Jonny Adams played a starring role in an historic week for pickleball at a record-breaking Skechers English OPEN.

Civil engineer Adams, 26, featured in the English Open at the Telford International Centre – the largest pickleball event taking place outside of North America.

With ages from 7 to 70+ competing, the event is reflective of the incredible growth in pickleball over recent years, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries participating in a sport which has aspirations of making the Olympic programme.

“I’ve been to the English Open for the last two years and it just keeps getting bigger and better, to be honest,” said Reigate's Adams.

“The first one I did was down in Southampton at a David Lloyd [leisure centre] and now we’ve got what feels like hundreds of courts with loads of people, it’s great.

“I’ve been lucky enough to go to Rome for a tournament last year, but this is the only opportunity we get to play people from other countries when they come in.”

This year’s English OPEN comprised seven days of high-level competition, with the world’s top professionals from America, Europe and Asia taking to the court in singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair and junior events.

A hybrid of tennis, badminton & table tennis, the sport’s popularity has been attributed to its accessibility. Easy to pick up and fun to play, the sport’s accessibility transcends demographics, providing it with universal appeal.

“I got into pickleball after my dad started playing a couple of years ago,” Adams added.

“He was playing badminton next door, heard this racket that was going on, went round and was invited to play.

“Then he got my mum involved, and the rest is history.

“When I started I had no idea how much the sport was growing – it was just a fun thing to do – I started going to tournaments and saw how big it’s getting here.”

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org