Why the PPA Challenger Orlando Fell Short: Citrus Classic 2025 Review
I’ve competed in several PPA Challenger events this year, and while most delivered professional venues and smooth organization, the Citrus Classic in Orlando was a very different story. From unusual court setups to long delays and last-minute cancellations, it turned out to be a tournament experience unlike any I’ve had before.
Since the launch of the PPA Challenger series in early 2025, I’ve gone to several of their tournaments. I was there for the very first one in Columbia, SC, followed by Baton Rouge, LA in April, and Punta Gorda, FL in May. After that stretch, we hung out in Nicaragua before heading back in September for the Citrus Classic in Orlando. Up until then, I’d had good experiences overall. The venues were professional, the courts were legitimate, and the events felt well-organized. The team behind these tournaments is genuinely friendly and professional, which made it all the more disappointing when the Orlando event fell far short of the standard. In the following paragraphs I’d like to share my experience and offer some authentic perspective, especially since others have expressed very different opinions on this same event.
Playing My First 4.5 Singles Match
This tournament was a bit of a milestone for me, as it was my first time competing in 4.5 singles. Singles day kicked off Friday morning, and my first match started well. I took the first game but lost the next two, which ended my run early. What made it especially frustrating, though, was the setup. More than half the courts weren’t real pickleball courts. Instead, they were taped over tennis or basketball courts, with flimsy temporary nets that didn’t belong at a tournament of this level. My first match was on a taped tennis court, where every ball that hit a line just skidded, and mentally it was hard to settle in.
Delays and Scheduling Chaos
The bigger issue quickly became the scheduling. With pickleballbrackets.com crashing, no one could log results or progress draws. I ended up waiting more than three hours before playing my next match. When my next match was finally called, it was on a taped basketball court, which somehow made the situation even worse. The dull red court had orange tape for pickleball lines, with basketball markings cutting across in every direction. Making line calls was messy, and the tape again caused skids that changed ball behavior. The nets were so light that they blew over in the wind, and even when they stayed upright, balls clipping the net cord would often just sail through.
Eventually, I did get to play a match on a real pickleball court, but even those were converted tennis courts with limited space behind the baselines. After a short rain delay in the afternoon, the rest of my family was scheduled to play their singles categories. By the time their events began it was already getting dark, and the venue’s lighting was poor. Everyone, including the pros, grew frustrated because it was so difficult to see the ball. On top of the weak court lighting, there were condos and a parking lot surrounding the facility. The brightly lit rooms didn’t help, and whenever someone in the lot turned on their car, the headlights would blind a player on the court. By the end of the day, between delays, rain interruptions, and scheduling chaos, I had been at the venue from 9 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. It was a tough day all around, especially considering some players finishing their matches that late still had to return the next morning for an 8 a.m. start.
Gender Doubles Day Cancelled
Saturday was supposed to be men’s doubles. Our matches were scheduled for the evening, but the storm clouds were already overhead by the time we got there. Sure enough, right when we got the text that play was starting, the rain started. We got dinner and drove back to our Airbnb, only to get another text almost immediately saying play would resume in thirty minutes. We turned around, went back, warmed up, and then got the notice that everything was delayed until further notice. After warming up on damp courts, we were told all remaining amateur events that day were cancelled. It was a brutal outcome, especially considering how we had traveled all the way from Nicaragua to play. One of my friends traveled from Trinidad to play 4.5 doubles, only to have his event cancelled along with ours.
Mixed doubles day was slightly smoother, though not without issues. The pro draw was super busy, so the organizers shortened formats from best of three to one game to 15, and then later one game to 11. Our format stayed intact, but once again, none of our matches were on real courts. Every single one was on taped basketball or tennis courts. Even pros were stuck playing on taped courts, which says a lot about how chaotic the event was.
Final Thoughts: Lessons Learned From the Citrus Classic
Looking back, Orlando was easily the most disappointing experience I’ve had at a PPA Challenger. One day stretched on endlessly, another day was cancelled outright, and the final day still wasn't anything to write home about. As of now, players haven’t been told whether there will be refunds or any compensation for the day that was canceled. The main lesson I took away is that the PPA name doesn’t automatically guarantee quality. Going forward, I’ll be paying a lot more attention to the actual venues, not just the location and dates, to avoid another weekend of flimsy nets and skidding taped lines.
We point this out not as a way of simply complaining about the PPA, but because we recognize that the organization has done a tremendous job promoting pickleball and helping the sport grow rapidly in the United States and abroad. The reason to call this out is that in 2025, this type of player experience is unacceptable. A few years ago, back in 2022 and earlier, taped courts and makeshift setups were often the only options, but the sport has matured since then. If pickleball is going to be taken seriously as a legitimate sport, events at this level cannot feel like a backyard setup. It would be the equivalent of showing up to a ping pong tournament and being told to compete on a picnic table with a rope for a net, no one would take that seriously. The PPA has positioned itself as the gold standard, and with that comes higher expectations. Players traveling internationally, spending money on flights, hotels, and entry fees, deserve a professional experience. Pointing out these shortcomings isn’t about whining, it’s about raising the standard for the overall betterment of pickleball and ensuring its continued growth as a respected global sport.
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