The APP Vlasic Classic - Cincinnati Preview

Thedink Pickleball 23 hours ago 11 views

The APP Tour is back in action May 7-11 at Sawyer Park in downtown Cincinnati, OH. This is the sixth stop on the APP Tour in 2025, coming off the heals of the first Major in Fort Lauderdale about a month ago.

How to Watch the APP Vlasic Classic - Cincinnati

Thursday, May 8 | 10 am - 4 pm ET | YouTube/Court Sports Network/Facebook
Friday, May 9 | 12 - 6 pm ET | YouTube/Court Sports Network/Facebook
Saturday, May 10 | 12 - 6 pm ET | YouTube/Court Sports Network/Facebook
Sunday, May 11 | 12 - 6 pm ET | YouTube/Court Sports Network/Facebook

CBS Sports Network

Saturday, 5/17 from 6 - 8 pm ET
Sunday, 5/18 from 6 - 8 pm ET

Weather Outlook

Let’s get into the action.

Top Storylines

There are three big storylines headed into the APP Vlasic Classic - Cincinnati:

The announcement of the ‘APP Breakthrough Series’

The APP Breakthrough Series brand-new tournament circuit dedicated to up-and-coming pro players looking to take the next step in their pickleball careers, and amateur players looking for more opportunities to test their skills.

“The APP Breakthrough Series begins an exciting new chapter at the APP, with more opportunities for pro and amateur pickleball players than ever before,” said APP Founder Ken Herrmann. “Our foremost mission at the APP has always been to be a resource for all players, especially at the grassroots level. Now, through APP Breakthrough Series, more players will be able to show their skills, receive the highest standard tournament experience, and continue their pickleball journeys with the APP.”

The APP Breakthrough Series will not be televised or livestreamed.

Breakthrough Series Schedule

September 4-7 - Boise, ID
September 24-27 - Brigham City, UT
October 16-19 - Griffin, GA
October 23-26 - Detroit, MI
November 6-9 - Robbinsville, NJ

Chris Haworth and Megan Fudge are Chasing Records

Fudge currently has 68 medals on the APP Tour, which ties her for the most ever. She just needs one medal in Cincinnati to take over solo first place. Fudge is only playing in women’s doubles and mixed doubles in Cincinnati, skipping singles.

Haworth now has 10 APP Tour Men’s Singles Gold medals. This is also tied for first place on the APP Tour. If Haworth is able to win gold in Cincinnati, he will be the winningest men’s singles player in APP Tour history.

Will Howells is Chasing a Second Straight Triple Crown

Will Howells just won his first triple crown at the APP Fort Lauderdale (Major) last month. This was the first time in over a year someone won a triple crown, and the first time a male did it since 2022.

Howells has won every single men’s doubles gold with Jack Munro this year. He has won mixed doubles gold four out of five times with Jill Braverman and Bobbi Oshiro. Fort Lauderdale marked the first time Howells won singles gold in the 2025 year. Can he make another run at it?

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A look at the draws

Women’s Singles

Top Seeds:

Yana Newell
Amanda Hendry
Sofia Sewing
Judit Castillo

Sewing has finished first or second in every singles 2025 event on the APP Tour. Newell has plenty of gold herself on the singles circuit, but hasn’t won yet in 2024. Australian, Emilia Schmidt, is the dark horse with a good shot at earning a medal, as the 19 seed.

Prediction: Sewing wins a hard fought battle over Newell for her fourth win of 2025.

Men’s Singles

Top Seeds:

Chris Haworth
Grayson Goldin
Jack Foster
Will Howells

Haworth went over 365 days in a row of undefeated singles play on the APP Tour before Howells overtook him in Fort Lauderdale last month. Haworth will have revenge on his mind in Cincinnati. Goldin has won a ton of medals in the past year on the APP Tour, but no gold - he is also fighting hard for a win. Indian, Armaan Bhatia, earned a Wildcard spot in the main draw and could make a deep run.

Prediction: Haworth earns the gold medal to earn the label of winningest men’s singles player in APP Tour history.

Mixed Doubles

Top Seeds:

Bobbi Oshiro/Will Howells
Megan Fudge/Jack Munro
Jill Braverman/William Sobek
Susannah Barr/Brandon Lane

This is probably the deepest field of the five in Cincinnati, so a lower seed could very well find their way to the podium. Oshiro and Howells haven’t lost together this year. I like the pairing of Yana Newell and Grayson Goldin, which has some serious potential.

Prediction: Oshiro and Howells take gold over Fudge and Munro.

Women’s Doubles

Top Seeds:

Megan Fudge/Jill Braverman
Emily Cederquist/Yana Newell
Susannah Barr/Daria Walczak
Judit Castillo/Allison Harris

Fudge and Braverman had won everything prior to Fort Lauderdale last month. Newell and Cederquist won gold at the Fort Lauderdale major and are looking to make it two in a row. Sofia Sewing and Shelby Bates are playing some good pickleball right now and could look to win an upset oer one of the top seeds.

Prediction: Cederquist and Newell win two in a row on the APP Tour.

Men’s Doubles

Top Seeds:

Jack Munro/Will Howells
Jason Bock/Max Manthou
Ryler DeHeart/Richard Livornese
Patrick Kawka/Aidan Schenk

Howells and Munro are undefeated in 2025 and are looking to stay that way in Cincinnati. Manthou is playing with fellow PNW athlete, Jason Bock, instead of his usual partner, Erik Lange.

Prediction: I don’t think anyone is really going to push Munro and Howells for their sixth straight APP Tournament win.

Source: Thedink Pickleball

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