September 20-23, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ

About the Tournament

The 2023 Atlantic City Pickleball Open will play from September 20-23, 2023 at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

This will be the largest indoor sanctioned PRO / AMATEUR / JUNIOR / PARA-ATHLETE Pickleball Tournament in the Mid Atlantic area for 2023.

Tournament Details

Location:

The Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Tournament Details:

September 20-23, 2023

Official Tournament Ball:

Franklin X-40 Outdoor Ball

Who We Are

Jim Ludwig

  • Retired from Boston to Naples in 2012 after 32 years in the elevator industry
  • Boat Captain for local sightseeing trips – then found pickleball.
  • Playing pickleball since 2010
  • Started working with Collier County in 2013 to build the world’s largest pickleball venue – 64 courts. This includes a $750,000 shade structure and currently a $3.5 million welcome center. Future plans for a 4,000 seat stadium court and wellness center with indoor pickleball courts.
  • Started the Southern Tropics Pickleball Tournament Series in 2014 which grew to five events annually.
  • Opened the Pickleball Pro Shop and Pickleball Academy in 2015
  • Started Pickleball for All, a non-profit 501(c)(3) in 2015, providing equipment, support and training for organizations in need. As a result, Collier County now has pickleball as part of their PE classes. Pickleball clubs are developing because of the popularity of the sport.
  • Special Olympics – Florida is currently incorporating pickleball as part of its sports curriculum and most recently the USAP is working with Special Olympics North America to support pickleball as part of their curriculum.
  • Event Director for the Minto/Margaritaville US Open Pickleball Championships from 2016 the present, bringing the world’s largest pickleball tournament to “The Pickleball Capital of the World” – Naples, Florida.
  • Email: jim@atlanticcitypickleballopen.com

Randy Sussman

Randy grew up in Boston Massachusetts where he attended Cushing Academy and Emerson College. After graduating from college, Randy went to work at his family restaurant, Bookbinders Seafood House in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In 1989, Randy began his first entrepreneurial endeavor, Randy’s Tickets, a New York City based full-service ticket brokerage firm selling premium tickets to concerts, sporting events, and theatre domestically and internationally.

Randy’s pickleball career began shortly after moving to Marco Island, Florida in the spring of 2016. While attending the U.S. Open in Naples, he had the revelation that he had to play the game! Moments later he was at the closest merchandise tent buying his first paddle and has been playing non-stop ever since, even earning himself the privilege of learning from a few of the best players in the country. It was no surprise that pickleball became more than a sport to Randy. Gaining many friends and acquaintances through his time on the court, Randy has created his own pickleball family-celebrating and traveling together regularly, even enjoying pickleball vacations together! The sport has become a lifestyle.

In 2017, Randy began to ask, “Why isn’t there a pickleball only brand of apparel that fits and looks great?” It was then he dreamt up PB1965. That dream has now become a reality. PB1965 now provides the best product to pickleball players around the world. Randy currently resides in Naples, Florida and enjoys going to the beach, jet skiing, horseback riding, attending concerts, and sporting events.

Kyle Yates

  • Kyle’s passion for pickleball began with his uncle, Mike Welter, while Kyle was in high school. As an avid tennis player his transition to pickleball was quick and effortless. In 2014 Kyle played in his first USAPA National tournament and took gold the very first day in the men’s doubles 19+.
  • Two years later, he won the grand slam of men’s pro doubles by winning the U.S. Open, Tournament of Champions, and the USAPA Nationals in 2016. Since then, Kyle has won six U.S. Open pro doubles titles, two TOC pro doubles titles, and two USAPA Nationals pro doubles titles among many others. In 2018, he was named the WPF world #1 doubles player.
  • 2019 proved to be a very successful year for Kyle, earning gold across the globe. His medal count includes gold in men’s and mixed doubles at the Florida GrandSlam, U.S. Open, Beer City Open, and the French Open. He also captured gold in men’s doubles at the SoCal Classic, Vail Open and Tournament of Champions. Additionally winning gold in men’s singles and mixed doubles at the Spanish Open and a mixed doubles gold at the Chicago Open as well as achieved a medal in the U.S. National Tournament in both singles and doubles.
  • While playing in Fort Myers, Florida Kyle was introduced to Randy Sussman. They bonded over their love of the sport and their dream of providing top quality apparel for pickleball enthusiasts and athletes alike. Kyle joined forces with PB1965 and has assisted in making Randy’s dream a reality.
  • Kyle is a Pickleball for All Board Member since 2015.