PARRIS TODD WINS HISTORIC TRIPLE CROWN AT 2023 APP SUNMED PUNTA GORDA OPEN

Parris Todd made APP pickleball history on CBS Sports Network on Championship Sunday at the 2023 APP Sunmed Punta Gorda Open, becoming the second-ever woman, and only the third player ever, to win an APP Tour Triple Crown. Todd recorded victories in women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles to complete the achievement. Sharing the top step of the podium with Todd were Hunter Johnson, Todd’s partner in mixed doubles and winner of the men’s singles; Simone Jardim who won women’s doubles with Todd; and Andrei Daescu and Kyle Yates who were victorious in men’s doubles.

“I am so proud to put my name on the record books as only the second-ever woman to win an APP Triple Crown,” commented Todd. “There were a lot of talented players at this event, so to win is a great achievement, something I’d targeted before the season started. This is a home event for me, so it’s great to start the season so strong, and in front of such a great crowd. It’s been so much fun playing here. There’s been an amazing atmosphere all weekend, and I got to share victories with Simone [Jardim], and Hunter [Johnson]. I had such fun partners on the way to three golds.”

720 players – including 500 amateurs – participated in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles action at the 2023 Sunmed Punta Gorda Open, staged at PicklePlex in Punta Gorda, FL. The 2023 APP Sunmed Punta Gorda Open marked the third consecutive year the APP hosted an event at the venue.

Top-seeded Todd came out strong in the day’s opening match, cruising past the number two seed Megan Fudge, 11-5, 11-6 to earn Women’s Pro Singles gold.

Men’s top seed Hunter Johnson followed suit in the Men’s Pro Singles gold medal match, defeating 11-seed former tennis pro Jhonnatan Medina Alvarez 11-3, 11-5 to earn his first gold of the season.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t get the Triple Crown done, as I got bronze in doubles yesterday,” said Johnson. “But it’s fun to be a part of an APP Triple Crown with Parris, and I got two golds today, so not too bad. Exciting start to the new year in 2023.”

In the Women’s Pro Doubles final, the fourth-seeded duo of Megan Fudge and Alix Truong – celebrating her 18th birthday during the event – upset the top-seeded Todd and Simone Jardim, 11-8, 11-8 to force a tiebreaker match to 15. Todd and Jardim would respond in commanding fashion, taking the tiebreaker 15-8 to secure the gold, Todd’s second of the day.

In Men’s Pro Doubles, the top-seeded duo of Kyle Yates and Andrei Daescu took down the number five seeds Joey Farias and Andreas Siljestrom, 11-6, 11-6 to clinch gold, their first medals of the year.

“It’s nice to be able to play a tournament so close to home,” said Yates. “I’m just right down in Fort Myers, born and raised, so it’s nice having a little bit of home field advantage. Obviously, it’s so much fun playing with Andrei [Daescu]. He is such a good friend of mine and such an awesome competitor on the court. We always know we have a chance when we play together, but it was nice to pull it off.”

Todd and Johnson then paired up in the Mixed Pro Doubles to defeat number one seeds Jardim and Daescu, completing Todd’s Triple Crown and earning Johnson his second gold of the tournament.

The APP travels to Daytona Beach for its second 2023 APP Tour event of the year, the APP Daytona Beach Open, Feb. 8-12 at Pictona at Holly Hill in Florida. Registration remains open through Jan. 29. Full tournament information can be found HERE.

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