APP Dallas Open Preview: Prediction–Lange and Newell Double Gold

The APP Tour is busy! They just finished the Inaugural Women’s Open this past weekend in Ohio, and now the APP Dallas Open is happening this week! The action will take place at Oasis Pickleball in Rockwall, Texas.

APP Dallas is from October 9th (qualifiers) through Saturday, October 12th—there will be no Championship Sunday. This means gold medal matches will be played the same day each event runs.

Schedule of Events

• Thursday: Women’s and Men’s Singles
• Friday: Mixed Doubles
• Saturday: Women’s and Men’s Doubles

If you'd like to follow along, the APP Tour has moved its event software to UTR Sports. All the draws and information can be found by clicking here.

Weather Outlook

It’s going to be hot and humid, with reports showing humidity between 20% and 35% throughout the event. Because of this, the Franklin X-40 will play a little slower than normal.

How to Watch the APP Dallas Open

The Dallas Open will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. While there is no live action on Sunday, there is a two-hour window that ESPN2 will replay the best matches from the weekend:

• Saturday, Oct. 12 | Men’s and Women’s Doubles (live) | 1 - 8 pm ET | ESPN+
• Sunday, Oct. 13 | Tape Delayed Best Matches | 1 - 3 pm ET | ESPN2

Let’s get into the action!

Women’s Singles

Top Seeds

1. Megan Fudge - 4🥇, 3🥈, 1🥉 - Has not missed out on a medal in singles all year
2. Amanda Hendry - 1🥈in APP Cincinnati - Consistent top finisher 
3. Jenna Hessert - 1🥈in APP Miami - Consistent top finisher 
4. Yana Newell - 1🥈in APP NYC, 1 🥉in APP Del Ray

Unseeded Players to Watch

• Emilia Schmidt - the Australian has some talent and has been playing a lot in the US
• Rachael James - Just earned a bronze in APP Chicago - can she follow it up?
• Maria Kolkotzky - The 37-year-old former Louisville Cardinal tennis player hasn’t been playing pickleball long, but she is VERY good in singles

Prediction

Megan Fudge didn’t play singles in the Women’s Open, so she should be rested for APP Dallas. I see no reason she should miss the podium. Fudge beat Bobbi Oshiro in the finals for her fifth gold medal on the APP Tour in 2024.

Men’s Singles

Top Seeds

1. Chris Haworth - 5🥇, 1🥉 - The top men’s singles player is back in action in Dallas
2. Grayson Goldin - 1🥇, 3🥈- Goldin is pushing Haworth for that top spot but is dealing with a dental issue. We will see how he holds up in Dallas
3. Jack Foster - 3🥉 -  Consistent top finisher with athleticism
4. Ryler DeHeart - The former Illini tennis sensation hasn’t seen the podium this year - can Dallas turn it around for him?

Unseeded Players to Watch

• Qualifiers - Men’s Singles is a crazy event. Here are some big-name qualifiers:
  • Ryan Eveloff
  • Tanner Tomassi
  • Stefan Auvergne
  • Wil Shaffer

• Patrick Kawka - The former BYU tennis star, plus former Padel pro, has a ton of singles game
• Max Manthou - Purple Jesus is super athletic and has a very unique singles style
• Eric Oncins - The former FGCU tennis player just started pickleball full-time this year and has all the shots and athleticism to bring him to the top of the sport

Prediction

I don’t make a habit of picking against Chris Haworth, and I am not going to start now. Haworth beats Zane Ford in the finals.

Mixed Doubles

Top Seeds

1. Megan Fudge/Jack Munro - 1🥇in the APP OWL Newport Beach Open
2. Susannah Barr/Brandon Lane - 1🥇in the APP Cincinnati Open
3. Allison Harris/Andre Mick - Harris and Mick are both looking for their first mixed medals together
4. Regina Goldberg/Will Howells - Howells has a gold, 2 silvers, and a bronze this year in mixed - this is a new partnership

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Unseeded Partnerships to Watch

• Qualifiers - There are 33 qualifiers playing Wednesday for four spots. Teams I like:
  • Barbora Vykydalova/Robert Slutsky 
  • Mary Monson/Elliott Shupp
  • Zoeya Khan/Caden Nemoff
• Emily Cederquist/Max Manthou - This is a formidable duo, but they don’t have many points, so they are seeded well below their potential
• Cass Hoag/Rob Nunnery - I’ve been hearing great things about Hoag’s game, and Nunnery is one of the best men on the APP Tour
• Jenna Hessert/Chris Haworth - the Oklahoma City training partnership is in the main draw now - they could be dangerous

Prediction

Erik Lange and Yana Newell are the seventh seed, and I believe they beat the top-seeded Fudge and Munro.

Women’s Doubles

Top Seeds

1. Jill Braverman/Megan Fudge - 1🥇, 1🥈, 1🥉 - The most consistent team in the last few months
2. Allison Harris/Simone Jardim - 1🥇, 1🥈, 2🥉 - Had a great start to the year but missed the podium in the last two events
3. Emily Cederquist/Yana Newell - Gold at APP Newport Beach
4. Susannah Barr/Glauka Carvajal Lane - New partnership, but Barr has five medals in women’s doubles this year

Unseeded Partnerships to Watch

• Bobbi Oshiro/Regina Goldberg
• Leah Tauber/Dana Raugust
• Brooke Revuelta/Lauren Mercado
• Cass Hoag/Emilia Schmidt

Prediction

Cederquist and Newell upset Fudge and Braverman in the final.

Men’s Doubles

Top Seeds

1. Jack Munro/Rob Nunnery - Earned silver in the most recent APP Chicago
2. Stefan Auvergne/Brendon Long - With the second most points, neither player has made the podium this year - can they turn it around together in Dallas?
3. Mark Dancourt/Will Howells - Howells has six medals in men’s dubs this year. Dancourt is one of his hitting partners back home, so I am unsure how far he can carry Dancourt
4. Erik Lange/Max Manthou - 1 gold and two bronze on the year - this is a tough team

Unseeded Partnerships to Watch

• Robert Slutsky/Caden Nemoff
• Tanner Tomassi/Kyle Koszuta
• Grayson Goldin/Chris Haworth

Prediction

Lange and Manthou make it two golds, winning a tight one over Nunnery and Munro.