The APP Tour saw fireworks in its seventh tour stop of 2025 over the Independence Day weekend. New APP Tour winners were crowned in multiple events this weekend.
The beautiful The Tennis & Pickleball Club at Newport Beach hosted the event from July 2 – 6.
Let’s get into the action.
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Only one #1 seed made the finals
This may have been the craziest APP Tour event in the last year and a half, in terms of upsets. Only one #1 seed made the finals.
Megan fudge and Jill Braverman made the finals and earned the gold medal in women’s doubles. However, the other four #1 seeds all went down:
- #1 Sofia Sewing lost to #4 Bobbi Oshiro in the semis of women’s singles
- #1 Chris Haworth lost to #4 Armaan Bhatia in the semis of men’s singles
- #1 Bobbi Oshiro/Will Howells lost to #5 Christine Maddox/Purple Jesus in mixed doubles
- #1 Jack Munro/Will Howells lost to #4 Patrick Kawka/Kyle Koszuta
Tanner Tomassi and Richard Livornese, Jr. won their first gold on tour together
The men’s doubles tournament got thrown for a loop when Kawka and Koszuta upset Munro and Howells in the semis. Tomassi and Livornese, Jr. were able to take the win in the gold medal match for the first time in their careers in the event.
They beat Erik Lange and Purple Jesus, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5, in the semis. The Florida based Tomassi and Livornese, Jr. then went on to win 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 in the finals to earn their first gold.
Katerina Stewart won her first gold medal on the APP Tour
Coming off a bronze medal in the APP New York City, Katerina Stewart was able to earn her first gold in Newport.
Stewart beat Amanda Hendry, Yana Newell, and then Bobbi Oshiro in the finals to win the gold. This is the first gold for Stewart, a former professional tennis player from Miami.
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Max Manthou and Christine Maddox won their second gold on the APP Tour
The last time the APP Tour was in Newport Beach, Maddox and Manthou won mixed doubles gold. They are a very chaotic and unorthodox team that wins a ton when they get hot.
They beat #1 seed, Oshiro/Howells, 3-11, 11-8, 11-5, in the semifinals, to make Championship Sunday.
In order to win gold, Manthou and Maddox beat first time finalists, Sofia Sewing and Casey Diamond. They won 11-9, 11-6. Manthou displayed his elite athleticism and hand speed, while Maddox showed off her defense and incredible overhead.
This team is here to stay.
Armaan Bhatia wins his second gold in a row and makes his third final
Bhatia won his second gold medal in as many tries on the APP Tour. He won in NYC over Alex Crum, and now he beat Patrick Kawka for the win.
Bhatia has now beat #1 APP Tour player Chris Haworth two times in a row and won gold. He has a deadly serve and huge forehand drive.
Bhatia didn’t drop a game in the four matches he played in the tournament.
Fudge and Braverman win another gold, but the Aussie qualifiers show out
Fudge and Braverman played amazing pickleball throughout the weekend, winning gold for the fifth time on the APP Tour this year. They are the class of the women’s doubles event on the APP Tour, and their momentum isn’t slowing down.
Just a quick note on the Aussies who also made the finals. Danni-Elle Townsend and Emilia Schmidt showed off their skills, making it all the way to the finals from qualifiers. Schmidt is the 3rd ranked APP Next Gen women’s player and Townsend is perhaps the best Australian women’s doubles player.
It was a great win from Fudge and Braverman, and a great showing from the Aussies.
Final Results
Women’s Singles
🥇 Katerina Stewart
🥈 Bobbi Oshiro
🥉 Yana Newell
Men’s Singles
🥇 Armaan Bhatia
🥈 Patrick Kawka
🥉 Chris Haworth
Mixed Doubles
🥇 Christine Maddox/Max Manthou
🥈 Sofia Sewing/Casey Diamond
🥉 Megan Fudge/Jack Munro
Women’s Doubles
🥇 Megan Fudge/Jill Braverman
🥈 Emilia Schmidt/Danni-Elle Townsend
🥉 Sofia Sewing/Bobbi Oshiro
Men’s Doubles
🥇 Tanner Tomassi/Richard Livornese, Jr.
🥈 Kyle Koszuta/Patrick Kawka
🥉 Jack Munro/Will Howells