competition to Australian fans.
- Unforgettable Matches & Intense Battles: From insane rallies to unexpected upsets, the tournament delivered some of the most exciting pickleball action Australia has ever seen.
- Pickleball’s Explosive Growth in Australia: The energy, crowd turnout, and high-level play proved that pickleball is booming in Australia, with more elite events likely on the horizon.
About the Proton Australia Pickleball Open 2025
The Australia Pickleball Open is part of the PPA Tour, where Ranked Pickleball players travel the World on the Carvana PPA tour. The tour brings pickleball to the people, showcasing the best professional players in the World.
The first Australian PPA tournament had some big names from the Pickleball world. Tyson McGuffin, Collin Johns and Tyra Black to name a few. All household names if you follow the US and International Pickleball scene.
And of course, some of Australia’s best NPL and MLP players were out in force. Ready to take on the world (literally). The roster of players was fantastic and the Bros knew these players would be dynamite to watch. And the tournament was already set to be a real treat for any Pickleball fan to attend.
The Venue and Format
The six day tournament was held from January 28 to February 2 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The venue was perfect for Pickleball with courts as far as the eye could see. All of the sponsors had their signs up, and there was a great vibe with so many players and matches happening everywhere.
The only thing missing from the venue was maybe a stand to buy paddles or merchandise. The Bros usually get excited at these events and splash out on something special. A new paddle or shirt would have been nice. So maybe next time….
The Tournament had men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles. And there were mixed brackets for amateurs and other age groups. There were matches running all day, on most courts. It was a Pickleball Overload, and it was a great opportunity to see new players competing.
It was especially great to see some pretty young kids, getting involved. The next generation of pickleballers were there, and they were pretty darn good. Nice to see and fun to watch,
But how was the experience?
Experience at the Tournament
In two words: the tournament was Un-Believable.
The Proton Australia Pickleball Open 2025 was an amazing tournament to attend. As a spectator, I got to see some of the biggest and best US players I have only read about in my trusty Pickleball Magazine. And the Pros were happy to sign autographs and pose for photos all day. They were so gracious with their time, and the fans loved it.
The Bros spent time wandering around the courts, bumping into players and watching various matches. The main tournament Court held the big matches. And the Bros spent a lot of time, ass parked on the grand stand, watching some gourmet gameplay happen. The area was huge and could hold many spectators comfortably.
The set up was slick, with electronic scoreboards and walls. There was a great atmosphere, with giveaways being thrown into the crowd. And there were some unbelievable pickleball rallies happening right before our eyes. The crowd were gasping and cheering, and loved every second of it.
Streams of people piled onto the tournament court, and enjoyed the show. The audience participation was great and there was a diverse crowd of people, taking it all in. It was seriously a lot of fun and the fans were energetic and enjoyed every shot and face peeling rally.
The Action on the Court
The Matches at the tournament were spectacular. The Bros were so close to the action, it was the greatest. And although we love the Aussie players, the US players were a special treat to watch.
Tyson was a highlight, as always. Cracking gags, and forgetting what side he had to serve from and talking to the audience. He is a real showman of the sport, and he was amazing to watch. The Bros even picked up some great techniques watching Tyson play. We love the man, his flair and his skillz.
Another favorite was Gabriel Tardio. He has a killer flick hit at the net, and his matches with Tyson were a lot of fun. The floppish, laid back guy is a technician on the court. He is disarmingly deadly with his demanour and shots. Tardio was a surprise package and won the Bros over with his insane ability.
The female doubles matches of Tyra Hurrican Black and Allyce Jones were also amazing. This pickleball pair were on fire and another highlight for the Bros. They were also a lot of fun.
Let’s not forget the Aussie players. They gave the International guests a serious run for their money. It was amazing to see the Aussie Pros go toe-to-toe with the Americans. There were some epic rallies, particularly in the Roos Van Reek and Kaitlynn Hart matches. This Epic point was the best point of the day, and worth watching. This pair were great to watch and the Bros look forward to watching them play together again in future. They were EPIC!
Tournament Results
Unfortunately, the Bros couldn’t make it to the finals. We did watch it on Pickleball TV. And although the International players won most of the titles, the Aussies sure did make them work for it. As you can see from the official winners circle, we did get some Aussie representation.
Congrats to Somer Dalla-Bona (silver) and Andie Dikosavljevic (bronze), who received a medal in the womens singles. Fantastic effort against these International players.
And amazing play all around from all of the players.
Takeaways for Pickleball Fans
The Australian Pickleball Open was an amazing event. The level of play was the greatest, and the Bros loved watching EVERY SINGLE MATCH. The Bros sound like a broken record when they say this, but really, all Pickleball fans and players should head out to these tournaments.
Pickleball is fun to play and it’s great to watch on TV or a screen. But sitting in a crowd, watching the Professionals battle it out is Unbelievable. The Bros encourage all pickleball players and fans to get out there and catch a game… in real life. You will not regret it and you will pick up some pickleball techniques, and enjoy the experience.
The Pros need to be seen to be believed, and it’s just a lot of fun.
Final Wrap: Proton Australia Pickleball Open 2025
The Bros had a BLAST at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open 2025. It was a huge success. The level of play was next level and the Professionals delivered the goods. And it all happened it Melbourne! All players and fans should get out to these events to understand why Pickleball is electrifying the world. And why these players are loved across the globe.
So get out there friends, support the sport, and see Pickleball in all it’s glory. Attend the next pickleball tournament to see what pickleball is really about. You have to catch the Pros playing pickleball. And if you see the Bros there, be sure to say hi.
Pickle On.
The Aussie Pickleball Bros.