APP Vlasic Classic - Cincinnati Tournament Recap

The APP Tour was back in action in Cincinnati, Ohio, after a month off. Sawyer Park hosted the event, with many of the top APP Tour pros playing alongside the APP amateurs. 

The APP Tour is back in action starting May 20, at the Zimmer Biomet APP New York City (Major).

Let’s get into the action.

Top Storylines

Megan Fudge Becomes the Winningest Player in APP Tour History

Fudge won a gold medal in women’s doubles and silver in mixed doubles. These were her 69th and 70th medals on the APP Tour, making Megan Fudge the player with the most amount of APP Tour medals. The previous record was 68 medals (held by JW Johnson), which Fudge tied at the last tour stop in Fort Lauderdale. 

In Cincinnati, Fudge made the finals in both women’s and mixed doubles. The women’s double championship match was first on the day for Fudge. Partnering with Jill Braverman, the duo was able to win comfortably, 11-5, 11-3. 

With the men’s doubles match directly after their women’s doubles match, Fudge had a little break before mixed doubles. The mixed doubles championship match was very entertaining, with Fudge and Jack Munro falling just short in the third game, 9-11, to Bobbi Oshiro and Will Howells.

To break the record was special, but to do it on Mother's Day was the icing on the cake for Fudge.

Grayson Goldin Earns his Second Gold Medal in Singles 

Goldin has now won back-to-back APP Tour stops in Cincinnati; almost a year to the day since Goldin won his first APP Gold, he won his second.

The path was not an easy one. Starting in the quarterfinals, all of Grayson’s matches went the full three games.

Goldin won the APP Cincinnati nearly a year ago to the day, on May 12, 2024

First, he beat Ryler DeHeart, 15-4, 12-15, 15-7. In the semifinals, Goldin faced off against Eduardo Irizarry. Goldin again won, 14-16, 15-13, 15-3. 

In the finals, Goldin faced off against one of the best international pickleball players in the world, Armaan Bhatia. Bhatia knocked off #1 seed, Chris Haworth, in the Round of 16, and made it all the way to the finals. This was Bhatia’s first time playing on the APP Tour, and earning a silver medal is incredible.

Bhatia came out swinging, winning the first game 15-11. Goldin had to turn up the heat, and he won 15-11, 15-8 in the last two games.

Goldin was especially emotional after the big win - citing the difficult grind playing professional pickleball is. Although he is a top level talent on the APP Tour, Goldin hadn’t found the gold medal stand for a year. He has plenty of medals in that year, but you could tell this one was special for Grayson.

Howells, Munro, and Oshiro Continue to Dominate Doubles

Will Howells has now won 9 of 10 doubles golds on the APP Tour in 2025. The only doubles match Howells has lost on the APP Tour this year was when he and Jill Braverman lost to Munro and Fudge in doubles at the APP Vlasic Classic - Daytona Beach.

Howells and Munro dominated their competition this weekend. In the four matches they played, Howells and Munro won by a combined score of 88-44. They doubled up their competition while never dropping a game. 

10 seed, Casey Diamond and Kyle Koszuta made it all the way to Championship Sunday, beating some very good teams on the way. They fought well, but ended up losing to Howells and Munro 11-7, 11-2.

In mixed doubles, Howells and Oshiro are undefeated in 2025. They won APP Sacramento, The Fort Lauderdale Open (Major), and now the APP Vlasic Classic - Cincinnati. 

The first three matches, Oshiro and Howells won 69-44, not dropping a game. The toughest competition, per usual, came in the gold medal match against Munro and Fudge. They won 11-6, 7-11, 11-9. They were up 7-1 in the third game, but Fudge and Munro mounted a comeback. It took five match points, but Oshiro and Howells persevered to win the gold.

Sofia Sewing Earned her Third Gold on the APP Tour in 2025

Sewing showed extreme resolve on her way to her third win on the APP Tour in 2025. She had to beat Judit Castillo in the gold medal match, who has also won gold on the APP Tour.

Castillo dominated the first half of the match. She won 15-11 in the first game, and was up 7-1 in the second game. Sewing took a timeout and from then on, she was her normal tenacious self. She won game two in overtime, 16-14, and then won game three, 15-10.

Sewing has established herself as the woman to beat on the APP Tour in 2025. She was the 3 seed at this tournament, but moving forward she will likely be the #1 seed or #2 seed, depending on the field. Sewing is a great mover, hits super clean ground strokes from either wing, and has a competitiveness that most people strive for. Look to see her more on the podium of the APP Tour in the future.

Full Results

Women’s Singles

🥇 Sofia Sewing

🥈 Judit Castillo

🥉 Maria Klokotzky

Men’s Singles

🥇 Grayson Goldin

🥈 Armaan Bhatia

🥉 Ammar Wazir

Mixed Doubles

🥇 Bobbi Oshiro/Will Howells

🥈 Jack Munro/Megan Fudge

🥉 Jill Braverman/William Sobek

Women’s Doubles

🥇 Jill Braverman/Megan Fudge

🥈 Emily Cederquist/Yana Newell

🥉 Judit Castillo/Allison Harris

Men’s Doubles

🥇 Jack Munro/Will Howells

🥈 Kyle Koszuta/Casey Diamond

🥉 Ryler DeHeart/Richard Livornese