Last weekend was all about pickleball for Highland Park, Illinois. The Association of Pickleball Players Tour hosted the second-ever Pro Invitational at Danny Cunniff Park, about 45 minutes north of Chicago.

The 2026 Shriners Children’s APP Pro Invitational Chicago included men’s and women’s pro singles, AARP Masters mixed doubles, and men’s and women’s amateur doubles during the first three days. Championship Sunday featured medal matches.

Delighting the crowd, Chicagoan Ammar Wazir won the gold medal for the second consecutive year in Chicago, while Seone Mendez took the women’s gold. Katerina Stewart and Ronan Camron won gold in the Mixed Pro Doubles. Jack Munro and Richard Livornese, Jr. won the Men’s Pro Doubles, with Vivian Glozman and Roos Van Reek earning the Women’s Pro Double gold medal.

Adjacent to the practice courts, dozens of vendors offered the latest in pickleball gear. Judging by all offered, pickleball has come a long way in a relatively short time.

All medal games were held on Championship Court, a beautiful court with all seats having excellent views. I was surprised how impressive this was despite being a temporary setup.

In addition to exciting action, the event supported a great cause. More than $25,000 was raised for Shriners Children’s, the official charity partner of the APP.

The event was extremely well-run from start to finish. Despite battling occasional showers and even thunderstorms, everything ran smoothly.

I have watched my sister and brother-in-law in several games and tournaments in Florida. This was my first major pickleball event in this area. I look forward to my next event and even have a bit of an urge to participate.

— John Wroblewski, online writer