The PPA Tour will kick off its 2026-2027 season with the first Veolia Pickleball National Championships, to be held at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, North Carolina, from August 31–September 6. World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters will compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles events, and among her top challengers will be a part of North Carolina residents, No. 2 Kate Fahey and No. 4 Brooke Buckner. On the men’s side, longtime No. 1 Ben Johns will compete in doubles.
The event will have a “Slam” designation, meaning it will offer the largest amount of money and ranking points in pro pickleball.
“North Carolina has shown us year after year how fervent they are about the sport,” said Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour. “Our Slam tournaments are where we shine the brightest, with unmatched entertainment and excitement for everyone to enjoy.”
In addition to being the first iteration of this event, this will also mark the first PPA Tour Slam event in North Carolina.
“Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, and there’s no better place for the Carvana PPA Tour to host its national championship than in Cary, North Carolina,” said Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA). “For one week in late summer, the eyes of the rapidly expanding world of pickleball will be focused on Cary Tennis Park.”
At just 19 years old, Waters is the sport’s most dominant player, having racked up 181 gold medals and 39 triple crowns (winning the singles, doubles and mixed doubles at a single event). Johns, meanwhile, has won the most titles in PPA history and has been ranked No. 1 in all three disciplines at the same time since 2020.
Pickleball continues to rise in popularity, according to the latest report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, and this announcement comes as the sport marks national pickleball month in April.
While the pros compete for titles and ranking points, there will also be amateur competitions available to players of all ages and skill levels. Registration is open through August 29, with fees of $85.
Veolia is the tour’s official sustainability partner. “Veolia is committed to making pickleball the most sustainable sport in the world and this mission is driven by significant investment in the PPA Tour’s biggest events,” said Carrie Griffiths, the company’s chief communications officer.
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