Press Release: US Open Pickleball Championships Singles Sunday Slideshow

 For Immediate Release

Photo Credit: Chris Stratton Photography

US Open Pickleball Championships Singles Sunday Slideshow

Photographer Snaps Friend Playing With Oxygen Tank Strapped To His Back

NAPLES, FL (April  26, 2022) – On Sunday at the Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, professional photographer Chris Stratton,

Saint Augustine, Florida, strolled around the tournament snapping photos of players and personalities. On Monday morning, he published the snap shots in a 4+ minute slideshow on YouTube: Minto US Open Pickleball - Naples, FL - day one

The 7-day international event showcases the top ranked pickleball players and nearly 3,000 athletes of all ages.  

Chris Stratton: “The photos were captured while walking around with a Sony A73. I wanted to photograph my friend John McDaniels and arrived early for his 8:00 a.m. start.

John had signed up for 3.0/3.5 75+ singles and doubles pickleball before his progressive medical issues requiring supplemental oxygen had come up. He decided to play anyway and his first game was a tough 13-11 loss.  

Weather was good, sunny, with stronger breezes coming up later in the day. 

The Australian contingent seemed thrilled to be there, as did Michael Lipp and others in the para-pickleball bracket. 

Pro Zane Navratil still seems to enjoy his specialty ball-in-the-air serves, and Tyson McGuffin played with his typical full-on gusto. 

Camera: Sony A73

Lens: 70-350

The A73 has good low-light and video, decent battery life, good EVF. Downside is that it is a dust magnet."

Who Is In The US Open Pickleball Championships Singles Sunday Slideshow

• John McDaniel, 75, is the guy playing w/ oxygen tank. Basically, John's an Oklahoma Farm boy who followed his wife south for the winters and loves to play Pickleball. They may still have a ranch in southern Oklahoma.

• Rob Cassidy, Pro Pickleball Player

• Zane Navratil, Pro Pickleball Player

• Lea Jansen, Pro Pickleball Player, Silver Medal Singles

• Catherine Parentau, Pro Pickleball Player, Gold Medal Singles

• Eden Lica, Pro Pickleball Player

• Tyson McGuffin, Pro Pickleball Player

• Anna Bright, Pro Pickleball Player, Bronze Medal Singles

• JW Johnson, Pro Pickleball Player (19), Silver Medal Singles

• Ken Herrmann - APP Tour Wearing Oakleys Sunglasses

• Michael Lipp, para-pickleball player 

• Australian Martin Clark

• Australian Sarah Burr

• Dogs - In the summer of 1965, pickleball was founded by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Barney McCallum said that pickleball was named after his dog, Pickles.

US Open Pickleball Championships Singles Sunday Streamed Pro Matches

• 17:12 Ben Johns vs Zane Navratil

• 57:18 Beth Bellamy vs Julie Johnson (JW Johnson’s Mother)

• 2:00:08 Paul Olin vs Mattias Johansson

• 2:54:49 Lea Jansen vs Catherine Parenteau

• 3:38:47 JW Johnson vs Ben Johns (Highlight Reel 9+ mins) Karen Mitchell, Pickleball England: Incredible match. I thought JW had it and then it slipped away. Both played lights out. So entertaining!

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