John Haining starred in an historic week for pickleball at a record-breaking Skechers English OPEN.

Retired designer Haining, 68, featured in the English Open at the Telford International Centre – the largest pickleball event taking place outside of North America.

With ages from 7 to 70+ competing, the event is reflective of the incredible growth in pickleball over recent years, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries participating in a sport which has aspirations of making the Olympic programme.

“I was introduced to pickleball through my tennis partner about five years ago, and since then I’ve been combining playing tennis with playing pickleball,” said Eastbourne's Haining.

“I like the complexity of the sport, the nuances of it and the fact that I’ve been able to get better at it, and I’m now a better pickleball player than I am a tennis player.

“I also like the fact that one of the first aims of the sport is to just enjoy it. The most enthusiastic pickleball players have to be restrained from talking about it!”

This year’s English OPEN comprised seven days of high-level competition, with the world’s top professionals from America, Europe and Asia taking to the court in singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair and junior events.

A hybrid of tennis, badminton & table tennis, the sport’s popularity has been attributed to its accessibility. Easy to pick up and fun to play, the sport’s accessibility transcends demographics, providing it with universal appeal.

“I’ve played at these tournaments for five years, this is our second year here and as a venue it’s amazing,” said Haining.

“Compared to when we first started playing in these, it’s bigger, better – Nottingham [in 2019] was well organised by Karen [Mitchell] and it’s just got better. She’s taken it up even higher.

“When you walk in here for the first time, it’s just the scale of it that impresses you.”

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org